I look into how solar panels are made from time to time.  I formerly=20
concentrated on the soldering and tabbing, but today I found=20
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D_2UxOY_wpFo>.
I killed too much of the afternoon watching 3 parts, but learned a bit=20
about encapsulation.  This guy didn't use any TPT backsheet, although he=20
claims he does for better panels.  But the Dow Sylgard 184 encapsulant=20
he used is pretty pricey.  Probably $60 worth to make a single panel.
Makes me think Russel's consulting rates might be worthwhile.  ;)
Joe W



On 9/17/2012 4:54 AM, RussellMc wrote:
> Robin Bussell wrote:
>
>> I'd love to hear Russell's (or anyone else's for that matter ) take on
>> what these two are doing:
>
>> http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alex9000/the-solar-pocket-factory-an=
-invention-adventure
>
> Not a lot compared to what other people are offering on ebay  and the
> internet in general  - and in fact less than some others BUT they do
> offer a kitset and some get you going impetus which is helpful to
> some.
>
> I did like their clothespeg instant charger. Very cute
>
>              http://www.instructables.com/id/Five-minute-solar-phone-char=
ger/
>
>
> An area which is vitally crucial (or crucially vital) that they do not
> seem to have come to grips with yet is the range of extremely
> important roles that encapulants play in making a PV panel.
>
> They are currently offering epoxy resin.
> As they correctly observe, epoxy is good for about two years of UV
> exposure - and that depends on which epoxy you happen to use and
> whether you leave the PV panels in the weather all the time or not.
> Epoxy is a very poor material in many ways and was traditionally used
> because it was easy to use, relatively cheap and available. A quick
> skim indicates they do not do vacuum outgassing (can be done with low
> tech equipment if desired) which cam be a major requirement. depending
> on other factors.
>
> I will not go into vast details on what and why an encapsulant should
> be like but a good summary is low modulus (flexible) when set,
> excellent voidless adhesion to PV material, low dissolved water
> content, minimal UV degradation, minimal corrosive degradation
> products with time. Note that water permeability is not the same as
> dissolved water % and that the former  is far less important. For
> detailed reasons why please advise consulting rates paid :-).
>
>
>
>
>              Russell McMahon.
>

--=20
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