[RE-wrenches] Damaged PV module cells

[Ray Walters]

These days modules are so cheap, and so much more efficient, that I just 
reuse the racks, even if the existing modules are good. Racking, wiring, 
excavation all exceed the cost of the mods, so its what ever gets the 
customer the power they need for the lowest cost.

OTOH, if the system is still working, I'd just leave them alone, until 
there's an actual failure.  Funny thing is, those modules could be 
losing all kinds of power, but you might not really notice it, if its a 
non MPPT controller.  I do respect the grey haired folks that can still 
live on a 12 v system, the next generations do not have the patience.

I really don't work on 12 v systems much anymore, except to replace them 
in total.  I've found I can burn up a lot of $$ messing around, and the 
customer is still running on a 20+ year old system, that's never going 
to get younger again.  Grape Solar was not a top brand BTW.

Ray Walters

On 7/16/2023 4:18 PM, Kent via RE-wrenches wrote:
> I think these modules are about 12 years old. I didn't have a 
> voltmeter or ammeter with me this morning when this was discovered so 
> I wasn't able to check the output.
>
> Kent Osterberg
> Blue Mountain Solar
>
>
> On 7/16/2023 3:06 PM, Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar via RE-wrenches wrote:
>> Hi Kent, How is output and how old are the panels?
>>   
>> *Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar "we go where powerlines don't" 
>> http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ e-mail offgridsolar at sti.net text 
>> 209 813 0060*
>>
>>
>> On 2023-07-16 2:58 pm, Kent via RE-wrenches wrote:
>>
>>> Found some damage to a customer's Grape CS-S-180-DJ PV modules this 
>>> morning. Unlike anything I've ever seen; so I'm hoping that someone 
>>> on this list can tell me the cause. I've put several photos of the 
>>> cells online 
>>> <https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nQhTqahEx4whmmWyy89tqaEEGvzkvEps?usp=sharing> 
>>> so you can inspect them. While it looks like there has been some 
>>> localized heating on the traces, there isn't any evidence of damage 
>>> on the rear of the PV modules. These are on an off grid system 
>>> charging some 12-volt batteries. Thanks.
>>>
>>> Kent Osterberg
>>> Blue Mountain Solar
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>>>
>>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org
>>>
>>> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>>
>>> Change listserver email address & settings:
>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>>
>>> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, 
>>> try the other:
>>> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/
>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>>
>>> List rules & etiquette:
>>> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>>>
>>> Check out or update participant bios:
>>> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>>
>> Pay optional member dues here:http://re-wrenches.org
>>
>> List Address:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>
>> Change listserver email address & settings:
>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>
>> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other:
>> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/
>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>
>> List rules & etiquette:
>> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>>
>> Check out or update participant bios:
>> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> Pay optional member dues here:http://re-wrenches.org
>
> List Address:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out or update participant bios:
> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20230716/c4d7a007/attachment.htm>