Recommendations for sealing shattered solar panels

Hi,
I know very little about solar but just bought some 370w panels for very cheap that are new but have shattered glass. Very shattered. They still seem to work, though (tested Voc), and I'm going to use them to learn about creating a solar setup.
I am wondering what is the optimal product to seal them with. I've seen a lot of recommendations on YouTube and want to hear from the permies.
Thanks!

Hi Rachel
Well, if they still have full output, and you got them at a great price, then just about any pourable weather-proof sealant will work.
With your plan to use them as a temporary learning tool. I would buy the least expensive sealant and treat the panels gently.
Perhaps attach them to a wooden frame so they can not twist.
As long as nothing traumatic happens to them, they may just last many years.
However, I would not mix them with any new panels you might purchase in the future.

thomas rubino wrote:Hi Rachel
Well, if they still have full output, and you got them at a great price, then just about any pourable weather-proof sealant will work.
With your plan to use them as a temporary learning tool. I would buy the least expensive sealant and treat the panels gently.
Perhaps attach them to a wooden frame so they can not twist.
As long as nothing traumatic happens to them, they may just last many years.
However, I would not mix them with any new panels you might purchase in the future.

Thanks Thomas!

They were $20 each so I figured it was worth a try.
Great to make a frame. They definitely need extra support.

What happens when mixing damaged panels like this with new ones?

I was wondering if there's one kind of sealant in particular that's better. Considering factors like yellowing and peeling and blocking even more light.

I believe that one panel with bad output will lower the output of good panels, the same as with batteries
I would hope for the best, but I would not be surprised if they do not hold up in the long term.
Keep these panels as one string, and if you get more, create a second string.

Not sure how much ot would reduce output, but I’d consider a sheet of Lexan, siliconed around the edges to attach.  Direct sun is hard on materials, though, not sure how long it would last.  Butyl caulk might be better than silicone as it remains tacky.

You might check with the manufacturer and see if they recommend anything.  The glass may not be what is doing the sealing, there may be a membrane on the back of it.

Gray Henon wrote:Not sure how much ot would reduce output, but I’d consider a sheet of Lexan, siliconed around the edges to attach.  Direct sun is hard on materials, though, not sure how long it would last.  Butyl caulk might be better than silicone as it remains tacky.

You might check with the manufacturer and see if they recommend anything.  The glass may not be what is doing the sealing, there may be a membrane on the back of it.

Good idea. Thanks!

thomas rubino wrote:I believe that one panel with bad output will lower the output of good panels, the same as with batteries
I would hope for the best, but I would not be surprised if they do not hold up in the long term.
Keep these panels as one string, and if you get more, create a second string.

Makes sense!

clear plastic sheeting --as from polytunnel material--its uv treated --transmits 80 percent or more of light--and use the clear repair tape to hold it down around the framework----would be the cheapest ---next would be the specialist sticky back stuff applied to windows turns them into safety glass

tony uljee wrote:clear plastic sheeting --as from polytunnel material--its uv treated --transmits 80 percent or more of light--and use the clear repair tape to hold it down around the framework----would be the cheapest ---next would be the specialist sticky back stuff applied to windows turns them into safety glass

I like the simplicity of that! But would condensation be an issue?

Rachel Michelle wrote:

tony uljee wrote:clear plastic sheeting --as from polytunnel material--its uv treated --transmits 80 percent or more of light--and use the clear repair tape to hold it down around the framework----would be the cheapest ---next would be the specialist sticky back stuff applied to windows turns them into safety glass

I like the simplicity of that! But would condensation be an issue?

Eventually humidity will get in and start corroding the solder but if sealed well it could take years. Any of the methods listed should work. I used to have a shattered one in my hoophouse to keep it dry; Worked for years.

I wonder how well waterglass would work.
You would have to heat the panel to over 200F to get the waterglass to turn to glass.
I bet that could be done with a solar box.
But it might seep into the cracks, especially if you could put it under a vacuum to pull air out then release the vacuum to pull waterglass into the cracks.

Or the stuff that fixes windshield cracks is UV set but might be expensive at a large scale like this.

Ask a windshield repair shop what they use. I suspect it's probably impractical in terms of cost, but the sealant they put in to seal and fix chips and small cracks to prevent spreading is slightly magical. Maybe it's a cyanoacrylate (super glue), in which case you could look at just getting a bulk container of that stuff and pouring it on. Look for the low viscosity type to creep into all the voids and prevent moisture getting in there later.

I would never have guessed that a panel with that much damage to the glass would have enough of the fragile little foil circuits intact to produce much of anything.
Yes, the panel producing the lowest voltage will tend to drag the output of the entire system down, lowest common denominator, it seems.
The pourable catalyzed acrylic, like that used to seal bar tops and referenced by Mr. Rubino, is easily the choice that makes the most sense. Waterproof, available reasonably in quantity large enough to do the job, would stabilize the entire panel.
Sounds like a fun project, good learning experience, good luck.

whatever happened to sylgard for sealing solar panels?