I just received 110 "grade-b" tabbed solar cells (enough to make 3x 36 cells panels) after buying them on impulse almost 3 months ago, and now I'm in the process of deciding what to do with them. Build a panel, or re-sell the cells?
First I saw the success stories, like
1-Tom_in_NH,
2-Mike in Arizona (http://www.mdpub.com/SolarPanel/index.html)
Difference with Tom: has 3/4" between the backing and the plexiglass)
3-Hans in the Netherland (http://home.kpn.nl/maas5455/indexhowididit.html)
Difference with Tom: Use glass at the front and the back of the panel. Interesting.
4- This guy (http://pyronet.50megs.com/RePower/Homemade%20Solar%20Panels.htm) says not to use fiberglass resin (because it doesnt hold moisture out) but an aluminum epoxy type sealer called ALUTHANE. He also uses double sided-tape to hold the cells instead of the usual silicone blob and connects the cells in a way that makes repairing easier.
He uses 3/4" plywood backing with 1 1/2" rails all around.
Then I realized that the only person that came back to tell us about durability is Tom, and that durability isnt all that great.
Is it because of mistakes that I could learn from, or are DIY solar panels doomed?
Comments?
Thanks,
S.