Smashed Solar Panel Still Works (sort of) Question of Rain?

[BFL13]

Last year I sold a guy here my two 100w panels that were surplus. He set them up as a portable stand deal for the pair, works great. Yesterday we had a big wind squall and it flipped over his panels and one panel hit a rock really hard. Oops.

The damaged panel has all its glass shattered/cracked into little tiny bits like a broken car window, but still all bits in place covering the cells with a really bad spot more opaque where it hit the rock. Also the cells in the bad spot have a bulge there while the rest of the panel is still flat mwith cracked glass everywhere. Ugh!

Taking out the multimeter set to amps, the good panel as aimed away from the sun a bit, got 4 amps (out of 6.3 rated if aimed right) The damaged panel in the set got 2 amps! He got 6 amps total from the set as it is now with the damage instead of 8. (rated for 12.6 aimed right)

I ASSume if he cleared away all the broken glass off the cells he would get full output, where the cracked glass acts as shade. However, what would happen if it rains? Does the glass protect against the cells shorting out if wet?

Can the glass be replaced with window glass to keep the rain off? Price of glass may not be worth it, but just like to know if that would solve the problem for now.

Thanks for any info on that. Meanwhile, take heart, your panels can take a licking and keep on ticking 🙂

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Never park under an unneutered coconut palm in México.

[JiminDenver]

See I think BFL went over there and kicked that panel so he could sell the guy the 230w set up and he could get back to his beloved PWM set up. 😉

I've heard of people using clear nail polish to seal the panel back up.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Paramedic Time.

With a strong rag, smear a HEAVY coat of dialectric grease all over the panel. Be especially careful of not cutting your hands. Be patient. Every micrometer of cracks must be sealed.

The panel may live a surprisingly long time when band-aided.

[buta4]

dahkota wrote:
Our panels survived quarter sized hail in South Dakota with no problem or damage.

Thanks for the info. Good to here. It was a concern of my buddy's plans to get solar.

[dahkota]

Our panels survived quarter sized hail in South Dakota with no problem or damage.

[Sinnettc]

I've had one on my boat with a cracked area in the corner for several years. Seems to work fine, though it is only in the one corner.

[ed6713]

Had a similar incident while traveling. Went to a local glass company and had a piece of regular window glass cut to size. The glass company had a good adhesive that attached the glass to the solar panel. Did the job until I got around to replacing the panel.

[2oldman]

It's likely the connections are damaged beyond repair.

[BFL13]

Thanks, that would explain why all the bits of glass are still on the panel instead of lying on the ground here and there. The bonding must be some sort of clear glue.

So, those with portable panels propped up, take note! Anchor them. 😞

[KD4UPL]

Solar panel survive hail very well. In order to be UL listed they must withstand 1" hail at 70 MPH. I've talked to a guy who got to fire the ice gun to test them. Rock are a different story. Also, perhaps, these weren't UL listed panels.
If these panel are made like the ones I'm familiar with you won't be able to remove or replace the glass. It is tightly bonded to the cell material underneath. There's no way to get them apart without further destroying something.
As much as it hurts, the best bet is to just replace it.
I've had to do this with several panels that got damaged on people's roofs from falling trees and the like. One guy had the wind rip his whole barn roof off and took his solar panel with it. I've also had a few slide off the back of the truck on the way to a job. I tried the "replace the glass trick" but it can't be done.

[buta4]

I've always wondered how well solar panels survive in a hailstorm. Have to hide under an overpass if one was nearby?

[Golden_HVAC]

You can also ask the experts at HomePower.com Magazine.

Fred.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Sooner or later water will infiltrate. I'd suggest he try covering the panel with some clear stick on vinyl. As you said--the cost of tempered glass is prohibitive.