Redders Posted September 23, 2021 Share Posted September 23, 2021 Hi all, I was wondering if anyone has suffered solar panel damage. I was putting a mast on my roof rack and noticed the solar panel was covered in a myriad of cracks across the whole panel. I do not recall being hit by anything and I can't imagine how this has happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve928 Posted September 24, 2021 Share Posted September 24, 2021 Most likely to be impact damage I would say i.e. something hard falling onto the panel. I believe that the crazing is the normal failure mode of tempered glass and will spread from the point of impact, restricted only by the EVA encapsulant layer stuck onto its underside. I've never seen one crack though so others may have a better analysis. Shame, that's a nice panel with 5 busbars to a cell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted September 24, 2021 Share Posted September 24, 2021 Really interesting and not something I’ve seen before. My first thought is that it’s impact damage. If so though I’d expect there to be a visible point of impact from a stone perhaps with the fractures splaying out from the impact point. I suppose a large flat object might avoid a visible impact point but that seems unlikely. Another alternative would be a bang from a tree branch but then you’d have noticed that I imagine. Thermal damage is also a possibility, for instance spraying cold water on to the panel on a really hot day. Either way I reckon the panel will need replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laimeduck Posted September 24, 2021 Share Posted September 24, 2021 Could it be Crows? It is quite common for crows to attack windows on buildings and cars as they see their own reflection and think it is a rival crow. They have been known to damage windows sufficiently that they need replacement. I am not really sure what the photo is showing? Is it the plastic/glass cover that is broken? or underneath it? AND..... the obvious question ... Is the panel still working? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted September 24, 2021 Share Posted September 24, 2021 Could it be stress fractures - is it fixed tightly flat and unstressed without any diagonal tension and unable to vibrate or bounce? Have you asked the supplier or maker for their thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Posted September 24, 2021 Share Posted September 24, 2021 Is it the cells that have cracked or the glass. The cells do degrade and crack sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laimeduck Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Another possibility ...hailstones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirou Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Panels are certified for hail up to 25mm. That sized hail would do a lot more damage to the entire vehicle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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