Solar panels and rainwater harvesting

[wrekless]

I am in the process of having Sunpower 345 panels installed on a roof that I am also planning to harvest rainwater from for in home use. One rainwater contractor that was doing a site inspection today expressed concerns that in the event of panel damage or deterioration some nasty stuff lcould end up in our water. He even suggested not collecting water from that roof. He also believed not all panels were potentially harmful. He has installed rainwater systems for 14 years and has an excellent reputation in this area. No one else has mentioned this before, and I have not run across this in my own research so far. Any feedback would be appreciated, thanks.

[Mike90250]

1) for panels to carry a 20 year warranty, I would assume that they are chemically inert.

2) I would suspect the mounting hole sealant more then PV panels.

3) I'd let the roof age for a year, before harvesting water from it in any case.

The rainwater guy does not understand the testing and durability of PV panels, they are sealed and nearly inert.

[foo1bar]

1) for panels to carry a 20 year warranty, I would assume that they are chemically inert.

2) I would suspect the mounting hole sealant more then PV panels.

+1...

The roof sealant and granules knocked loose from the installers walking on the roof is what I would worry about a LOT more than the panels or the wires.
And maybe there might be some anti-seize washed off the bolts in the first year (but that stuff seems to stick really well to anything it gets on)

[wrekless]

Galvalume roof installed last summer, don't think that's an issue.
Generally from what I have found does not seem to be a big problem.
But, I found this study, under laboratory conditions evidence of slightly elevated levels of various metals.

http://water.usgs.gov/wrri/10grants/progress/2010TX360B.pdf

[russ]

Read the study rather than just post it - it says "These experiments were carried using amorphous silicon thin-film/flexible solarpanels.".

Meaningless for silicone cell panels.

[wrekless]

I did read it, but I'm just not as smart as you.

[foo1bar]

I did read it, but I'm just not as smart as you.

The study was using flexible cells.
Most likely those are NOT what you're going to put on your roof.
Most likely you are going to install panels that are rigid solar cells where the rain water is going to be falling on glass (and alum. frame)

[wrekless]

Thanks for that.

The study was using flexible cells.
Most likely those are NOT what you're going to put on your roof.
Most likely you are going to install panels that are rigid solar cells where the rain water is going to be falling on glass (and alum. frame)

[russ]

If you look on the net you can find studies for and against about everything.

The garbage out of the air is far more toxic that anything washing off a silicone panel.

[inetdog]

Read the study rather than just post it - it says "These experiments were carried using amorphous silicon thin-film/flexible solarpanels.".

Meaningless for silicone cell panels.

Even more meaningless for silicon crystalline panels.

[russ]

Even more meaningless for silicon crystalline panels.

Oh gee!

[inetdog]

Oh gee!

Many years ago, the pundits commented that Silicon Valley was the area around Santa Clara and San Jose where the high tech companies were concentrated, while Silicone Valley was the Broadway district in San Francisco where all of the strip clubs were located.

[oilerlord]

Read the study rather than just post it - it says "These experiments were carried using amorphous silicon thin-film/flexible solarpanels.".

Meaningless for silicone cell panels.

I've run dozens of hands-on experiments. After years of research, my personal preference are "D" size silicone cells.

[inetdog]

I've run dozens of hands-on experiments. After years of research, my personal preference are "D" size silicone cells.

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[oilerlord]

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While B and C cells are typically naturally grown, silicone D cells are more impressive and less prone to sagging over time. Some say they also look better from street level and are more uniform in shape. Sorry about that, I should have made myself clear.