Contamination under glass? (PV panels)

Xringer · 06-29-10, 04:17 PM

I've been looking at some Stain-like discolorations on my panels..
(Actually in my panels, under the glass, on the cells).

When you look close (last pic), the stains looks little like a red-brown rust color
on the silver conductors and it makes the cell surface look darkened in areas it covers.

Here's some pics.. Is this normal, for less expensive panels?

Comments please..

Xringer · 06-30-10, 02:28 PM

Here's a pic of all four panels, as seen from a distance.
Not only are there stain lines, the panels look oddly different from each other.

Brownish, instead of the light blue (as shown on Ebay & importer website).
The little 'stain' lines look a bit like water-marks from rain drips, but they
under the glass. They are bonded in permanently.

Xringer · 08-26-10, 02:10 PM

I was out taking some pics with the new Red Rock tracker module and noticed the lines (of contamination?) appear to be getting darker.

These panels were purchased on Ebay from UL-Solar, Solar Panels at UL SOLAR, Inc Online Store
they were imported by Solar Panels

The importer has informed me "They are not suppose to be like that.", but said power levels won't be affected.
They asked me if I would like to return the panels and get new ones.
I'm a bit reluctant to ship these and chance getting shipped (undamaged) from the west coast (to the east coast).

Daox · 08-26-10, 04:02 PM

Has a google search revealed anything about what it might be?

Xringer · 08-29-10, 11:04 AM

I'm not sure how they 'laminate' glass on top, but I'm guessing they use
something similar to a vacuum bag rig, to pull all he air out.
Maybe that process was leaky? Or maybe the adhesive used had some contaminates in it?

The stains make them kinda look homemade to me..

Xringer · 10-15-10, 09:41 AM

With the cooler weather, I'm starting to see about 95% of the rated output of DC watts.
That's into a fixed 10 ohm load. So, I can't help but think MPPT might help the array achieve even more power out,
especially under less than idea conditions.

Overall, I'm pretty happy to see this amount of power delivered into a simple 10 ohm load.

So, I want to take a philosophical view of the ugly panels. I'm going to look at these
stain lines as a theft deterrent. Since anyone looking at them is going to
think, "What's that? Are these defective?"..

Hey, it might work!!

TimJFowler · 10-15-10, 01:04 PM

Are there weep holes or any sort of venting for the panels? It could be moisture in the panels that needs to escape.

Xringer · 10-15-10, 02:44 PM

Don't think so. They cook these things in a vacuum oven.
So, there shouldn't be any gaps inside the sheet.

Here's a vid showing the manual version of the assembly.

smithmiller6 · 11-29-10, 04:55 AM

I would be worried about the power producing capacity with those stains on..

Xringer · 11-29-10, 07:14 AM

When it's cold and sunny, power is not a problem. I'm amazed how well these work.

They can hit well over 500w..
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-....html#post9767

06-29-10, 04:17 PM	#1
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Contamination under glass? (PV panels) I've been looking at some Stain-like discolorations on my panels.. (Actually in my panels, under the glass, on the cells). When you look close (last pic), the stains looks little like a red-brown rust color on the silver conductors and it makes the cell surface look darkened in areas it covers. Here's some pics.. Is this normal, for less expensive panels? Comments please..

06-30-10, 02:28 PM	#2
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Four SPM125P panels Here's a pic of all four panels, as seen from a distance. Not only are there stain lines, the panels look oddly different from each other. Brownish, instead of the light blue (as shown on Ebay & importer website). The little 'stain' lines look a bit like water-marks from rain drips, but they under the glass. They are bonded in permanently.

08-26-10, 02:10 PM	#3
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	August 2010 update I was out taking some pics with the new Red Rock tracker module and noticed the lines (of contamination?) appear to be getting darker. These panels were purchased on Ebay from UL-Solar, Solar Panels at UL SOLAR, Inc Online Store they were imported by Solar Panels The importer has informed me "They are not suppose to be like that.", but said power levels won't be affected. They asked me if I would like to return the panels and get new ones. I'm a bit reluctant to ship these and chance getting shipped (undamaged) from the west coast (to the east coast).

08-26-10, 04:02 PM	#4
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Has a google search revealed anything about what it might be? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-15-10, 01:04 PM	#7
TimJFowler Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 184 Thanks: 9 Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts	Are there weep holes or any sort of venting for the panels? It could be moisture in the panels that needs to escape. __________________ - DIY Adventures in Applied Sustainability - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-29-10, 11:04 AM	#5
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I'm not sure how they 'laminate' glass on top, but I'm guessing they use something similar to a vacuum bag rig, to pull all he air out. Maybe that process was leaky? Or maybe the adhesive used had some contaminates in it? The stains make them kinda look homemade to me..

10-15-10, 09:41 AM	#6
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	With the cooler weather, I'm starting to see about 95% of the rated output of DC watts. That's into a fixed 10 ohm load. So, I can't help but think MPPT might help the array achieve even more power out, especially under less than idea conditions. Overall, I'm pretty happy to see this amount of power delivered into a simple 10 ohm load. So, I want to take a philosophical view of the ugly panels. I'm going to look at these stain lines as a theft deterrent. Since anyone looking at them is going to think, "What's that? Are these defective?".. Hey, it might work!!

10-15-10, 02:44 PM	#8
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Don't think so. They cook these things in a vacuum oven. So, there shouldn't be any gaps inside the sheet. Here's a vid showing the manual version of the assembly.

11-29-10, 04:55 AM	#9
smithmiller6 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I would be worried about the power producing capacity with those stains on.. __________________ Sorry, new users are not permitted to post links in their signatures.

11-29-10, 07:14 AM	#10
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	When it's cold and sunny, power is not a problem. I'm amazed how well these work. They can hit well over 500w.. http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-....html#post9767