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I have a new 100w panel that I was trying to make a mount for and drilled too close to the glass. Since it is tempered it shattered. now there are lots of cracks all over the panel, will it still be useable and if so for how long?
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It will likely work for a year or two. As water vapor works its way into the panel, it degrades the cells and they start to fail. Maybe, if it's small enough, a auto windshield repair shop can vacuum inject windshield sealant and seal the cracks. or maybe not.Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister -
Tempered glass is designed to be hard but then shatter into a million tiny pieces (for safety) if it gets to the breaking point. No repair is ever possible.
How long the compromised panel lasts is up to local conditions like humidity and temp changes. Sorry and welcome to the forum.
Dave W. Gilbert AZ
6.63kW grid-tie ownerComment
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Know you know why drilling holes in a PV panel voids the manufacturer's warranty!BSEE, R11, NABCEP, Chevy BoltEV, >3000kW installedComment
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Thanks all! That's about what I thought. It will be well protected and spend most of the time in the high desert of Arizona so it might last a few years....Comment
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