Author Topic: Sealing the solar cells to stop moisture.  (Read 4576 times)

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ewok9

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Sealing the solar cells to stop moisture.
« on: October 28, 2010, 01:23:06 PM »
Would it be possible to use a marine grade clear varnish to encapsulate the cells during panel construction ?
This seems too easy and I wonder what the effect is on output etc.
Has it been tried?
Thanks Folks....
Ewok

tecker

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Re: Sealing the solar cells to stop moisture.
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2010, 03:04:53 PM »
By far the best bet to make use of  panel that is no going to be solid is to make another enclosure and add silica gel . The gel will cook during the day and pick up moisture every morning . 

ewok9

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Re: Sealing the solar cells to stop moisture.
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2010, 01:58:04 PM »
Thanks tecker for the "info" .
 
  I hadn't heard of that method being used.   I was thinking of marine varnish, rather than using  Sylgard184 or EVA for encapsulation.
 

Rover

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Re: Sealing the solar cells to stop moisture.
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2010, 06:15:53 PM »
As a boat owner and one who has spent too much time with marine varnishes... NO on that
Typically wood penetrators and thin... and even the best don't last (Cetol etc)
I replaced my wood with colored trex type composites for that reason,  even the hand rails that used to be teak.



Rover
<Where did I bury that microcontroller?>

Calgirl

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Re: Sealing the solar cells to stop moisture.
« Reply #4 on: June 08, 2011, 03:43:06 AM »
Maybe this would work.......

Get two lengths of  thin wall pvc pipe the length or width (whichever you choose) of your solar panel plus 2 or 3 inches.

Cut a 1/4th inch wide slit lengthwise along one pipe.

Take the other pipe and drill small aligned holes lengthwise down the side but do not drill holes into the outside 3 or 4 inches at both ends.  Cover these holes with garden cloth glued to the pvc but not obstructing the drilled holes.

The slit pvc pipe can now be inserted into the pvc pipe with the holes drilled into it.  By rotating the slit pvc pipe, you can cover or uncover the holes of the outer pvc pipe.  Insert this contraption into the side wall of your solar panel.   Block the end of the pvc pipe on the end not exposed thru the side wall of the solar panel.  Now, you have a chamber which can be filled with silica granules which have been rolled inside a long narrow piece of garden cloth and inserted into the pvc pipe.  By turning the inside (slit) pvc pipe, you can block air entering into your solar panel during the few minutes it takes to change the silica granules.  When done replacing the silica granules, turn the slit so that it opens the inside of the solar panel to the silica granules.  All you need now is to seal the end of the pipe that is sticking out of the panel side with a cork or something that will allow you to re-enter the chamber to change the granules.