My 10 watt panel with using solar-tite 384 encapsulant instead of sylgard

[Pylonman]

I'd try a little of the Solartite on a broken cell and test it out first. I too have used another product and it totally wrecked my panel.

In hindsight, if you take a bunch of time building your own panel, spend the extra bucks and just use Sylgard. You could save money else where. (Like use a single pane window with a frame. $10 at a New or Used Building supplies. Instead of building your own frames) I've purchased it 3 times and each time I was please with the outcome. In our high humidity did take about 3 days to set up. Do it in a room wear bugs or cats won't land on the sticky surface.

[electricsuperduty]

the guy sent me another batch and it was ok, but it was too late, the first crappy batch had f'ed up the panel.
Ive never had any issues with Sylgard.

[mudmagnet]

Hi All,
I'm in the process of gathering information about building my own panels.
I looked at the site that had the panels a <2.00 a watt and if I could go there and pick them up I would be out the door already, but as 5000 miles is a little out of my way and shipping was more than double what the panels were going for, I guess I'll just build my own.

@ Electricsuperduty, Did you only try the one batch or did you go with Sylguard? I've read were the setup time is about 30 minutes or so with the Solar-Tite.
@Richevie, I too was a pole jockey and am happy not having to work for anyone. what is the largest panel you've made and how did you build your frames?

[electricsuperduty]

So, political and financial opinions aside, does anyone have any experience with SOLAR-TITE?

@Energy_freeloader, Have you gone ahead and tried it? How did it work out?

Yes I've used solartite. The first batch failed terribly ruining my panel. It set up in like 2 minutes. No time to seep around cells. The supplier said I got a bad batch and wanted too send me more but the damage was done. I don't know who makes it but quality control is not there.

[Tescalada]

Did anyone read the original post?

So, political and financial opinions aside, does anyone have any experience with SOLAR-TITE?

@Energy_freeloader, Have you gone ahead and tried it? How did it work out?

[richevie]

Hi Rich - Welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

Regarding solar PV and fire - It has happened and can be found easily if you type in 'solar PV fire' - I don't know how you searched but ----

So PA allows non - UL (or equivalent) certified electrical equipment to be connected into the grid electric system - no problem? Insurance company has no problem with that? I didn't realize that PA was so backwards - what I have seen of it is a modern state.

You get a check from the utility every month - what size system etc?

No mention of any facts except a lot of smoke and a poor search.

DIY has it's place - makes a wonderful science project.

You can buy individual factory built and guaranteed panels for under 2$ per DC watt today. Your DIY costs are not at all attractive.

You can buy grid tie systems (including inverter) with all except mounting hardware and cable for 1.81$ per watt DC.

You are blowing a bit of smoke as best as I can tell! Your indignation and attempt to throw in military background (I put in 4 years as well) is quite something!

Russ

Russ when I get my check in June I will scan it and show you the proof. I have already put my first quarter check in the bank. I was not boasting that I was in the military I was just giving a little back ground on myself.

By the way thanks for welcoming me to solar panel talk.

[richevie]

As I said in my post if the diy panels are built and installed correctly they can be as safe as UL listed ones. Let's see how many wrongs I can find with this picture. Panels not encapsulated,(which may have caused an arc from them), panels mounted directly on roof with little or no air flow under them (first thing I learned was how hot panels get), plastic sheeting used, looks like something for the big box stores to me, I could be wrong on that one. I am sure there are more I just don't want to get into a debate about all of the wrongs. If you do all homework first these DIY panels can be very safe.

In 2009, U.S. fire departments responded to 362,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 12,650 civilian injuries, 2,565 civilian deaths, $7.6 billion in direct damage.

*

92% of all civilian structure fire deaths resulted from home structure fires.
*
Cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries.
*
Kitchens are the leading area of origin for home structure fires (41%) and civilian home fire injuries (36%).
*
Only 4% of home fires started in the living room, family room, or den; these fires caused 23% of home fire deaths.
*
8% of reported home fires started in the bedroom. These fires caused 24% of home fire deaths, 21% of home fire injuries, and 15% of the direct property damage.
*
Smoking is a leading cause of civilian home fire deaths.
*
December, January and February were the peak months for reported home structure fires and home fire deaths.
*
Almost two-thirds (63%) of reported home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
* Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2009, 9 home fires killed five or more people. These 9 fires resulted in 59 deaths

This came from the NFPA fire statistics
The 2010 stats are not in yet so I had to use the 2009 stats.



UL listed solar panel fire

http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_8a32fb03-9e3f-58ca-b860-9c7fe1e28c7e.html

Here is the proof that even UL listed items and professional pv systems can cause fires as I said before you still need to know what the heck you are doing when building these but they can be safe. I have found way more UL listed pv fires than I have with correctly installed DIY pv systems.

[russ]

Hi Rich - Welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

Regarding solar PV and fire - It has happened and can be found easily if you type in 'solar PV fire' - I don't know how you searched but ----

So PA allows non - UL (or equivalent) certified electrical equipment to be connected into the grid electric system - no problem? Insurance company has no problem with that? I didn't realize that PA was so backwards - what I have seen of it is a modern state.

You get a check from the utility every month - what size system etc?

No mention of any facts except a lot of smoke and a poor search.

DIY has it's place - makes a wonderful science project.

You can buy individual factory built and guaranteed panels for under 2$ per DC watt today. Your DIY costs are not at all attractive.

