Can you break solar panels?

[artrosch]

There was a small solar biz where I work, and they closed down and, lo,
they put ten various solar panels out to the dumpster. I picked out two
Sanyo 195 W panels and put them in the Jeep. As I was loading, one of them dropped on its face. The surface looks a little crackly but I don't know if it was that way before. Some of the panels had holes, bent frames, etc. How do you mess up a solar panel? Is it simply a light-sponge that needs to be kept reasonably clean. BTW, we already have
a pair of 105W panels on the roof w/controller but we have four batts, so I thought another pair would be ideal.

Thanks

[wa8yxm]

If you are asking if they can be broken yes

If you are asking if you broke it.. I don't know.

Yes, just keep 'em clean and pointed at the sun.

[artrosch]

I read up on the subject. A panel with a lot of cracks is seriously degraded. Whether or not I broke it, I've still got at least one pristine
panel rated for 195w. If I wire that in with the existing pair of 105w panels, I'll have a much more robust system. It will take up all the room we've got left on our roof anyway.
Thanks!

[jspande]

Solar panels, even though they may both be "12 volt" may have different voltages for different models. You may not be able to simply connect these diffent panels together. It may require seperate charge controllers to hook them to the battery bank.

[SpursMVP]

I think of it this way. If the glass is cracked....water could enter the panel. Water + electricity is not a good thing. If this caused a short in the panel it could adversely affect other components linked to it.

Step softly grasshopper...

[artrosch]

The panel I acquired is a 6V. I don't know how my other two are wired, but I'll get a qualified tech before I proceed. This won't be done until we hit the road in about a year.

softly softly

[Shadowcatche]

The glass can be replaced.

[gordondi]

I was thinking of getting of solar panel for my home to get rid of the electricity bills and all and i am not aware of the procedure and best quality materials required for it.Please suggest.

solar panels texas

[Shadowcatche]

gordbondi
This is a very complex question and I will send you to Solar Electric Power Discussion Forum by Northern Arizona Wind & Sun for a detail answer and some expertise. Solar can be very expensive and return on investment long, however you can do what I do and use a gridtie inverter with solar panels to reduce your need. The 185W panel that sits on our teardrop is now on the garage (for the winter) and feeding through the inverter. The other half of this is that you can do a great deal to reduce your electrical needs i.e. using LED lights.

[artrosch]

Thanks for the link, Shadowcatcher.