Encapsulating solar panel with EVA - but in the periphery?

[solarnoobie]

Has anyone tried waterproofing / semi-encapsulating a solar panel by just having the EVA lined in the periphery of a series of solar cells?

Instead of having the EVA sandwiching the cells, rather, cut out strips of EVA and lay them in the periphery of the glass surrounding the solar cells. Then, using a heat gun, 'cure' the EVA. Theoretically, that should create an airtight seal, without the bubbles and need for a vacuum. Can also save money on the amount of EVA needed.

Thoughts?

[crxvfr]

Has anyone tried waterproofing / semi-encapsulating a solar panel by just having the EVA lined in the periphery of a series of solar cells?

Instead of having the EVA sandwiching the cells, rather, cut out strips of EVA and lay them in the periphery of the glass surrounding the solar cells. Then, using a heat gun, 'cure' the EVA. Theoretically, that should create an airtight seal, without the bubbles and need for a vacuum. Can also save money on the amount of EVA needed.

Thoughts?

I've seen people do it this way with slygard but the panel is sealed another way. The panel will have to be sealed. The interior components can't be exposed to dampness that may be in the air. Interior condensation also has to be prevented. I will post a vid of someone doing this if I can find it again. HERE it is. very crappy audio. I don't know if he covers it later but he starts by just sealing the edges.

Don't know if thats what you talking about. Just trying to help.

Edit Add: Nevermind. I just learned something. Didn't know about EVA. Looking around now at resins and sheets. I used to work at a place that made displays for stores. They made plastic there. It looked like streams of water. After they made it into a sheet, they would cut it to size, put it on a jig, and bend it by using quartz heaters that were on a trolley going just the right speed to make the substrate pliable but not discolored. They also had glue for whatever kind of plastic it was that cured crystal clear and fused it together. I know, not resin, but you got me thinking.

[Minnesota]

PVC film is cheap and very similar in characteristics to EVA as far as air and moisture permeability goes. Why not vacuum bag a sheet over the back of a series of cells and use silicon as the edge seal to hold the PVC film to the glass or poly?

Vacuum bagging is easy and R/C guys do it all the time to laminate skins onto their model parts. A food vacuum sealer can be used too. When done all the air should be out and the edges cured.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO3RbPcuXk4

[bigsmile]

I think there will still be air pocket in the front of the cells, where water can still condense. The problem is that it's really hard to achieve air-tightness in the time scale of years.

PVC film is cheap and very similar in characteristics to EVA as far as air and moisture permeability goes. Why not vacuum bag a sheet over the back of a series of cells and use silicon as the edge seal to hold the PVC film to the glass or poly?

Vacuum bagging is easy and R/C guys do it all the time to laminate skins onto their model parts. A food vacuum sealer can be used too. When done all the air should be out and the edges cured.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO3RbPcuXk4