You can buy grid tie systems (including inverter) with all except mounting hardware and cable for 1.81$ per watt DC.

You are blowing a bit of smoke as best as I can tell! Your indignation and attempt to throw in military background (I put in 4 years as well) is quite something!

Russ

[Mike90250]

fire

[richevie]

Just came across this site today and have a few issues with some of the post that are being placed here. I was a power lineman for over 25 yrs with military training in grid systems. I also do diy solar, hydro and wind. I have all three running at my home as I write this. My first diy solar was done over 5 yrs ago and is still connected to my home grid ( yes the power company and our insurance companies know) so I don't know where you get your information from Russ but here in Pa. they come to the house inspect it and then allow you to connect it to the grid. Of course you must have it fused and wired correctly. Now in the past year my electric company is now sending me a check for the electric that I send into the grid. So with all three systems I have free electric and get a check every 3 months from them. Now about the insurance companies all my insurance company wanted from us was a passing grade from the power company and our local building inspector. Now I looked on the net to see if I could find any home fires from diy solar panels and did not find a single one, I did not search for long so may have missed them. Now I know of many home fires from a UL listed toaster, fridge, dryer and many other appliances that everyone has in there homes. So please show all of us your information and give us your vast knowledge. If you can not back it up with proof then stop talking about issues that may only pertain to your neck of the woods not everyone's. I am not trying to start a fight or debate but I just don't like people attacking others when they don't have all the facts but think they do. I am now building a few panels for my neighbor and my cost is $84 for cells, solder, diodes, flux pen. Free tempered glass from an old school that they torn down about 10 miles from my house I have 93 more sheets left. 6.85 for the aluminum frame and about 40 bucks for the sylgard so total i spend for 2 60 watt panels is 170.85 that is everything except for my time which is free for me because I am retired at 45. So I guess I have made the right choices in life to retire that early in life so I don't want to hear put you money in an ira or anything else to pay my electric bill later in life. DIY solar is a great project for people and if they do all the homework before they start it can be as safe as a ul listed item.

[russ]

Right today UL approved panels are available on the net (all plus shipping)

All prices are for individual panels - http://www.sunelec.com/

Canadian Solar 215 watt UL approved 1.89$ per watt
Evergreen 215 watt UL approved 2.23 $ per watt
Suntech 275 watt UL approved 1.84$ per watt.

There are other sites that are competitive with Sunelec.

The previous posts of mine were replying to a new and ex member that was pushing DİY with unrealistic examples - apparently flogging one particular site.

DIY is great if one wants to do it but it is not as easy as people would like you to believe. DIY panels can NOT be used in a grid connect system and not placed on an insured structure.

Plug and play sounds neat but it is total smoke. Not whatsoever legal. No 'plug and play' device is UL approved.

Russ

[russ]

Your 20 year panel? Tell us in 10 years.

Competition has driven down the cost of panels - nothing to do with DIY. The big panel manufacturers don't even realize DIY exists. It would be a small fraction of a percent of the market at most.

Plug and play - good luck in the event of a fire or other problem - not legal. At that point you would have serious problems with insurance and the utility as well - I guess you could build more panels and go off grid when they remove your grid connection.

The glass on panels is plenty thick - the thickness is not selected by accident. With the extra thickness you simply make the unit more heavy than there is reason for.

Russ

[russ]

I have seen some pictures of very nice looking DIY - think it is user Steve C that has photos posted here. There are others as well that have something they can show off with pride.

That type of individual with the skills and the tools is not common. A very high percentage of us will never manage that. The encapsulating part and equipment is the most difficult for everyone.

The electrical side is more touchy - it can have severe implications if not done correctly.

DIY PV makes a great science project for many and a great home project for a few. The books that make it sound easy are very misleading - to the point of being dishonest.

Legal implications are many and some are very negative.

Russ

[conntaxman]

russ

There is a bit of a difference between the first panel a company makes and what most individuals will ever be able to make.

1) The company will have the proper equipment

2) The company will employee people with the necessary skills

3) The company will make the effort to get the UL listing which an individual can not.

4) That is thermopane - not thermopain - unless you cut or burn yourself working with it.

5) The insulated glass arrangement will jack up the cost more than ever. I have used that scheme to protect art glass in my home.

Russ

----------------------------------
.
Russ, my main point I guess was about people trying to degrade someone else or calling them stupid .Some of those type of people never tried or could do what they are talking about.That's all.
I always give people credit for trying.
John
And i admit that Im not always correct and still do ask questions.

[Mike90250]

Its something to read were one is telling the other, "oh you can't do it//your going to make Junk//they won't last 20 years// on on on ..I guess some people just like putting others down.
For those making panels, keep up the good work, and I think that most know what they are getting into and how to go about it, and are having Fun

We have 2 choices for folks building PV panels. Encourage. Discourage.

As there are few, long life, DIY panels, and most people don't even have the vaguest idea what the conditions are for them to work, and blindly purchase scrap parts from flea bay, sinking hundreds of $$ into something THEY think is going to save them $, but in the long term, will only be an expensive science experiment better done with $50 worth of parts. Most home builders have no concept of bypass or blocking diodes, fuses, or the explosive power of batteries.

SolarPanelFire_1c.jpg
Yey - build me one too. or Bummer, have fun with it while it lasts. But don't spend any more $$ on it.