Dadoftheturkeykids
Arc Angel
Basically I'm wondering if solar panels degrade more if being used in the sun. I'm curious if it might be good or maybe even bad to store them.
Do solar panels degrade if being stored indoors away from light?
- Thread starter Dadoftheturkeykids
- Start date
If I remember correctly when I was researching buying CIGS panels (not silicon like 99% of panels people have) there was a manufacturer recommendation not to store them for 6 months + in full sunlight without being connected. So a direct opposite of what you've asked 
There was also something about them needing few hours in the sun to reach full power after very long storage in the dark.
There was also something about them needing few hours in the sun to reach full power after very long storage in the dark.
I was just wondering about this topic myself last night - as I build out my system, it looks like I'll have 2 or 3 panels left over (purchased 20)
Storage wise it would be nice to leave them outside on the back porch in a shaded/covered area vs storing indoors or in the garage.
Storage wise it would be nice to leave them outside on the back porch in a shaded/covered area vs storing indoors or in the garage.
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
Well, as it turns out,
I had a single "sample" BP poly panel given to me in 2010, that was never used, stored in the back of a cold storage building unit 2021 when I put it to work.
It outputs close to the 200W the label indicates, when in direct good sunshine.
Seems they don't d-grade out of the weather from this one example.
edit: The BP panel was in a sealed cardboard box, original package so never exposed to any significant light for 11 years.
I had a single "sample" BP poly panel given to me in 2010, that was never used, stored in the back of a cold storage building unit 2021 when I put it to work.
It outputs close to the 200W the label indicates, when in direct good sunshine.
Seems they don't d-grade out of the weather from this one example.
edit: The BP panel was in a sealed cardboard box, original package so never exposed to any significant light for 11 years.
Last edited:
OffGridInTheCity
Solar Wizard
Similar to comments above, I have some extra panels stacked under the house (little light) for about 5 years now. Pulled a couple out last year and they worked A-OK / parallel'ed in a couple of strings with active panels and got the expected power boost (but was not an 'exact' test).
Dadoftheturkeykids
Arc Angel
Thanks for the real world examples. I feel better now about my 20 panels just laying around my house
As long as they arent exposed to moisture, id say they shouldnt degrade.
Odd that something that is designed to be in the weather would be damaged by moisture, but stale dark and wet, leads to corrosion and mildew etc. Not good for diodes, which is what solar panels are... a massive collection of diodes.
Odd that something that is designed to be in the weather would be damaged by moisture, but stale dark and wet, leads to corrosion and mildew etc. Not good for diodes, which is what solar panels are... a massive collection of diodes.
windsurfer
New Member
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The major wear factors for panels are:
Temperature
Current
Humidity
Storing in a cool dark dry place will greatly prolong their life.
Temperature
Current
Humidity
Storing in a cool dark dry place will greatly prolong their life.
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
But 20 Panels...sitting in a shed...would keep me awake at night thinking of where I could install them...
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
So living in a place with 6 months of dark cold winter, should prolong the life of all my solar panels!!
new off grid
New Member
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he asked degrade, not work or no work
Don't forget to keep it dry. If the seals aren't perfect some moisture could enter.
If dark, temperatures below those that damage semiconductors should be fine.
Rapid temperature changes should be avoided, as well, to avoid stresses from
differential expansion of different materials.
Letting sun hit it if it's in a place where it woun't be cooled by convection could heat it enough to be an issue. I's a dark thing under glass, so it's subject to the greenhouse effect and has to dump the heat to avoid getting hotter than the surrounding air.
But, yes. if it's stored under non-extreme conditions it should last for decades without noticeable degradation. I'm not aware of any self-degradation modes that aren't driven by something external (except maybe wiring or chip oxidation if the seals and/or chip passivation are defective).
If dark, temperatures below those that damage semiconductors should be fine.
Rapid temperature changes should be avoided, as well, to avoid stresses from
differential expansion of different materials.
Letting sun hit it if it's in a place where it woun't be cooled by convection could heat it enough to be an issue. I's a dark thing under glass, so it's subject to the greenhouse effect and has to dump the heat to avoid getting hotter than the surrounding air.
But, yes. if it's stored under non-extreme conditions it should last for decades without noticeable degradation. I'm not aware of any self-degradation modes that aren't driven by something external (except maybe wiring or chip oxidation if the seals and/or chip passivation are defective).
Lt.Dan
Solar Wizard
Tell me about it! This is my side yard right now....But 20 Panels...sitting in a shed...would keep me awake at night thinking of where I could install them...
You are correct, and he also asked about storing them. Like I said, I am no expert.
Dadoftheturkeykids
Arc Angel
Looks like mine but in my house lol.. If only charge controllers weren't so expensive...
similar to my house -- ordered 20 panels from signature solar, (aptos 370w bifacials) and have gotten up about half of them. I originally only planned for a 10 panel install, but found some extra space here and there, so will probably max out at 16 or 17 panels.
The remaining 3 will probably be stored in shaded/covered area in the backyard. Tempting to sell them to recoup just a bit of cash but since panels are so cheap even new, I feel like it's worth it to just hang onto a few spares in case something happens.
I pulled my original first one out after 18 years of storage ( never used) it was in my stock room since the mid 2000s.
I tried it this spring and it put out 90 to 100% depending on the sun that day..
I then put it/back in the stock room …Untill I remember I have it again… or do somthing with it.
It is not a name brand either..but it checked out great.
J.
DPC
Solar Enthusiast
Everything degrades with time but its use that wears things out...
Every heating and cooling cycle makes the components of electronics and really anything we build slowly crack, corrode, degrade, dry rot or dry out.
But if you store a solar panel inside the house where its protected it will not age at a significant rate.
I would be more concerned about the electronics in the charge controller aging faster than any of the other parts because the caps dry out as an example.
But we are talking about decades of time for a new part to go out of spec sitting on a shelf.
Not related to Solar at all but this fellow fixes vintage electronics and I have been watching this old set brand new 1968 vintage go 7000 hours.
New but that does not mean it has not degraded sitting in a warehouse...
What we can learn from things like this is to expect that things will fail on even a new product that has sat on a shelf for long period of time.
Question is what will fail and why?
And 7000 hours is just a marvel to me, a reflection of good build quality.
No one in 1968 would have believed that this TV would be operating in 2024
Every heating and cooling cycle makes the components of electronics and really anything we build slowly crack, corrode, degrade, dry rot or dry out.
But if you store a solar panel inside the house where its protected it will not age at a significant rate.
I would be more concerned about the electronics in the charge controller aging faster than any of the other parts because the caps dry out as an example.
But we are talking about decades of time for a new part to go out of spec sitting on a shelf.
Not related to Solar at all but this fellow fixes vintage electronics and I have been watching this old set brand new 1968 vintage go 7000 hours.
New but that does not mean it has not degraded sitting in a warehouse...
What we can learn from things like this is to expect that things will fail on even a new product that has sat on a shelf for long period of time.
Question is what will fail and why?
And 7000 hours is just a marvel to me, a reflection of good build quality.
No one in 1968 would have believed that this TV would be operating in 2024
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
My parents still had and used a rotary telephone from 1960's until 2022 !
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