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DIY Solar Panels...What kind of glass?

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  • #31
    Well as far as ebay here, there are only 2 sellers I am looking at, and they have thousands of positive feedback, so I'm not worried about that. But like I was saying about sunelec.com prices, if I want a 5kw system that I know the panels are going to last basically forever, I'd buy from there instead of building dozens of panels using glass of thick polycarbonate and only saving a small percentage. I'll probably just build some to use recreationally and for emergency use. Probably around 1-2kw.

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    • #32
      wonderful info!

      stumbled onto this thread googling for glass info for building a drain-back waterheater system i'm researching. thanks much--life just got easier!

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      • #33
        Originally posted by sunnysun View Post
        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!
        so sun just a recap you would spend more money on polycaronate glass b/c you will not lose as much power, is 10 % really that much if you are talking 100 dollars or so more for glass??

        just a question i hope im not like sounding like im yelling or anything.

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        • #34
          I guess I'll bump this thread. Looking to price a lotta glass

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          • #35
            Originally posted by tjames View Post
            I guess I'll bump this thread. Looking to price a lotta glass
            Start calling your local dealers
            [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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            • #36
              Thanks Russ- I guess I was just picking up from the OP question: What glass is best, or rather most reasonable?

              Super-exotic glass (Ruby or something?) doesn't seem to be justifiable due to high cost

              Tempered

              Thickness? Assuming tempered, would one shoot for 1/8" thick total? Too thin?

              Iron-Free seems universally desired.

              Textured on front for less reflection / more penetration? I guess this has been independently verified hundreds of times that it's much better than flat floated glass?

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              • #37
                Originally posted by tjames View Post
                Tempered if you want panels to last past the first hail storm then yes

                Thickness? Assuming tempered, would one shoot for 1/8" thick total? Too thin? too thin

                Iron-Free seems universally desired. less light loss

                Textured on front for less reflection / more penetration? I guess this has been independently verified hundreds of times that it's much better than flat floated glass?
                textured surface? What commercial mfg uses that?
                [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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                • #38
                  Someone deleted my post?

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