You will have to order the tempered glass in the size and thickness you want, since it can't be cut to size. Stores might do this
and charge a big markup. I went to the local industrial glass place and got a decent deal. I made a $300 order and made
sure my transportation was in order to pick it up.
Its pretty hard to justify shipping glass. After I finished attempting DIY panels there were still a few completed frames
around, but they will probably go to scrap. pVfr1.JPGPVfr5.JPG
And then there's the question of iron content. Usually, glass for solar applications, both thermal and PV has a low iron content to increase normal (perpendicular) transmittance to something around 0.90+. Additionally, the glass for PV applications is pretty thin making it more fragile. Then, there's the ARC (anti reflection coating) question.
I suspect you'll have more challenges than expected even if you do find a source of 3 or 4 mm thickness low iron glass that is transportable and get it in one piece.
Education or experiment ? Not trying to rain on your parade, but If your doing this to save $$, you're on a fool's errand.
education, expirement, assembly, repair & maintenance etc. I know its much cheaper to build yourself. Its all about finding the right suppliers and will make few phone calls to local companies in canada. A fools errand is exactly what I expect.
Enough of your Opinions on this matter. Im here to ask for Contacts. if you know someone. Let me know dont waste time with opinions
Makes no sense JPM WHy im here in DIY Solar Forum and you constantly try to discourage Folks from DIY there own Panels.
You may call me a Fool. But im no Bigger fool than you perhaps.
education, expirement, assembly, repair & maintenance etc. I know its much cheaper to build yourself. Its all about finding the right suppliers and will make few phone calls to local companies in canada. A fools errand is exactly what I expect.
Enough of your Opinions on this matter. Im here to ask for Contacts. if you know someone. Let me know dont waste time with opinions
Makes no sense JPM WHy im here in DIY Solar Forum and you constantly try to discourage Folks from DIY there own Panels.
You may call me a Fool. But im no Bigger fool than you perhaps.
I think I called it a fool's errand. But, since you bring it up, I'm the biggest fool I know of. Thanx for the warning. Have a nice life.
If you already have a curing oven and vacuum ability, you may be able to learn and make some usable panels. Otherwise don't expect them to last a few years. DIY panels are for learning. you will not likely make 25yr 80% panels for less than current market prices. but if you wish to learn, learn you certainly will.
How about buying cheap grid tie panels and parting them out and using the glass? It's just the right size for a DIY panel project, and if you're really careful with the disassembly you could end up with a lot of usable extras, like frame material, maybe even the cells themselves.
Last edited by sdold; 10-27-2016, 01:32 PM.
Reason: Changed font
Yes I know Logan. And you also missed Slygard also as a option for encapsulating cells.
Im going to contact local glass shops and see what they may have for tempered glass. If I can get just clear glass, or low iron. Who knows.
I just know I need something local.
I contacted "That Solar Place" in the city. There is no manufacture in Alberta. More than likely have to contact like Rynorgy in California or something. Or a Ontario Company.
Anybody Know of any chinese Companies that sell Tempered glass
Comment