What to use as backing for Sylgard solar panels?

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  • solarnoobie
    Member
    • Jun 2010
    • 38

    What to use as backing for Sylgard solar panels?

    So we all know the layering for EVA based encapsulation is -

    Glass / EVA / Solar Cell / EVA / Tedlar.

    But what about for Sylgard?

    Glass / Sylgard soaked Solar Cell / ??? (Another glass? Tedlar? fiberglass?)

    Let me know what you think..


    Thanks in advance.
  • glock15
    Junior Member
    • Jul 2010
    • 9

    #2
    I

    Comment

    • landslide03
      Junior Member
      • Mar 2011
      • 22

      #3
      I was thinking about the same thing. Some people use that thin white plastic backing. I was thinking about the 1/4 hardibacker board. The main reason is so that if there is a fire it would spread any further than the cells inside. Let me know what you guys think

      Comment

      • longwolf
        Solar Fanatic
        • May 2010
        • 121

        #4
        I used heavy duty Reynolds Wrap and spray on contact adhesive to attach it.
        I would advise covering the solder points with electrical tape or clear vinal(?) electrical tape first.

        The foil is a great water blocker. And you could always add some kind of board afterward for physical protection.

        Comment

        • electricsuperduty
          Member
          • Jun 2011
          • 76

          #5
          Originally posted by landslide03
          I was thinking about the same thing. Some people use that thin white plastic backing. I was thinking about the 1/4 hardibacker board. The main reason is so that if there is a fire it would spread any further than the cells inside. Let me know what you guys think
          I would not use wood of any type, you should figure how you want to laminate your cells first. Sylgard does not require a backer, unless something is going to poke, prod, rip, tear or scrape against the back of your panel.

          Comment

          • Solar-dude
            Member
            • Jul 2011
            • 40

            #6
            none needed according to dow and bp

            this is from dow, the maker of slygard and their testing. Notice the panel has NO backer:

            With more than 30 years of experience, and installations in over 160 countries, BP Solar is one of the world’s leading
            solar companies. It has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Spain, India and China.

            Dr. Jean Posbic, director of Technology Projects, BP Solar, tells the story: “In 1982, the array started at a 200kW
            nominal power and consisted of 52 parallel strings. Each string contained 60 modules, of 55Wto 65W, connected in series. The
            unframed modules used a silicone resin encapsulation.

            The whole system was stand-alone using a storage battery until 1987 when the systemwas converted to an uninterruptable
            power supply, then in 2000 to a pure grid-tied system.”

            FAST FORWARD 25 YEARS
            After 15 years of service, exposed to all types of weather in Maryland, USA, followed by 10 years in storage, BP Solar ran testing to determine how well the modules still performed.

            “Some of the modules removed a few years back were brought in and retested and showed little or no electrical
            degradation,” Posbic says. “The array is now being looked at for in-depth makeover in order to ensure many more
            years of operation.”

            Specifically, testing showed the panel’s power rating performance had only declined by 5 percent over a quarter century.
            “We understand that durability is one of the critical factors PV producers and other solar manufacturers are looking for,” says
            Allison Ashbrook, Americas commercial manager, Dow Corning Solar Solutions. “It’s worth noting that after such a long time, this panel is in outstanding shape. It’s completelyconstructed out of silicone encapsulation; noback sheet was used. There has been no degradation in the silicone and the panelis still operating as if it were new. This isthe kind of durability and sustained
            performance PV producers require.”
            Last edited by russ; 07-11-2011, 12:38 AM. Reason: formatted

            Comment

            • carnini
              Junior Member
              • Mar 2011
              • 18

              #7
              Originally posted by Solar-dude
              this is from dow, the maker of slygard and their testing. Notice the panel has NO backer:
              Wow that is pretty amazing, good info to know it will last a long long time.

              Comment

              • Naptown
                Solar Fanatic
                • Feb 2011
                • 6880

                #8
                Originally posted by Solar-dude
                this is from dow, the maker of slygard and their testing. Notice the panel has NO backer:

                And then they closed the Maryland plant and moved to China
                NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

                [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

                [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

                [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

                Comment

                • Diana
                  Junior Member
                  • Jan 2019
                  • 1

                  #9
                  Hi sorry to bump this thread, total newbie. I have been looking to start a solar project for my camper, I just came by some panels recovered from a solar farm, 285w 30v. However they are damaged (glass front is burst) however they still give good output. Problem is as I understand it the glass is what gives the glass its structural integrity therefore I was proposing bonding some thin ply to the rear to put some strength back into it, then apply a silicone, resin to reseal the front. I would appreciate some advice on this, but please don't hang me for a schoolboy error as I am a novice eager to learn the black art, (without setting light to my camper)

                  Comment

                  • bcroe
                    Solar Fanatic
                    • Jan 2012
                    • 5203

                    #10
                    Semiconductor devices do not tolerate moisture. If you break the seal on a transistor or an
                    integrated circuit or a solar panel, it will still work at first. But expect it to fade away or quit in
                    something like a few months. Bruce Roe

                    Comment

                    • littleharbor
                      Solar Fanatic
                      • Jan 2016
                      • 1998

                      #11
                      60 cell grid tie solar panels are so cheap these days you would likely spend more on whatever resin encapsulant and other backing materials to repair it than buying a new panel. With a new panel you get a warrantee. With a repaired panel it's just a matter of time till it fails.
                      2.2kw Suntech mono, Classic 200, NEW Trace SW4024

                      Comment

                      • azdave
                        Moderator
                        • Oct 2014
                        • 765

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Diana
                        I just came by some panels recovered from a solar farm, 285w 30v. However they are damaged (glass front is burst) however they still give good output.
                        Not worth the trouble. Yes, output may seem fine at first but water vapor is going to get through your repairs and begin doing damage. I would not invest anything into reusing a cracked or shattered panel unless your time and money are both free. If that is the case then you've got a great learning experience ahead.
                        Dave W. Gilbert AZ
                        6.63kW grid-tie owner

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