Solar panels, is protection required ?

[anniebray]

I have just bought 2x 60w rigid solar panels from Ebay. They seem quite robustly made using toughened glass, extruded aluminium frame , & sikaflex type adhesive/sealant. The glands for the power supply cable where they exit the terminal box do not seal properly but that's an easy fix.

I plan to use them in portable mode rather than fixed, I don't want to have a support arch on my boat. One way I might use them is attached to the guard wires & propped up. In that situation it is inevitable that they might occasionally get sprayed by sea water. So the question is do they need protection ? Should I paint the underside of the panel with Bitumous paint. Any suggestions ?

Depending on the direction of the Sun & whether I'm moored or sailing, there are many other ways I might mount them eg one edge fixed to guard wire other edge hauled up on a halliard or perhaps even a demountable pole with tilting frame mechanism clamped to the pushpit.

 

[VicS]

So the question is do they need protection ? Should I paint the underside of the panel with Bitumous paint. Any suggestions ?

We dont know what you have bought!

Refer to the specification. It should tell you if they are fully sealed and suitable for permanent outdoor mounting or not.

Non sealed terminal boxes is not a good start. In fact if they are supposed to be suitable for permanent outdoor mounting but don't have properly sealed junction boxes sent them back ... the whole standard of construction could be just as poor.

At least if you are not permanently mounting them you can stow them away when the weather is bad.

 

[anniebray]

We dont know what you have bought!

Refer to the specification. It should tell you if they are fully sealed and suitable for permanent outdoor mounting or not.

Non sealed terminal boxes is not a good start. In fact if they are supposed to be suitable for permanent outdoor mounting but don't have properly sealed junction boxes sent them back ... the whole standard of construction could be just as poor.

At least if you are not permanently mounting them you can stow them away when the weather is bad.

Bought from www.greenerelectric 60w rigid solar panel + controller +adhesive/sealant. (£140 inc postage thro Ebay) Advised as suitable for permanent mounting on motor home, boat etc. Warranted output for 25yrs excluding broken glass. Numerous tech specs but not alluding to construction. Solar panel crystals are sandwiched between toughened glass & what appears to be a self adhesive plastic film then fitted into a groove in a mitred frame of extruded aluminium all copiously sealed and stuck with something like Sikaflex. The frame holds together by being stuck to the panel. I shall at minimum fit aluminium corner triangular plates at the rear. I can forgive the careless terminal wire sealing because it's otherwise so good. The terminal box cover has O ring sealing.

Perhaps I'm being over fussy but I would like to benefit from the experience of others with similar construction panels. And yes, I am planning to stow (540 x 900 x 30) maybe in a purpose made canvas bag.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Your link doesn't work. I think you've missed off ".com" ".co.uk" or some other suffix.

If you modify the panels you'll almost certainly void the guarantee. However, I can't help but think that a 25 year guarantee on a solar panel is optimistic. If Greenelectric aren't around in 5 years then it's meaningless as a guarantee.

The trouble is that you are probably wanting assurances about the longevity of a product that, in all likelihood, hasn't been on the market for that long. Nobody can really tell you, they can only give an impression.

If it was £140 for both panels with all the gizzmos it's not a bad price.

 

[vyv_cox]

I worked in the bitumen products industry for seven years. I wouldn't paint anything with bituminous paint. For aluminium this would perhaps be the worst coating that could be contemplated.

I have had a semi-flexible panel mounted on my saloon roof for more than 14 years. It still works, although the plastic over the cells is beginning to delaminate. My rigid panels are three years old and have no visible corrosion. They are permanently mounted.

 

[VicS]

The link should be http://www.greenerelectric.com/ but I cannot actually find 60watt panels mentioned.

40, 80 or 160 and a neat little 5.

 

[anniebray]

Get on Ebay UK & key in 130494928327 that should get you the 60w Solar Panel. I expect most sales are thro Ebay.

BTW I've had it working at home charging my 20ah portable starter battery. Seems to be working fine. I was very surprised how it was packed ...just a single layer of bubblewrap inside a not very heavyweight cardboard box without even a fragile label so I suppose that speaks well of its construction. I've already ordered a second one !

 

[Sy-Revolution]

I think you'll find that the corners have a L piece fitted inside the extrusion. whether it's mild steel or Ali though I wouldn't like to guess.

The 25 year guarantee probably refers to panel output, not frame manufacture. Thing is they're a lot cheaper than Kyoceras etc, so if they don't last forever so what?