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Forum Index : Solar : Rissoles fisrt panel construction
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rissole Newbie  Joined: 10/05/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 15 |
Hi Guys, I am about to build my first solar panel (using 40 cells) using Oztules very excellent instructions, however I have 2 questions 1. What to use as backing, Oz recomends building paper, I'm not sure what this is and where to get it, looking through Bunnings I came accross 2 ideas, builders film,is available in 2 thicknesses and many sizes and is cheap. I think it is polythene, but can it handle the heat when I cook the EVA, the other thought was 3 mm coreflute, same question, can it handle the heat? 2. I had this brilliant idea to use a dead fridge carcass as my oven, my concern is can the internal plastic lining and insulation (foam) handle the heat, has anybody tried this? If not I will try it and let you know Rusty |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
I think anything plastic should be avoided. I'll find out about the building paper, but I suspect any plastics will gas when they get hot, and this can affect the panel. Same with the fridge, might be some toxic stuff in there once it gets hot. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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oztules Guru  Joined: 26/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686 |
Ok Rissole, Glen alerted me to your questions. For the backing, just heavy builders plastic will be better than the building paper. Clear is nice, as you can see what is going on on the back if you should ever experience trouble. The tyvek was a useful test backing, but clear plastic is better in many ways. You can use the plastic film for making the plastic bags to vacuum the cells in as well. ( I do to make the huge bags I needed for the 2mx1m panels. I think the fridge will be fine ....but only IF you keep the temp below the 110c mark. The plastic probably won't melt at these temps, as it is barely over boiling water.... but testing is proving..... and I use a chest freezer as the water reservoir on my home brew solar hot water system... insulated and free..... seems to take boiling water no problems. Dont use too much heat as your bag will fail anyway.... better to use more airflow, lower temps and more time. My home brew ones are doing over 27kwh hours at the moment.... so it can be done on a fair scale. This from Glen : "I think anything plastic should be avoided. I'll find out about the building paper, but I suspect any plastics will gas when they get hot, and this can affect the panel. Same with the fridge, might be some toxic stuff in there once it gets hot. " ... is probably sound advise in normal circumstances, but remember the panel is enclosed with a plastic bag anyway..... so if you melt the fridge, you will have melted the plastic bag set up anyway.....so try it and see..... ....And DONT over heat it in this arrangement, as it may all stick together... the plastic bag, the weep material, the EVA etc. If you want to try the fridge, then you will need to make sure the circulating heat is not much above 110C, other wise the plastic will probably start to cause trouble... in both the fridge lining and the panel bag. Small test runs is the key to this. Every installation is different. There is a very long post over on fieldlines http://www.fieldlines.com/index.php/topic,145004.0.html That will give you a blow by blow description by me and others who have done this, and the nett amount of knowledge we gleaned is more than I started with. All the best with it. Seal your output wiring well, it is the only weak link if you make it so. ..................oztules Flinders Island Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth |
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