Idea for keeping panels dry....

[Calgirl]

I have built, so far, two panels....neither one to completion as I have been trying to find the best and most inexpensive way to do things. My frames are aluminum "U" channel and I finally found out about aluminum brazing rods to seal the corners. I also just recieved the the "804" sealant yesterday in the mail. Now, the only remaining issue is preventing condensation inside of the panel. I am wondering if inserting a clear plastic tube into the lower portion of the panel, filled with dessicant, and done in such a way that I will have access to the interior of the tubing to change the dissicant if/as needed. The plastic tube would be siliconed to the panel back and have tiny holes drilled into the exposed side of the tubing. If needed, landscaper's cloth could be used to seal the holes while still allowing air to pass thru. If I fix the panel frame so that I have access to the tubing interior, I could change the dessicant and then re-seal the tubing access point. I have also thought about installing a port to allow me to fill the interior of the panel with nitrogen, or some gas that would not allow condensation. Moisture is a real issue for me as I live in a very humid area.
Slygard is too expensive for me as I intend to build about 10 panels. Any thoughts or upgrade ideas will be appreciated. Thanks.

[Mike90250]

You must be careful with nitrogen or Co2/Dry Ice purge, to not pressurize the panel and "bow" it or have it inflate. That would be bad.
Weekly change out of a desiccant in a tube may work, use the stuff with the pink/blue indicator color in it. Change it when the blue fades, and before the pink shows. You may want a solar oven to re-dry the desiccant .

[awesomeguy]

I also just received the the "804" sealant yesterday in the mail. Now, the only remaining issue is preventing condensation inside of the panel.thanks for the info.

[Pylonman]

I used a little bag of silica. Can be found in the anti-static bags for computer hard drives. Fairly small, about the quarter the size of a tea bag.

[Calgirl]

Encapsulating panels

I've decided to encapsulate my cells with Solar-Tite encapsulant. I found some on ebay but the seller only accepts two types of credit cards (which I don't have)....I don't trust myself with the kind you don't have to pay off every month! With my growing interest in solar, I'd be maxed-out in no time!

[SolarTekkie]

So if you build a panel of say, wallboard with air in between the lexan and the wallboard, and then seal the edges together with silicone, there will end up being condensation in the middle? there's about 1mm of space in between the two, they are just sandwiched together with only the width of the cells separating them.