Panel damage?

[tommyh]

Wile drilling frame to install plastic clips on my 100 w solar panel the drill nicked the plastic backing of the panel and you can slightly see it through the front side. The glass was not touched or broken. I cannot tell if the shiny strips in the cell were damaged.
Is the panel still usable or thrashed or just compromised.
My camera phone was unable to focus on the small damaged spot.
Thanks

[travellerw]

Use a multimeter to measure the output. If its still putting out full power, then its fine! If so, drop some epoxy on the spot you nicked to protect it, then forget about it!

[NahanniV]

Test it's electrical output, as already mentioned.

Also, check if the area around the damage is heating up more than the rest of the panel.

The backing material is plastic, epoxy may not stick, silicone would be better to seal it up.

Is the damage through the cell (black area)? or border (usually white) ?
If in the white area you are probably OK.

Cheers,
JM.

[tommyh]

1/8" spot in the black area

[tommyh]

what if it did a little damage to a thin silver strip.
I cannot tell if its really damaged.

[senormechanico]

I have found a good sealant/adhesive for damaged flexible panels.
While folded in a boatyard, someone from the yard stepped on a turning block which was supposed to be out of the way, but wasn't.
(I was not there at the time)
Sure enough, it was on top of one of my Aurinco panels and it made a 1/2" cut into the surface over a cell.
As soon as I found out about it nearly a week later, I cleaned it with a damp sponge, dried it with a hairdryer and added a bit of polyester.
That only lasted a week, and it had already turned yellow.
Next, I tried clear Shoo Goo.
It's still there, doing its job 3 years later and the panel is working 100%.

BTW, Shoo Goo is exactly the same stuff as E6000 which costs more. Go figger.