You might be able to pull these panels apart, remove the glass from the frame and use some other protective coating for weather instead and integrate the panel into a different, well supported roof structure. Just be sure to never walk on them or allow them to bend. They use rigid silicon solar cells. Those will break if their substrate bends much at all. Read as much about the integrated panels built by high school kids for the Solaraycer cars. Rather than applying a thick, rigid or flexible clear panel in front of the cells, those cars have a clear coating that is painted over the top of the cell array for encapsulation. And they probably pull a vacuum on that assembly in the gluing stage to ensure air gets out and it properly seals and is smooth.
-Myles
From: electricboats@yahoogroups.com [mailto:electricboats@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of F Neil Simms
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 5:21 AM
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Electric Boats] Re: Solar Panel - glass replacement
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "traveler_lloyd" <lloyd545220-wyoming@...> wrote:
>The glass panel cover can be replaced with Lexan or something from >your hardware store to allow walking on them. Make sure that it is >sealed well. Glass breaks easy on a boat.
Is this practical on most glass covered solar panels? Can you replace the glass in a non-marine panel without destroying the panel? If so I assume you'd have to seal it up properly with a good sealant.
I have a boating application in mind where I'd like to use two non-marinized panels like the ones below. I wouldn't need to walk on them, but I'd prefer them to be more impact resistant than glass, for trailering (Application would be a trailerable trimaran, with the panels on a frame suspended over the vaka, acting as bimini/sunshade. Frame would pivot down to sit at deck level for trailering.).
http://sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=1236
Anyone here ever used such panels in a marine application?
Neil
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