Air vent for solar panel

[Mike90250]

Could you drill 2 ports at the the top on either end and use 1 port to purge the panels with nitrogen and when most all the air has been replaced with nitrogen, plug the ports. It would appear the nitrogen would displace all air and moisture making the panel interior inert. Just a thought...............

What will you plug the ports with ? Very few materials are actually water vapor proof. perhaps a threaded plug w/teflon tape, and re-purge the panels every couple months...

[old pipefitr]

old pipfitr

What will you plug the ports with ? Very few materials are actually water vapor proof. perhaps a threaded plug w/teflon tape, and re-purge the panels every couple months...

Actually I use a 3/8 bulkhead fitting with a #150 3/8 ball valve. If your panel is fairly tight the nitrogen will keep the air and moisture out. I have stored prepackaged food [instant potatoes, jelly packets, etc] using nitrogen in 55 gallon drums with sealed lids for 4-6 years with no spoilage. You are actually creating a time capsule. It is an application that I have had success with in the past.

[russ]

What do they use to seal insulated (double pane) windows with? That works quite well.

Russ

[old pipefitr]

old pipefitr

What do they use to seal insulated (double pane) windows with? That works quite well.

Russ

There is a moisture proof type silicone that is used by window manufacturers. Contact a window manufacturer in your area and explain what your project is and they will assist you.

[russ]

From the Wiki they use polyisobutylene or PIB for short

Russ

[Mike90250]

.... If your panel is fairly tight the nitrogen will keep the air and moisture out. I have stored prepackaged food [instant potatoes, jelly packets, etc] using nitrogen in 55 gallon drums with sealed lids for 4-6 years with no spoilage. You are actually creating a time capsule. It is an application that I have had success with in the past.

But, you are not subjecting your drum to daily heating, chilling, and squirts of water. The pressure/vacuum of such cycling, will quickly purge the N2.

[old pipefitr]

old pipefitr

But, you are not subjecting your drum to daily heating, chilling, and squirts of water. The pressure/vacuum of such cycling, will quickly purge the N2.

What gave me the idea of creating an inert condition was observing N2 filled outdoor sensors lasting years exposed to different conditions. Many of these sensors were manufactured in the field with glass pipe and brass fittings. It was just a thought.

[John8]

nice try. Won't last too long - a year or so. Water vapor will shoot right through painted 1/2" plywood. Maybe if you got some sort of epoxy, it would be better, but even epoxies are a sieve to water vapor.
But no one believes me, so build away.

Mike I believe you but we all can't afford to purchase factory manufactured solar panels. Where I live in the Philippines we have power from 12 noon until 6 in the morning. Power goes off just as I'm ready to watch the US News in the morning.
If my panels fail I will use my battery bank and a charger. Dity is what we try to do!

[Mike90250]

Mike I believe you but we all can't afford to purchase factory manufactured solar panels. Where I live in the Philippines we have power from 12 noon until 6 in the morning. Power goes off just as I'm ready to watch the US News in the morning.
If my panels fail I will use my battery bank and a charger. Dity is what we try to do!

That's what you should be doing now, if you have power daily, why invest in the solar stuff ?

[John8]

That's what you should be doing now, if you have power daily, why invest in the solar stuff ?

Because one day the Government could stop my retirement check, they have already taken almost everything away that was promised and I feel the need to be self sufficient.

Yes, charging the batteries during the night for day use would work just fine without the panels. Thanks for the link on the batteries earlier post very informative.

What if the Nuclear plants in Japan had solar back up pump operation along with the diesel generators. Diesel generators go offline solar powered UPS goes online.
Maybe no pump cooling failure?

[Sunking]

What if the Nuclear plants in Japan had solar back up pump operation along with the diesel generators. Diesel generators go offline solar powered UPS goes online.
Maybe no pump cooling failure?

Geeze people have no concept of energy. Because you would have to cover the city in solar panels and a warehouse full of batteries to do the job of a deisel generator.

[Sunking]

Because one day the Government could stop my retirement check, they have already taken almost everything away that was promised and I feel the need to be self sufficient.

Why would anyone depend on a Government check for retirement, or to live on?