Broken solar panel

laknox wrote:
Not a hobby; it just "happens". I learned from the best, though. My mom had a hat collection of probably 50-60 hats.

I'm sure all hoarders are not the same, I only know from what my GF does. She owns about 8 pair of sunglasses. That way, she doesn't have to put them somewhere she can find them, there's usually one lying around near her when she needs it.

It's expensive in her case because of her lack of organizational skills. Her place gets so crammed with stuff she can't find anything, so if she needs something she already has, it's too much trouble to find it, so she has to buy it. And then that's just one other thing to add to the pile. It's unhealthy too. You can't dust and clean a pile of junk.

"Collecting" and knowing where things are is one thing, hoarding is quite another. It drives me nuts.

2oldman wrote:

laknox wrote:
Being a "thrifty" Scot, I like to salvage what I can. DW calls it "hoarding".

That can be an expensive hobby!

Not a hobby; it just "happens". I learned from the best, though. My mom had a hat collection of probably 50-60 hats. About half were donated to the local historic society. She also belonged to a local women's service group that hosts a black-tie fundraiser ball every year, and she had every single ball gown she wore since her first ball in '55. She made every one for the next 62 years and died only a month before this year's ball. Dad could be just as bad, being a farmer. Almost everything went into the junk pile and it was amazing how much got reused over the years. Seeing as how both lived through the aftermath of the Great Depression and both being from farm families, it's easy to understand how they got their attitudes.

Lyle

laknox wrote:
Being a "thrifty" Scot, I like to salvage what I can. DW calls it "hoarding".

That can be an expensive hobby!

Now that I think about it, the PV panels get hot. You may have problems with the tape adhesive for that reason.

laknox wrote:
At this point, I don't care if it's not making the full 100w as I'm going to get another one, but if I can salvage this one, I'd like to.

What for?

If you are REPLACING this panel, the old one is not worth fixing. Make sure it works, cover with packing tape and donate to somebody.

If you are ADDING another panel to this one, this is not a good idea. Total power will be less than if it were two good panels, and 200W is already a very small solar to rely on, you don't want any smaller.

If this is for battery maintenance in STORAGE - then cover it with duct tape or put epoxy on cracks, should work well enough for this. Probably the only scenario when I would keep it.

Checking if it works would take a minute or two.

bpounds wrote:
As I recall from your other threads, you are planning to use these panels in a portable setup. Not mounted to the roof, and not permanently out in the weather.

Why not just give the packing tape idea a shot, as time2roll suggested? Waterproof shouldn't be an issue if you set it out manually when needed, and yellowing will take a long time coming if it spends most of its time packed away.

Or maybe your portable plans have changed? Even if so, might be the best way to salvage this one for near zero cost.

Definitely cheap, and I've got a couple rolls of tape. :B Just need to check to see if the panel's even working, first. Been so bummed about it that I've not even wanted to look at the d@mn thing.

Lyle

As I recall from your other threads, you are planning to use these panels in a portable setup. Not mounted to the roof, and not permanently out in the weather.

Why not just give the packing tape idea a shot, as time2roll suggested? Waterproof shouldn't be an issue if you set it out manually when needed, and yellowing will take a long time coming if it spends most of its time packed away.

Or maybe your portable plans have changed? Even if so, might be the best way to salvage this one for near zero cost.

mike-s wrote:
I think you'll find any reasonable solution will put you well towards the cost of a new panel. You might be able to find a piece of acrylic (Plexiglas) or polycarbonate (Lexan) to cover the entire panel, and caulk it around the edges. But anything you do is going to reduce the efficiency of the panel. I wouldn't trust any tape or coating solution to stay waterproof for long.

You can get another panel for $100. Is it really worth hassling with?

What I'm coming to realize. Being a "thrifty" Scot, I like to salvage what I can. DW calls it "hoarding". :B

Lyle

I think you'll find any reasonable solution will put you well towards the cost of a new panel. You might be able to find a piece of acrylic (Plexiglas) or polycarbonate (Lexan) to cover the entire panel, and caulk it around the edges. But anything you do is going to reduce the efficiency of the panel. I wouldn't trust any tape or coating solution to stay waterproof for long.

You can get another panel for $100. Is it really worth hassling with?

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
You'll have to calculate how many rolls to buy.


Special way to apply. Hook start end on aluminum frame. Then pull tight and cross over the panel then cut the tape so it adheres onto the other side of the panel.

You have to press STRAIGHT DOWN in dabs with something like the end of a 2x2 You should not wipe or rub.

This is some amazing film. It will not UV deteriorate or turn yellow.

You will end up with some bubbles. Bubbles pass more light than creases. No touchee.

Been there done that dept buying broken panels.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VG88MQ?tag=amz-mkt-fox-us-20&ascsubtag=1ba00-01000-org00-win70-dsk00-nomod-us000-pcomp-feature-rscomp-wm-5&ref=aa_rscomp

Wow! Looks like good stuff, but I'd have the cost of a new panel in the tape to cover this one. :B

Lyle