sealing cells

[russ]

Not the construction type of silicon sold in tubes for household use though.

The silicon used is formulated for solar panel sealing use.

[Solar-dude]

Aparently BP made them out of liquid silicon and they lasted quite a while from this other thread:

http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?2336-What-to-use-as-backing-for-Sylgard-solar-panels&p=27033#post27033

[russ]

This is a terrible thread and it doesn't look like it is Alan's fault.

Russ gave him a warning but was the one who started all of this:

When someone insists on providing detailed incorrect information on something they seem to know little or nothing about we should let them continue unchallenged?

There is a difference between different opinions and blatant BS.

Russ

[Sunking]

So, anyway, I'm not here to paint a yellow brick road for everyone who thinks they found the wonder juice, but to say, wait a minute, what you plan will generally fail in months, or maybe a couple years in desert conditions.

Mike, Mike, Mike take my advice. If they will not listen, let them learn the hard way. It is there mony and time being thrown away. Get smart and be on the receiving end when they throw money away. I promise you will be a lot happier .

[Plinkomax]

I agree mike, and I personally value your experience.

You may have been the only one that provided honest neutral feedback here.

[Mike90250]

...The first item that showed up in a google seach is a study that describes the vapor permiability for the encapsulation of TEMs.

http://www.tetech.com/publications/pubs/ICT97MJN.pdf

It clearly shows the high permiability of silicone.

Been there and done that on the first page. The comeback to us, was well they sell it, so it has to be good. My comeback is that DIY can't get the cells clean enough to insure the stuff sticks, and that 90% of the panels made use Glass and Tedlar to seal.

So, anyway, I'm not here to paint a yellow brick road for everyone who thinks they found the wonder juice, but to say, wait a minute, what you plan will generally fail in months, or maybe a couple years in desert conditions.
Then we with some experience in the subject, are labeled obstructionists (or worse).

And somehow, the dude selling a $50 eBook, "power your house for the price of a case of donuts", is the hero

[Plinkomax]

This is a terrible thread and it doesn't look like it is Alan's fault.

Russ gave him a warning but was the one who started all of this:

Russ: "Alan - You have no idea of what you talk about - Are you a Chicago politician? "

What was the point of that?

Sunking:" I think Alan is sniffing the glue and sealants. His mind is gone. "

Even better.


A better approach would be to provide information to show that silicone might not be the best approach. The first item that showed up in a google seach is a study that describes the vapor permiability for the encapsulation of TEMs.

http://www.tetech.com/publications/pubs/ICT97MJN.pdf

It clearly shows the high permiability of silicone.

[russ]

Hi Everyone.
I am only a new member but reading what I have just read I think I must be terrible confused..I thought this club/ site or whatever you want to call it was to help one another and not sling shi? at each other..Well I have said my bit.. Now back to reading some usefull info..Bye all Peter

Hi Peter - Sorry for the mess but from time to time someone comes along whose purpose is to try to prove how smart they are and how everyone else is a fool. It happens every few months unfortunately.

Most everyone here has only the purpose of trying to assist others or to learn. Unless one is an electrical engineer or a highly skilled tradesman in the electric business the electric/electronics side of solar can be very difficult.

It is not acceptable to intentionally mislead people or to tell people to do things that are either unsafe or illegal.

Best Regards,
Russ

[Peter Mac]

sealing cells

Hi Everyone.
I am only a new member but reading what I have just read I think I must be terrible confused..I thought this club/ site or whatever you want to call it was to help one another and not sling shi? at each other..Well I have said my bit.. Now back to reading some usefull info..Bye all Peter

[Alan]

I guess you didn't call dow and get the facts that they only sell 6100 to approved solar panel manufacturers, which answered your question and proved you wrong. there are companies out there that use liquid encapsulants, and not just your eva/tedlar.

I'm sure those panel manufacturer's that use that stuff are using it so that they dont' have to pay out millions in warranty claims after a few years when the stuff according to your opinion will leak. I guess dow is a rip off company selling a product that is doomed to fail and those companeis that buy the stuff are just suckers.

[Mike90250]

6100 is nothng new, and has been discussed and used at this site before. It's also highly tramissive to water vapor, as are nearly all silicones
http://www.dowcorning.com/content/pu...06-1016-01.pdf page 3.

It relies purely on there being excelent adhesion between the cell and encapulsant. fingerprints, dust and solder residues all defeat this adhesion, and at the worst place for moisture to gather. Since most DIY's don't even clean solder flux residue off the cells, all those areas are going to get damp.

You are free to build and connect as you wish, but don't give out advice as "gospel" to others, unless you are willing to back it up.

Again, most silicones are water vapor transparent, and moisture will collect in any unclean area where the silicone can't bond well. Without industrial cleaning, DIY panels will have residues, and therefor, failures.

[Alan]

Call dow up and ask them about 6100. Their phone number is clearly listed on their web site. How I learned about it is a secret.

and that is not the only chemical used for solar panels, ,,,

[Mike90250]

if that was true than why does dow manufacturer certain silicone solar encapsulants that are ONLY sold to solar panel manufacturers with mixing/metering capabilities? Obviously either Dow has given me misinformation or your statement is incorrect. I'm guessing the latter.

Model # of the mystery encapsulants ?

So I'm wrong, and there is a product I don't know about . (since I'm not a PV mfg, how could I know about it anyway. How do YOU know about it ? )

[Alan]

if that was true than why does dow manufacturer certain silicone solar encapsulants that are ONLY sold to solar panel manufacturers with mixing/metering capabilities? Obviously either Dow has given me misinformation or your statement is incorrect. I'm guessing the latter.

[Mike90250]

.... Besides you could say the same thing about every single commercailly made panel that uses hot melt glue, also known as EVA that doesn't have a tedlar backing (tedlar being a water proof plastic). Eva leaks water vapor too!
.......

Do you know of any commercial panels, that do not use tedlar or something like it, for sealing the backside ?? AFIK, all use a Glass, EVA, cells, EVA, Tedlar sandwich.