I damaged my panels, can I still use them?

[anand]

Hi all,

I have two panels of this kind: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=140354846181

Over the weekend, I was drilling holes in the frame so that I could lock them to the roof of my narrowboat. Much to my dismay, I dinged the back of one of them: the drill bit made about a 3mm diameter scrape all the way through to the glass, but didn't break the glass. I immediately covered the scrape with bathroom caulk.

The panels are connected in parallel, and I'm still getting 18V from them when they're not connected to the battery. Can I still use them? If they don't work, will they just not charge my battery, or is there a possibility that they will discharge or damage my battery?

Thanks,
Anand Patil

[anand]

For the benefit of readers on the go, I'd like to point out that aiden1's post was not a response to my question.

Thanks,
Anand

[Jarod]

Hi all,

I have two panels of this kind: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=140354846181

Over the weekend, I was drilling holes in the frame so that I could lock them to the roof of my narrowboat. Much to my dismay, I dinged the back of one of them: the drill bit made about a 3mm diameter scrape all the way through to the glass, but didn't break the glass. I immediately covered the scrape with bathroom caulk.

The panels are connected in parallel, and I'm still getting 18V from them when they're not connected to the battery. Can I still use them? If they don't work, will they just not charge my battery, or is there a possibility that they will discharge or damage my battery?

Thanks,
Anand Patil

the panel will work, but may have a lower out put power and can't guarrantee for a long term usage,

[anand]

OK, thanks very much for the response.

Anand

[Mike90250]

...
Over the weekend, I was drilling holes in the frame so that I could lock them to the roof of my narrowboat. Much to my dismay, I dinged the back of one of them: the drill bit made about a 3mm diameter scrape all the way through to the glass, but didn't break the glass. I immediately covered the scrape with bathroom caulk....

You need to use a silicone type caulk, that's the only thing that will take the weather.
The damage is not immediate, but will be a long term ingress of water vapor, which will slowly degrade the panel. Check it visually every couple of months, and if you notice a brown (scorch) mark developing around a cell or internal wire, get ready to kiss it good by. You are likely good for a year or 2, but after 5 years, with the seal broken, you may see trouble then.

It's not going to hurt anything else, it's power will drop, and it may suck power from the other panel, reducing the charge going to your battery.

Maybe buy a spare, if you think that this size would not be available in the future (would make you rebuild your rack).

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A note here folks, when you modify a panel, which includes drilling holes in the frame, you have voided the factory warranty. The drill removes the anodized layer on the frame, can crack the glass or seal, and while it makes the panel fit your rack, your rack may not support the panel properly. This is all in the fine print. Maye pointless on a $40 panel, but important on a $400 one. Panel mfgs even make a special hole for the ground connection screw.

[anand]

Thanks Mike, like Jarod's email that's much better news than it could have been. I think I'll wait and see how it goes rather than buying a spare immediately.

I was pretty sure I was voiding the warranty, but that beats them getting stolen!

[Mike90250]

You can buy locking hardware, that needs a special tool to un-do, or use threadlock on the hardware when you mount it. That will slow theft down, but then you could have frustrated theives bash the panels. So get a web cam that uploads photos to a web site, hire a guard dog..... What a world we live in.

[netttech]

You can buy locking hardware, that needs a special tool to un-do, or use threadlock on the hardware when you mount it. That will slow theft down, but then you could have frustrated theives bash the panels. So get a web cam that uploads photos to a web site, hire a guard dog..... What a world we live in.

Is Panel theft that much of an issue? It's not like a car stereo that can be easily removed, hidden under a shirt.

As for the warranty, has anyone really tried to have a panel replaced via a warranty? Considering the general hassel it can become to return general merchandise, I would think panels would be a real feat.

Just thinking off-hand...
jeff

[Mike90250]

Actually, theft is an issue both urban & off grid.
and I've had one sharp 200W panel replaced under warranty. Things do matter