Hello, I am looking to putting a very large array on my house and found used panels at a great price from santansolar. The description says "Missing outside vinyl layer. Moisture barrier is intact". What purpose does the outside vinyl layer serve and should I buy panels missing it?
Used panels without vinyl.
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Thank for the reply. Here's the link https://www.ebay.com/itm/264728740518
gnubie
Solar Wizard
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Wow, it is the back of the sheet that is missing. The mind boggles at how that happened and to be honest I'm not even sure of the full consequences of that. The sheet itself would give better mechanical protection to the cells, making it harder for something to scratch or punch through during handling.
Hey gnubie,
I’m looking into the same panels basically, obviously a different listing at this point but same issue. Do you think it would be worth while to buy these or do you think that panels missing the back like this is just a hard pass. I’m new to solar, I know basically nothing. And I’m trying to expand my array!
ebertoli
Hogging the sun!
I ordered some of these. Santan solar has a good reputation and they said on the listing that the power output of them is good that the EVA moisture barrier is still intact.
I also ordered a Boviet 370W for $145 because I want to try strapping that to the roof of my Honda Element for camping. For 20 of the backsheet problem panels for $600, the boviet and freight of $280, I paid $1023. I have a way to use and test them individually which I will do when they get here, but I don't have a way to mount or even use them all at the moment. I am hoping to find some backing to put on them and will sacrifice one or two to the test when I decide what I should use. I need to figure out what will provide the protection I want without damaging the panel and that is also something easy enough for me to apply. There are some other discussions on here about repairing backsheets and some discussion on other sites that I have seen, but some suggest uv curable coatings that I believe need specialized equipment.
I'll keep you posted when I get them and have tested them all and then when I figure out what to do about the missing backsheets. I thought it was worth it to try to get a cheap 5kW system. They're due to arrive late tomorrow. Maybe by next week I'll have a few tested and will have researched how I want to go about coating the back.
I also ordered a Boviet 370W for $145 because I want to try strapping that to the roof of my Honda Element for camping. For 20 of the backsheet problem panels for $600, the boviet and freight of $280, I paid $1023. I have a way to use and test them individually which I will do when they get here, but I don't have a way to mount or even use them all at the moment. I am hoping to find some backing to put on them and will sacrifice one or two to the test when I decide what I should use. I need to figure out what will provide the protection I want without damaging the panel and that is also something easy enough for me to apply. There are some other discussions on here about repairing backsheets and some discussion on other sites that I have seen, but some suggest uv curable coatings that I believe need specialized equipment.
I'll keep you posted when I get them and have tested them all and then when I figure out what to do about the missing backsheets. I thought it was worth it to try to get a cheap 5kW system. They're due to arrive late tomorrow. Maybe by next week I'll have a few tested and will have researched how I want to go about coating the back.
I was looking to get the same panels, 2 lots of 20. With 10 kw, would o most run my house. If I was to paint the back? Would that help protect the EVA moisture barrier?
I was thinking of using Rust-Oleum Professional Enamel Gloss White.
I was thinking of using Rust-Oleum Professional Enamel Gloss White.
Rust-Oleum Professional 1 gal. High Performance Protective Enamel Gloss White Oil-Based Interior/Exterior Paint K7792402 - The Home Depot
Rust-Oleum Professional High Performance Enamels provide superior coverage, hiding and corrosion protection. They can be applied to metal, wood, concrete and masonry. Designed to resist abrasion, prevent
www.homedepot.com
Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
Rust-Oleum sometimes uses and oxide to prevent rust and I would want to know if it conducts current. Any vinyl paint should work. No need for rust prevention.
ghostwriter66
"Here - Hold my Beer"
MY advice is to contact the MANUFACTURER of the solar panels and ASK THEM these questions ... personally I would NOT risk anything missing any layers UNLESS the manufacture clearly told me the ramifications ... YEP they may all be working great now -- then you get them on the roof -- a few months of blazing heat -- and suddenly you see why they were dumped on the market in the first place .... No harm reaching out to the manufacturer .. be honest .. tell them you are buying some of their used panels and just want some advice ....
So would something like that work.
Can you recommend a vinyl paint?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Ol...te-Vinyl-Spray-Paint-6-Pack-1911830/202058617
Can you recommend a vinyl paint?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Ol...te-Vinyl-Spray-Paint-6-Pack-1911830/202058617
ebertoli
Hogging the sun!
ghostwriter66 - the panels have the manufacturer's label removed.
ebertoli
Hogging the sun!
I was looking to get the same panels, 2 lots of 20. With 10 kw, would o most run my house. If I was to paint the back? Would that help protect the EVA moisture barrier?
I was thinking of using Rust-Oleum Professional Enamel Gloss White.
Rust-Oleum Professional 1 gal. High Performance Protective Enamel Gloss White Oil-Based Interior/Exterior Paint K7792402 - The Home Depot
Rust-Oleum Professional High Performance Enamels provide superior coverage, hiding and corrosion protection. They can be applied to metal, wood, concrete and masonry. Designed to resist abrasion, preventwww.homedepot.com
I wouldn't paint them with just anything. I've seen different suggestions on this forum and others out there. They're usually talking about some kind of silicon that doesn't have chemicals in it that would harm the ability of the panels to function.
ghostwriter66 - the panels have the manufacturer's label removed.
Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
If the manufacturers label has been removed there is a chance that those were warranty returns. I had a warranty replacement on some BP panels a few years ago and the installer who helped me told me that all he had to do want tear off the labels and send them to the manufacturer and certify that he had discposed of them. Later I heard from the owner of that company that he had done a number of questionable side deals with customers so I suspected he probably sold them on Craigslist. I am not saying the SanTan did that but no one knows how they acquired them.
Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
I checked my records and the panels I referred to above were 170 Watt from BP Solar. They worked fine but BP recalled them because they found that the solder joints between the cells were eroding over time. In 2013 they paid me $5000 for the panels which I had paid more for them several years earlier. At at that time I could purchase 25% more capacity in Canadian Solar panels brand new, which is what I did. BP Solar is no longer making panels.
gnubie
Solar Wizard
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- Sep 20, 2019
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I'm more interested in why the whole backing sheet was removed. The specs label I can understand since that identifies the manufacturer etc. Removing the backing sheet would be a fair amount of effort. At least in my experience they don't just peel off.
Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
Good question. The few pictures I saw had some partial removal so my guess is it was related perhaps to cutting the backing sheet to get the labels off in one piece. Maybe these came back on a warranty claim because the vinyl came off. In that case they may be worth reconditioning with vinyl paint.
ebertoli
Hogging the sun!
Go check out the listing - there are images. Not all of them have the whole backsheet removed. Some have only cracking/localized peeling. The one I've looked at out of the 20 I have seems to have the entire backsheet removed. I haven't examined them well yet. I think they were poor backsheets and started coming off and maybe they pulled off what was hanging loose on them.
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ebertoli
Hogging the sun!
Based on some of what I've read there are some panels out there that have poorly performing backsheets on them because the manufacturers were trying to save pennies on the dollar and used some less than optimal material for the backsheets. These were probably some situation like this. I've also seen insurance covered stuff out there for sale too. Santan says they have good output... I haven't tested mine yet.
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