Sylgard or TPE

[yopappamon]

I'll have to go back an read that thread again.

Doesn't the thinned silicone shrink on drying?

I'm thinking now about laying down a very small - heavily thinned layer of silcone on the glass, laying in the cells and making sure there are no bubbles, then overlaying everything with lighter thinned layer of silcone.

My cells are slightly warped and the first layer should hold them flat against the glass and keep air out. Probably will need to weight them down flat until it dries.

[Harold in CR]

Never read anything about Silicone shrinking.

Your latest plan is exactly what I have decided to do. I will lay lightweight Fibreglass Matte on the backside, mashed into the Silicone smeared all over the backside of the cells.

Wish I had easy access to Formica sheets. I would take a sheet, cut to just a tad under size to fit the frame, and s,ear paste wax on the Formica. Use that to lay on top of the glass matte and weight it with plastic bags of sand. It will peel up easily, without pulling the Silicone loose. Use on all the panels you ever build.

I really think we have a winner planned out. GOOD LUCK Wish my Son would get off his ass and ship my stuff down, ASAP.

In all fairness, he is VERY busy in the crappy economy, and works 14-16 hour days, 7 days a week.

I'm gonna rattle his cage, tonight.

[yopappamon]

I picked up the Glycerin today at lunch. $5.99 at the Rite Aide. Liquid suppositories. nice. We'll probably look like quite the perverts with those suppositories, tubes of silicone, and caulk gun!

Might try to run over the the big orange building and pick up the silicone and mineral spirits. get a test going soon.

I don't know if I will put a backing on mine. Maybe a layer of white silicone or blue if I can find it. or maybe a thin sheet of plastic board from the local crafts store.

I'm curious how well this will adhere to the glass. Will probably want to pour the different layers while the previous layer is still wet so they will bond well.

There must be some shrinkage when the mineral spirits evaperate. Probably only thickness changes though.

[yopappamon]

I don't remember, did anyone every talk about using Liquid Nails Clear Seal?

http://www.duspec.com/DuSpec2/product/ProductDocumentSearchController.htm?documentFormat=pdf&systemSetId=70&productCode=CS-144&documentType=datasheet

Someone tried it on this forum:

http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?1986-Possible-encapsulation-material/page3&highlight=encapsulation

[Harold in CR]

The link to that other forum was excellent. Thanks. Most of those guys are in the UK, so, I'm sticking with GE II Silicone.

[yopappamon]

Sounds like we need to be really careful about trapped air bubbles. Almost makes me want to go the Eva/tpe route.

[Harold in CR]

That's why I am spreading a thin layer all over the glass, and mashing the cells into it, with a layer of plywood or something, so I can put sand bags on it. Very slow, careful mixing, will help to NOT create many air bubbles.

I do have a small vacuum pump, and, might try to find a way to pull a vacuum on the mixing container, before spreading the mix. It is amazing how much foamy air can be drawn out of a mixed volume of liquid.

[dnmun]

if you cover your PV with this organic film then you will lose some efficiency and overall output will be reduced. also if the material is in contact with the PV itself, it may react chemically with the aluminum traces that carry the current and cause corrosion or delamination of the traces from the silicon surface. most panels have a glass cover, but you guys are making panels without it?

[Harold in CR]

Nope, we are using Glass or Lexan. The GE II Silicone has no bad chemical reaction. It won't corrode or eat into anything. Just have to be VERY careful when experimenting.

I have no problem with a slight under-performance. Just build 1 more panel or more