[RE-wrenches] recover broken modules

[Ron Young]

We recently bought some broken modules from a supplier --at a very  
good price- to see if we could work something out. After looking into  
a variety of options we settled on a lexan sheet cut to size and  
secured with polyurethane adhesive along the frame edges. The reason  
we chose lexan was due to the fact it is flexible and the broken  
modules we purchased actually had a convex shape due to the impact  
they received. The polyu worked well on the module with an aluminum  
frame but did not like the one with a painted frame so much. The  
problem we couldn't solve is the loss of Voc & Isc due to refraction &  
reflection from the broken bits of glass. Removing it did not seem  
like an option.

Ron Young

On 27-May-10, at 8:11 AM, Joel Davidson wrote:

> Jeff,
>
> You can put another glass front on top of the module to protect the  
> cells and wiring to get a few more years use from the module. My  
> customer got 3 years of use from a broken module in extreme Alaska  
> weather. Other customers had similar luck.
>
> 1. Clean with low pressure dry air to remove loose glass and dirt.  
> Be careful with flying glass and avoid damaging cells,  
> interconnects, and bus wires.
> 2. Inspect and repair backsheet tears.
> 3. Test to ensure Voc and Isc are within specifications.
> 4. Wipe front edge of frame with clean, dry cotton cloth.
> 5. Apply non-acid silicone RTV on front edge of frame.
> 6. Apply glass cover module and let silicone seal cure for at least  
> 24 hours.
>
> Good luck.
> Joel Davidson
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jeff Yago
> To: RE-wrenches
> Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 8:19 PM
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] recover broken modules
>
> Over the past few years we have had our share of modules damaged in  
> shipment or in handling on our end that were never installed but had  
> broken glazing.  As you know, when these things go they usually look  
> like a car windshield, with the vinyl backing holding all the broken  
> small glass pieces together.  Seems like a shame to trash, is there  
> anyone out there with a way to re-glaze a new module with broken  
> glazing.
>
> Any chance you could just place a new glass glazing over the broken  
> glass and seal?  Or some way to remove the glass pieces without  
> damaging the module cells and inter-connect foil connections being  
> held in place by the backing. Seems like a business opportunity,
>
> Jeff Yago
>
>
> Netscape.  Just the Net You Need.
>
>
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