DIY Solar Panels...What kind of glass?

[Raudy1]

Mike90250

I am new to this forum, I am currently making a 2KW system, I have all the cells soldered and I am now looking into buying the glass. I noticed you were in LA too, can you recommend a place to buy this glass?

I am also looking glass supplier. Having a tough time finding the good stuff. I am on the East coast. ANY BODY HAVE ANY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS??

[Eddy67]

Thank you, I have seen so many you tube videos that I am a little weary of, I figured I should find a good forum to get answers.

[russ]

Hi Eddy67 - Welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

Russ

[Eddy67]

Mike90250

I am new to this forum, I am currently making a 2KW system, I have all the cells soldered and I am now looking into buying the glass. I noticed you were in LA too, can you recommend a place to buy this glass?

[rimpa001]

Re:What type of tempered glass would you use to make a PV panel? Source?

What type of tempered glass would you use to make a PV panel? Source?

I realize this is "Out There", but I ran across several metal-framed glass shower doors. Having enough cells to make a panel, would this type of glass work?

I've used a sealant called LexCell in sealing my dual 3 Hp. suction fans and 1/4" thick Plexiglass windows on the side of my two 55 gallon waste barrels. It's a water-clear sealant that dries rather hard, but somewhat flexible. Sealing a metal framed glass isn't a problem using that product.

Adding the equal of two panels under the glass of one shower door "seems" workable.... ;>)

Bill

A solar cell is a device that converts the energy of sunlight directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.

A solar electric module or solar (PV) panel consists of a sheet of highly durable, low reflective, tempered glass with an aluminum frame.

The back of the photovoltaic panel is protected by another sheet of tempered glass or a different type of long-lasting material.

[Mike90250]

In 1998, Dodge was using a DOT certified plastic headlamp lens cover. Since 2005, the 2 on my truck, have been a frosted yellow. Last week, I used a sander/buffer/polisher kit to clean off the nasty outer layer of plastic. Of course, the glass marker lights next to the headlights, were fine.
Over a couple of years, plastic will yellow. Pic's in a couple days.

[russ]

I still suggest visiting someone using the material on a commercial basis if possible.

What was called plexiglass has yellowed in the past - whatever it really was I have no idea and don't care. This is getting a bit silly actually.

I would personally never consider using anything but glass.

Look at the SRCC site and see how many thermal panels use plastic - only yhr cheapest of the cheap maybe. That is a good indication of what the panel manufacturers think.

[sunnysun]

from what I understand, plexiglass "yellowing" is a myth.

This myth started because there were a lot of clear styrene sheets sold (as a plexiglass look-alike) in the old days (50's and 60's) and they sure DID yellow. Fast. And Plexiglas? Never.

"In other tests, samples of colorless Plexiglas G sheet exposed outdoors in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania for 20 years or more show no significant discoloration, crazing, surface dulling, loss of light transmission, or development of have or turbidity. Although these samples were Plexiglas G sheet, ongoing weathering studies have shown Plexiglas MC sheet to behave in a similar manner. " -Plexiglass

"American-made acrylic does NOT yellow in the sunlight. Witness the protective canopies and bubbles in the World War II bombers - they are still clear after 50 years in the sun! There are three other clear plastics that do yellow in the sun and get confused with acrylic - Styrene, PETG, and Polycarbonate."

[russ]

Look again and you will see a variation of the definition under science - Plant nursery, a place where young plants or trees are raised

They would be by far the biggest consumer of this type of covering. Some use plastic sheet because it is cheaper but the better quality houses are covered with plexi-glass.

This stuff is not cheap, especially in the quantities a commercial greenhouse uses. They know how to get the best value for their money.

The UV in sunlight causes plastic to degrade rather rapidly. Plastic of this grade/type designed for exposure to sunlight is UV stabilized.

[miernik]

What exactly do you mean by "nursery" and what would they use a Plexiglass for, and why would they use a UV-stabilized version - you mean these called "Lexan"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursery_(room)

A nursery is usually, [...], a bedroom within a house or other dwelling set aside for an infant or toddler.

???

You mean you tell me to go to someone's house to see their bedroom or what?

[russ]

Before getting too excited and taking action you might visit a local nursery that uses the stuff and ask them for input. They will know better than anyone.

They will use a thinner material that is not flat but has a profile to it so that will be different.

They can tell you how often they replace the sheet and what their criteria are for replacement.

[miernik]

Let me make sure I understand you correctly:

With a new Plexi I will get 92% of power I could get without it, with a 10-year old one 90% and about 87% with a 25-year-old?

That's not too bad, let's say a new panel without Plexa is 4.9A, a 25-year old panel itself will degrade to about 4 A and with a 25-year old Plexa will give about 3.4 A, which is not so bad after 25 years.

Glass, besides being breakable, would be very difficult for me to mount on my panel, because of it's weight and fragile-ness. I don't imagine myself handling a 1.6 meter x 0.8 meter sheet of glass on the roof of my van. And no - I won't take the panel off the roof - it's too much work and would require a forklift which I won't have access to.

[russ]

Like sunnysun points out - wiki says 92% light transmittance. The stuff is used on green houses where light transmission is important.

If you don't buy a type that is UV stabilized it will discolor quickly and you won't get those numbers.

[sunnysun]

Plexiglas transmits 92% of visible light and over 10 years in the harshest sunlight will lose about 2% - which you can't really detect with your own eyeballs.

Sounds like a pretty big efficiency loss!

[miernik]

What I don't know is what the light transmission issues are, if any.

Any updates on that?
I would also want to use Plexiglas, but can't find any info on light transmittance.

If anyone knows anything, please message me.