Silicone sealant
- Thread starter minerva
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Silicone is actually a lousy sealant over the long term, as water will eventually get underneath it. I say this from the perspective of being a professional boatbuilder/designer. Your most reliable sealant that is easily obtainable is a polyurethane. You can spend a lot on PU, but you can also get pretty inexpensive PU at Home Depot or lowes. For low cost, decent performance I usually go for concrete sealant, very flexible, durable with great adhesion.
Likely yes.
We’re trying to figure out exactly what you’re sealing.
Yes, and this is because of a poor understanding of Silicone performance. I’ve had silicone from the manufacturer fail on solar panels. The problem is that 90% of people when asked what to use for a sealant will say silicone. That doesn’t make it particularly good at this task. It works for a while, then it doesn’t.
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
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Is the issue using silicone as a glue rather than as a gasket under compression?
I think "Honda Bond" sealant on cases bolted together seems to be good.
I've also seen silicone used as an adhesive in certain aerospace applications.
The MG Chemicals links I provided have almost two dozen different silicone products, both 1-part and 2-part.
"just" a matter of using the right one?
I think "Honda Bond" sealant on cases bolted together seems to be good.
I've also seen silicone used as an adhesive in certain aerospace applications.
The MG Chemicals links I provided have almost two dozen different silicone products, both 1-part and 2-part.
"just" a matter of using the right one?
The terminals inside of the junction box of a solar panel. Those are bedded in silicone and I need to repair them.
Actually someone just asked me if silicone for solar panels needs to be non-acidic. So I googled, and it turns out there are silicone sealant type products designed especially for solar panels that are solvent free and “neutral” (acid balance-wise) so I guess non-acidic is a thing and you do need to find products that are non-corrosive.
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
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Here are some. I used one to encapsulate circuits on a PCB.
The vendor had a chart with dozens of encapsulants and their characteristics.
diysolarforum.com
I see a couple are thermally conductive. Maybe that would help the diodes survive. Have to do some math.
The vendor had a chart with dozens of encapsulants and their characteristics.
Silicone sealant
Can anybody share their experience with silicone or other types of sealants in sealing junction boxes on PV panels? ANy recommendations for an easily sourceable sealant?
diysolarforum.com
I see a couple are thermally conductive. Maybe that would help the diodes survive. Have to do some math.
