Is this another thread about your busted pallet from signature solar?1.6mm glass TOTAL with only glass on front and ZERO glass on back. The back is some kind of plastic lamination. I do not see these surviving even one Idaho winter.
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This is a new thread about the flimsy panels we assumed had 1.6mm glass on front and back. This explains why they are so flimsy. Something none of us knew. I just flipped one over to look at the back and noticed no broken glass and took a harder look and noticed the plastic coating.Is this another thread about your busted pallet from signature solar?
But wasn't the previous thread about the flimsy panels? Not to be confused with the original FedEx destroying a pallet thread.This is a new thread about the flimsy panels we assumed had 1.6mm glass on front and back. This explains why they are so flimsy. Something none of us knew. I just flipped one over to look at the back and noticed no broken glass and took a harder look and noticed the plastic coating.
Does it bother you? You can not read this thread if you are triggered in some way. Seems to be the new normal where everyone is triggered and offended by everything. Just move along is so. I don't have time to soothe your feelings.
All non bifacial panels only have a plastic back sheet and it has never been a big problem. The back side of the panel is not subjected to any impact in normal use. In shipping, they do need to be well packed and protected, as do any non bifacial panel. I have no personally seen any panel with glass on the back side, though I have seen a few advertise it, and people complaining they are very heavy to get on a roof.
When handling and installing any solar panels, you do need to be careful to not impact the back side on anything. I put a small gash in the back of one of my panels, but got luck, it missed all the cells and didn't break the bus bar, but it did nick it a bit. I tested the panel and the VOC and ISC matched a non damaged panel, so I used a little silicone to seal the gash against water getting in.
SS told me it was 1.6mm on each side, so going by what they said.The glass cannot be 1.6mm thick!
I would think that just the lifting it by one side would cause it to break if it was that thin.
1. I believe so.I lost track, so Sorry but:
1. Are these the same panels Will tested?
2. Did the panels Will tested have glass on the back side?
They are very light, comparable to my 250w Trina (SanTan) panels. I helped Will set up the panels in his video. They were awesome to setup. The back is definitely not glass because it's like a semi-matte finish. I just didn't think about it when we were moving themHow much they weigh should be a dead giveaway on the glass thickness too.
How much do they weigh?
Interesting, if that's right it would certainly explain the "floppiness" of the panels. It sure seems like there is no glass on the backside in that pic; the surface is bent with no signs of cracks which glass would have.Bi-facial with ZERO glass on back. The back is some kind of plastic lamination. I do not see these surviving even one Idaho winter.
Unknown glass thickness as SS told me 1.6mm each side, so now not sure.
Non bi-facial have the laminate type of backing but are 3-4mm thick glass.
Good article. It really would be nice to have certifications for hail resistance. I'm a cheap ass, but would definitely be willing to fork out a few extra pennies per watt to have panels I could count on to not get smashed by a slightly above average hailstorm.Interesting reading on Solar glass < 3mm thick in particular....TMI. Didn't seem worthy of a new thread without more specific info.
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Spontaneous glass breakage on solar panels on the rise
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory noted an increase in spontaneous glass breakage in solar panels. The PV Module Index from the Renewable Energy Test Center investigates this and other glass-related trends in solar manufacturing.pv-magazine-usa.com
You haven't seen the glass shelves in my freezer then lol. Those things have quite a bow to them even only 2/3 loaded of their rating. Scares me to do any more.It sure seems like there is no glass on the backside in that pic; the surface is bent with no signs of cracks which glass would have.