DIY Solar Panels...What kind of glass?

[BilljustBill]

Hi
Well, I found I could get two 1/4inch 2' x 2' Plexiglass sheets for $34, and 1/4in shouldn't flex that much. If I used the plexiglass, I was going to use 3/4in ply 2' x 4' for the rear. I would have thought that screwing the two together sandwiching a 1" x 1/4" softwood frame would have given a pretty stiff structure. One could always put some 1/4" spacers in the middle of the panel if there were were still concerns re. flex.

I like the fact that it is easy to drill plexiglass.

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

Phil

Just a question with using Plexiglass: I thought you had to use a Polycarbonate so it won't yellow?

Back in the early 1980's, I built the batch water heater from plans in "New Shelter" magazine. It used plywood, standard sizes of lumber, and for the reflector, it used Masonite so foil or Mylar would follow the double curve. Storm windows were the big energy-saving thing back then, so I had a large window made with a single layer of two large panes side-by-side of glass and a center support. I could use the heater from the last frost until the first one (April-November). During the summer heat up to 104 in July-August, I was always worried about a fire, even with using the 40 gallon pressure tank as a stable heatsink...and when a hailstorm hit 3 years later, I was glad to remove it during the re-roofing.

That feeling has stayed with me all these years. When I do build my panels from the shower door, all sun/heat exposed areas will be made from Hardyboard type materials that are concrete and fiber based as well as fire resistant. Heavy, yes, but stable and fire resistant!! Maybe I should use a layer of glass over the cement board to prevent any corrosion to the solder connections or the cells. Any advice?

I saw one DIY video on You-tube where the fellow mounted his cells on a suspended layer of pegboard as well as used standard lumber for the framing.... After seeing the panel fire pictues (THANK YOU), building a PV panel gives me new respect for the U/L label and the prices of the higher quality panels....

Bill

[Jason]

moving this thread to the DIY section

[philpaine]

Hi
Well, I found I could get two 1/4inch 2' x 2' Plexiglass sheets for $34, and 1/4in shouldn't flex that much. If I used the plexiglass, I was going to use 3/4in ply 2' x 4' for the rear. I would have thought that screwing the two together sandwiching a 1" x 1/4" softwood frame would have given a pretty stiff structure. One could always put some 1/4" spacers in the middle of the panel if there were were still concerns re. flex.

I like the fact that it is easy to drill plexiglass.

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

Phil

[scheek]

I considered it but was afraid of the flex. Those cells are fragile.

[philpaine]

Has anyone any idea of how good plexiglass is at transmitting light?

Are there any other downsides to using plexiglass instead of low-iron glass?

Phil

[scheek]

I used a double pane glass. It's about twice as thick as single that goes in windows. Any glass supply house will have it. I don't think Lowes carries that thick. Too, they are twice as high. I got (2) 27" x 32" pcs for a total $14. Lowes wanted $15 for one pc/single.

After using a 1/8 tile spacer for alignement of my cells, the total thickness of both panes, with silicone is exactly 1/2". My angle aluminum is 1-1/2" for the frame.

[Mike90250]

Glass is called Low-Iron, high transmitivty .

[BilljustBill]

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