Solar Panel Glass

[Hansenman]

Hello Everyone,

I'm looking at building my first panel using ebay cells, but am having some difficulty locating some reasonably priced glass. I have been able to locate a source of used glass and have have found some used for shower doors. It has the advantage of being tempered, however it is of the "wavy" type used to obscure someone's view looking through. I don't think this would affect the light transmission to the cells. Any thoughts?

[Psycogeek]

well how do your cells respond to having less light in some places, and more in others?

i know that any Milky in the stuff (diffusion) just totally wacks light, but that wavey stuff, would just prism it about in waves, having hot and shadowed places.

and even tempered, the low and high places would not aonly refract light all about, but would reduce its total strength.

[DERFMOOSE]

 one way to get glass find someone replacing windows

the double type thes have usealy good sized glass

[johnagony]

Can it be Lexan-polycarbonate? I'm about to venture upon my first home brew.

Also, a rear reflecting surface, eg aluminium foil, to throw light back into the unit?

Since limbs fall off trees and nasty children may be a problem, a hardware cloth protector?

I'm new here & picking braynes, promise to report in, thanks. John

[Psycogeek]

i was told that acrylics (plastic glass) will reduce the thing 8%

i have not tested that yet, but i BELIEVE.

my little first pannel is going to be acrylic, or abs, or poly carbonate anyway, because i am not mounting it right away. i was planning on an at LEAST having to replace it every 5 years, as it will yellow, and then be as easily cracked as glass, brittle from the sun.

but Tempered glass, it the only strong type of glass, and its pretty good.