New with dumb encapsulation questions

[aamcle]

Hi All.

I'm in the UK and looking at making my 1st panel mainly to see how solar works and because I like making stuff.

Question regarding encapsulation.

Why cant I run a fine bead of the modern "Polymer Sealant" around the edges of the cell to hold them to the glass then just flood the back with resin of any type? If none of the resin is between the cell face and the glass why would it matter if it went yellow?

Is it possible to make some sort of testing rig to check the UV stability of sealants?

What's the disadvantage of just putting a second glass/plastic sheet behind the cell to reduce the rate of oxygen/water ingress?

Update :-
After rummaging around on the net I have found that general purpose hot glue sticks are usually EVA could I seal the cell down with hot glue prior to flooding with resin?

If I decide to make a number of panels I'll probably go with eva film and the vacuum/heat procedure but that's a good deal of trouble for a 1 off.



Thanks for your patience. aamcle

[Hammer]

I'm also having trouble with the encapsulation side of the things. Mainly because when I decide to put this together I'll be in the tropics in a moister rich environment.
Thinking of using glass - resin - cell - resin - glass to sandwich the cells and keep them protected

I got one post that asks if I could use boat resin to encapsulate with but I haven't got an answer for it. I only ask on it because I know I'll have easy access to it.

I know I did not answer your question but I to am wondering if there is a easier way to go about the encapsulation, I only need enough power for a computer and a light though nothing as major as other people

[green]

I'm also having trouble with the encapsulation side of the things. Mainly because when I decide to put this together I'll be in the tropics in a moister rich environment.
Thinking of using glass - resin - cell - resin - glass to sandwich the cells and keep them protected

I got one post that asks if I could use boat resin to encapsulate with but I haven't got an answer for it. I only ask on it because I know I'll have easy access to it.

I know I did not answer your question but I to am wondering if there is a easier way to go about the encapsulation, I only need enough power for a computer and a light though nothing as major as other people

Boat resin should work fine because it is designed to be out in the elements. I wouldn't put it in front of the cells though in case it did yellow. I had some success sealing the cells to the glass with clear packing tape and then using encapsulant to seal it all up.

I wouldn't use glass as a backing material though. I tried that on one panel and the heat built up so much that the panel failed. It may have failed because of materials I used but I do know that panel got way hotter than my others. I have seen people on the internet that do it that way but I have never seen a follow up video, probably because they fail after exposer to extreme temps.

Green

[Hammer]

I was thinking of using packing tape to seal the cells onto the glass, one youtube video used masking tape though. I'm glade to know I can use the boat resin since the harbor on the island will be next door basically. I would just put the resin on the back and be done with it but I would like to have something more to seal it from the elements.

[Sunking]

Hi All.

I'm in the UK and looking at making my 1st panel mainly to see how solar works and because I like making stuff.

Question regarding encapsulation.

Update :-
After rummaging around on the net I have found that general purpose hot glue sticks are usually EVA could I seal the cell down with hot glue prior to flooding with resin?

If I decide to make a number of panels I'll probably go with eva film and the vacuum/heat procedure but that's a good deal of trouble for a 1 off.

That is what you were told to start with. You did not listen, and now you learned the hard way with your time and money. You could have bought a 25 year factory panel in 5 minutes and would have cost you less money.

[green]

I was thinking of using packing tape to seal the cells onto the glass, one youtube video used masking tape though.

Don't use masking tape. It is very porous and will let encapsulant seep in. Plus it won't last long, it breaks down very fast. Just be very carefull putting down the packing tape. Once it touches the cells don't try to pull it up to adjust it, the cells will crack.

By the way Sunking is right. If you are trying to build panels for any real power you might as well buy factory made. But for very small off grid projects, building panels can be fun and a good learning experience. I have found that for projects that require 100 watts or less, that's where homemade panels are worth the effort. I'm actually about to build two 5 watt panels. LOL. The tiny cells are kind of cute.

Green

[Hammer]

I'll use the packing tape then.
Far as factory panels goes, shipping these suckers to were I'll be living will cost just as much as the panel itself. However you are right around 100 watts or less and DIY panels are nice.