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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hello Drake,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>(silicon not silicone) Good question about
thickness. I recently inspected a circa 1996 solar
array with 300 micron thick, 6-inch round cells encapsulated
behind 3 mm thick glass and found a few cracked cells and impact
fractures. Today, some cells are 260 to 200 microns and even down to 180 to
160 microns thick. I think if the cells are handled properly, and the glass is 4
mm thick, and the module frame is strong enough to minimize twisting, and the
modules are handled and installed with care, then cell breakage can be kept to a
minimum. It's not how thin the cells are. It is how the cells and modules
are encapsulated and handled.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Joel Davidson</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=drake.chamberlin@redwoodalliance.org
href="mailto:drake.chamberlin@redwoodalliance.org">Drake Chamberlin</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, May 22, 2010 1:39
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] 30-year old PV
module</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Thanks for the excellent article. I have two of these old
Arcos, and they still put out like new, even though one was (apparently) used
in a concentrator, due to the fact that it came bronzed. <BR><BR>Do you
think the newer modules, with thinner silicone, will last as
long?<BR><BR><BR><BR>At 10:53 AM 5/21/2010, you wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite">If your prospect asks how long do
PV modules last, refer them to this article<BR><A
href="http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/testing-thirty-year-old-photovoltaic-module"
eudora="autourl">http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/testing-thirty-year-old-photovoltaic-module</A>
</BLOCKQUOTE><X-SIGSEP>
<P></X-SIGSEP><FONT color=#0000ff>Drake Chamberlin<BR>Athens Electric<BR>OH
License 44810<BR>CO License 3773<BR>NABCEP </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff
size=1>TM </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff>Certified PV Installer <BR>Office -
740-448-7328<BR>Mobile - 740-856-9648 </FONT>
<P>
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