Free damaged 535W panels

[MrNoo]

I have been offered a load of panels from our site that have been damaged during installation/transport. Suntech Bifacial panels 535W, some are well past it but others have cracks in the glass, not bad. I have been offered them (there are 275) but obviously need to sort through and get rid of the worst ones.
They seem to work fine, chucking out 45V, not loaded a panel up to see what wattage it's chucking out mind and overcast here.
I'm assuming I can coat with some epoxy and use them or just use as is.
I hope to put a shed up in the non too distant future, worth having or not bother????
There are other panels undamaged but with the odd "plug" issue that look simple to repair.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

EBay job lot!

 

[davidroberts30]

firm are using you as free disposal due to their costs if they sent them the proper route

 

[MrNoo]

firm are using you as free disposal due to their costs if they sent them the proper route

No, I asked if I could have some. So not worth bothering with then..

 

[davidroberts30]

No, I asked if I could have some. So not worth bothering with then..

suppose if you had 200 good panels you got yourself a 100kw system for a inverter cost

 

[davidroberts30]

dunno how much use they'd be in a nuclear winter mind

 

[MrNoo]

suppose if you had 200 good panels you got yourself a 100kw system for a inverter cost

Yes I did think that. I will sort through them.
I guess sealing the cracked glass needs to be done or corrosion will set in?

 

[davidroberts30]

Yes I did think that. I will sort through them.
I guess sealing the cracked glass needs to be done or corrosion will set in?

don't suppose there's any knackered cells with good glass you could swop to good cells with cracked glass?
i dont know if thats even possible

 

[Badshot]

would they work if you glued a pane of glass on top?

 

[MrNoo]

don't suppose there's any knackered cells with good glass you could swop to good cells with cracked glass?
i dont know if thats even possible

They seem all one piece not modular within the frame, alloy frame bonded with a sealer, glass both sides of the cells front and rear so work the same upside down!!
They (the two I have tested) one with a plug fault and un damaged produces the same voltage as a damaged panel, not checked under load fir wattage but they seem fine.

 

[MrNoo]

would they work if you glued a pane of glass on top?

They work fine but don’t get used because of cracks in the glass. 275 breakages out of 48,000 panels, didn’t think they did too badly!

 

[MrNoo]

This is the sort of damage

 

[MrNoo]

Complete panel, no damage

 

[Badshot]

I'd defo price up a sheet of glass to glue on top if they're free and working

 

[Kidds]

You could build a roof over them to keep the rain off.

 

[steveR]

I have been offered a load of panels from our site that have been damaged during installation/transport. Suntech Bifacial panels 535W, some are well past it but others have cracks in the glass, not bad. I have been offered them (there are 275) but obviously need to sort through and get rid of the worst ones.
They seem to work fine, chucking out 45V, not loaded a panel up to see what wattage it's chucking out mind and overcast here.
I'm assuming I can coat with some epoxy and use them or just use as is.
I hope to put a shed up in the non too distant future, worth having or not bother????
There are other panels undamaged but with the odd "plug" issue that look simple to repair.

Thought of you with this advert..

solar panel 490 watts | eBay

All tested and fully working with 2.2m by 1.1m and 3.5cm in thickness. Manufactured by Trina a world leading solar manufacturer.

www.ebay.co.uk

What intrigued me is that there are people spraying resin on the panels to re-seal them @ 15 quid a pop... Cheap enough!

 

[MrNoo]

Thought of you with this advert..

solar panel 490 watts | eBay

All tested and fully working with 2.2m by 1.1m and 3.5cm in thickness. Manufactured by Trina a world leading solar manufacturer.

www.ebay.co.uk

What intrigued me is that there are people spraying resin on the panels to re-seal them @ 15 quid a pop... Cheap enough!

Lol! Yes you can use epoxy to seal them or I guess a cheaper resin maybe a polyester although epoxy won’t discolour over time.
I think I’ll sort through them all and stick them in a shed for the time being

 

[steveR]

Lol! Yes you can use epoxy to seal them or I guess a cheaper resin maybe a polyester although epoxy won’t discolour over time.
I think I’ll sort through them all and stick them in a shed for the time being

Well, it looks as if there is some value in 'em.

The O&M chaps here told me that some sites are now looking to swap out panels for new, more efficient units on the older PV farms.

I guess that there will be quite a lot coming on the market if this takes off on a large scale.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

They work fine but don’t get used because of cracks in the glass. 275 breakages out of 48,000 panels, didn’t think they did too badly!

On 49 mw? What size are the panels?

Be aware that if you seal them that may further reduce efficiency.

 

[MrNoo]

On 49 mw? What size are the panels?

Be aware that if you seal them that may further reduce efficiency.

No it's not that big, it's only got 13Mw connection with storage, it's on 88ac, cant remember the exact size in Mw
The panels are STP535S-C72/Pmh+ whatever that means, each one weighs 32Kg so not exactly small, just about fit in the back of my truck with the tailgate down