Epoxy for encapsulating cells (great DIY thread with photos!)

[scheek]

I hope I get longer life out of cells by encapsulating them in epoxy. I will have pics later. Since all the chatter about corrosion and such, I decided to use a 2 part epoxy.

How I did it: After completing my soldering I had my cells facing down on my glass. I then finished my wiring. I used scotch tape to cover all edges of the cells going both ways, horizontal and vertical. I then ran a strip around the outer edge. My goal was to prevent any epoxy running between my cells onto the front side of my glass.

I used a 2 part epoxy that required (1) small styrofoam coffee cup of one and (2) cups of the other. I mixed the two and poured over the cells making sure that I had overlapped onto the glass to make a good seal.

It's dry now after a few hours and it appears to have sealed it all. NOW I'm not as worried about air getting to my cells and corroding them. Still, I'm not sure whether to leave an air vent or not, since my cells are protected. Maybe Mike has a idea.

Anyway, I'm ready to put this sucker to bed.

[philpaine]

Hi
I think I need some pictures to fully understand where the glue went!

Can you post some?

Thanks

Phil

[scheek]

This was not epoxy glue. This is an epoxy that comes in gallon cans. I happen to have it in 250 gallon drums.

[Steksken]

Hey Sheek,

Your post about the epoxy is really intresting me.

Can you send some pics and your first impressions about your test!

Very nice post,

Kind regards,

Wim
Belgium

[MarineLiner]

Extend/increase of heated material

Using epoxy for fixing give a fix firm assembly. We should watch when it is put under the sun and heat increased. We know, different materials, glass and epoxy, have different extend/increase when heated. One of them could cracked. Is not it?

[DeltaFox 25]

I have made 3 solar panels ans on two of them I sealed it with Slygard184 encapsulate. It seams to be holding up real good right now. It has been through hot weather and snow and it's doing real good.

[Mike90250]

I have made 3 solar panels ans on two of them I sealed it with Slygard184 encapsulate. It seams to be holding up real good right now. It has been through hot weather and snow and it's doing real good.

Very good. Names of usable encapsulate and results is very helpful to others. How many seasons has this been through? How do the 2 Slygard184 compare to the other one?

[Steksken]

Hey Deltafox,
Do you have some pictures?
Kind regards,
Wim

[DeltaFox 25]

The panels that I have have been outside for about three month and seam to be doing well. When you use the Slygard be sure to have everything around there warm untill it dryes. To keep the Slygard from running off the glass I put a boundry around the outer edge
of a silicone I bought of of ebay.

[DeltaFox 25]

I'm sorry I am having trouble posting , everytime I push save to post It disapuieres.

[scheek]

I have great pics that I will post soon.

[DeltaFox 25]

I have the two on the left , one is 3x6 cells and the other is 4x4 cells both are aluminum frames one I bought off the INTERNET and the other is made myself. I have one that I'm making and it is 6x6 cells the frame for that i had a welding shop here weld it for me. i still have to buy the glass. If you use the slygard you have to have it in a place where it's warm until it drys. You might get alot of air bubbles in if you don't. I had to build my stand up off the ground because of the snow we get. I'm not very good of making a stand for it.

[philpaine]

It would be very interesting to compare the performance of the panels with encapsulated cell with the non-encapsulated cells.

It seems to me that the absence of encapsulation or ineffective encapsulation is the one of the major problems with DIY solar panels. Is there any info on how quickly non-encapsulated cells degrade due to water vapour?

Can we have lots of BIG piccies of encapsulated solar cells please?

thanks

Phil

[DeltaFox 25]

I just started to read this and it is 6.00 am now but when it gets light out I'll take a bicture of my panel up close. I have one picture of the back of the panel and I'll post it. I know I don't have the right holddowns on it but I had to make do with what I had.



.http://s635.photobucket.com/albums/uu73/WayneBlake/

[BilljustBill]

I have made 3 solar panels ans on two of them I sealed it with Slygard184 encapsulate. It seams to be holding up real good right now. It has been through hot weather and snow and it's doing real good.

Delta,
Is that the material I see on Ebay? I've seen it sell for about $50 for the gallon and the matching catalyst. Is that about what pricing you've seen?
Thanks,
Bill