Brown gunge coming out of my solar panel

[LadyViolet]

Two years ago I bought a solar panel from a firm called Windgen Marine. It has worked perfectly well but I have just noticed there is some nasty-looking brown gunge oozing out of the little junction box where the cable connects to the panel. Is this something I should be concerned about? Does anyone know what it might be? I have tried contacting the company but the phone number I have no longer works and the web-site is no longer operational.

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[Pelican]

My last solar panel, which lasted 10 years had the same problem, and the panel itself turned brown also, but as it continued to work I did nothing about it. I only changed it recently for a more powerful one. I'd think, don't worry as long as it works!
Pelican


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[Robin]

It might be something as simple as rust running out from steel screws in a cheapo terminal block connector, have you opened the junction box for a look?

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[LadyViolet]

I haven't opened the junction box up, as there is no obvious means of doing so and I don't want to cause any unnecessary damage.

As for rust, I think that is unlikely -- the sheer quantity of the stuff and its colour and consistency (looks rather like butterscotch flavour Bird's Instant Whip, and no, I haven't tasted it!), makes me think there was some sort of packing material which has gone off.

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[Robin]

Is this then part of the panel or is it separate box with wires from the panel that are accessible? If the latter could you not fit a new junction box? Our panels both have large junction boxes which can be opened for the connections to the batteries to be made.

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[tcm]

As you say, it is in fact Bird's Butterscotch Instant Whip, which is a well-known adhesive /mastic used to attract workers to the elctronics industry, as a erm sweetener.

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[wakeup]

Sounds more like over packed fudge!!

<hr width=100% size=1>.....can't be arsed.....

 

[tcm]

yeah! I just know you and i would have come to a conclusion about this, altho possibly be in hospital...

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[LadyViolet]

The junction box is attached to the top of the panel at one end. It is about 1 inch square and 1/2 inch high.

And I don't think the gunge is fudge.

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[charles_reed]

Inaction..

is probably the best course to take.

The brown gunge may be the encapsulation material breaking down from around the blocking diode.
As long as it works leave well alone - you'll have to destroy the box to check the contents and encapsulation is only a method of waterproofing the items inside.

Most panels are made by one of the larger companies, Siemens, BP/Solarex or one of the US manufacturers. If you can find out who it was (your Windgen was probably an agent) you could contact them direct.

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