Solar panel strength

[jeepit]

I have been reading all the solar panel discussion. One question I have is how strong are these panels?
These all seem fine if you are camped in a treeless area. But what happens, if say a 3" thick branch fall from a tree and lands on a panel?
Is it new panel time?

[Happycarz]

Depends on your luck. Mine withstood golf ball size hail.

[Ed-Sommers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepit I have been reading all the solar panel discussion. One question I have is how strong are these panels? These all seem fine if you are camped in a treeless area. But what happens, if say a 3" thick branch fall from a tree and lands on a panel? Is it new panel time?

Well, what if that 3 inch branch fell on the windshield. How about the aircon, or if it went through the roof. What about if you were walking alongside the rig and the branch got you on the head?

Risk management is hell, huh?

Ed

[jeepit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed-Sommers Well, what if that 3 inch branch fell on the windshield. How about the aircon, or if it went through the roof. What about if you were walking alongside the rig and the branch got you on the head? Risk management is hell, huh? Ed

That's why I am asking. They seem vulnerable to me unless you are in an open area type park which we don't like.
I guess for me I would need a portable unit that I could move around.

[Engineer Guy]

In Golden CO near me, there's an Institution of some note besides Coors Beer: NREL. They partnered, and commercialized, 'flexible' Solar Panels some years ago. Some are made as 3 Tab Shingles for the House. 'Life's a series of tradeoffs', as one of my fav sayings goes, and that's true in this case. The very-rugged technology of 'flexible' Panels has less wattage output/area than the 'hard' Panels you ask about. Both technologies of Solar 'Cells' are improving over time.

One upside to this type of Solar 'Cell' is that they blend into Suburban environments 'better' in the eyes of some. Indeed, I think it's 'Sharp' Company that used to mention a newer Solar Panel formulation that makes the color of their Solar Panels blend in more amongst conventional Roofs. On a side note, Sharp, for some time, had the highest Watts output/sq. ft. from their 'hard' Panels; an output improvement 'race' that continues today.

Power losses occur quickly over lengths of Wire runs, but you can read up and get comfortable with a distance 'value' of where to put your Collectors relative to your Rig if you want to get them out in the Sun at the end of large diameter Wire/Cable.

I don't have a reason to have researched this, but perhaps Insurance Companies will cover high-value, mobile Solar Panels for the usual Policy price increase increment.

Flexible Solar Panel Links

NREL

[John Hilley]

They aren't going to work in the trees. If you do park in the trees the odds are high against any damage.

[ralper]

The working part of the solar panel is attached to the under side of low lead tempered glass. I have as yet to hear of one breaking that was not hit with something sharp. I saw one that had fallen over and hit a rock and the glass spider webbed.