As my "introduction" to solar 16 years ago, I built my first panel from a "kit" of raw blue cells with tabs. As a BSEE, I figured I should certainly be able to do this. Well, I did!! I even built a small thin box and put glass in front to protect from the weather. I tried it VENTED as well as SEALED. No matter which, it ALWAYS got LOTS of CONDENSATION inside the box, which would drip down onto the cells. In a matter of months, it had corroded some of my solder joints rendering the panel worthless. I'm only sharing this, to perhaps get some enlightened individual comments on how to AVOID CONDENSATION IN HOME MADE SOLAR PANELS....
Original Message:
Sent: 10-18-2023 11:40 AM
From: John Burke
Subject: What themes do you recommend Solar Today cover in 2024 and 2025?
Steven - We promote D-I-Y PV assembly, as well as 'Off-Grid' solar home utilization. We have never had any instance of 'fire' from the 'hand-made' PV that we continue to assemble, with folks with 'no' experience at all ! If you want to be 'dependent' on the 'professional' PV installs and factory assembled modules, that is 'up to you' !
The resilience of the inventive folks we have worked with (for more than 30 years), here in Maine, across the US, as well as with 'low-income' communities around the world (five continents), where the shipping alone for 'factory' manufactured PV (now almost 70% from China), allows for those low-income folks to pay more than we do in the US (x 5), and that's enough reason to help those folks, start their own 'hand-made' solar PV business, to share with their neighboring communities. The factory PV is now only expected to last for 10-15 years,. and the 'hand-made' PV exceeds that !
Thanks for your enthusiasm with the 'factory' assembled PV ... but I don't agree. In fact, I keep in touch with many of the folks associated with the local groups and the 'low-income' communities we have associated with and they continue with their praise of the processes established by Dr. Komp. Now spread to over 30 countries, many are still assembling PV, and using the small modules (65w), that were designed for installations, done for 'off-road' communities where the modules must be delivered' by bicycle ! I do use factory PV modules and can compare 'side-by-side' with PV modules assembled by folks with 'no experience', and as Rich Komp has said "It's not brain science" ! Or, wasn't that the way it went ?
Keep up your 'good work' in Delaware,. but 'beware' ... the factory produced PV has greater 'failure' % than hand-made PV ! ... "Just sayin' " !
John Burke (PV Tech Div, Chair)
MESEA, Inc.; DADSolar, Inc.
Jonesport, Maine
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John Burke
Director, MESEA, Maine
Maine Solar Energy Association; Downeast Alternative Design Solar, Inc
Jonesport ME
Original Message:
Sent: 10-18-2023 11:01 AM
From: Steven Hegedus
Subject: What themes do you recommend Solar Today cover in 2024 and 2025?
Regarding the recommendation by John Burke to publicize DIY solar module assembly, I feel this would be dangerous and unwise for several reasons.I have respect for Komp's work in bringing PV to developing countries but that is now obsolete.
1. Only modules which pass UL certification can be attached to the grid. So these home-made jobs would only be acceptable for off-grid appications.
2. It may have made sense 20-30 years ago when he and his mentor Richard Komp championed this approach because modules cost 50X more than they do today. But given the incredible price reduction, it hardly seems worth the time and effort to gather the components, learn the specialty soldering and complex process of encapsulation. Modules with 60 cells and 3 bus bars will have nearly 200 solder joints if you include the riboon tabbing. If one solder joint is a cold solder joint or high resistance the entire module will be compromised and could catch fire.
3. Encapsulation is critical to lifetime of the module. The encapsulation process has evolved tremendously since the 80s and involves precise thermal control and UV 'hardening' of EVA on products a large as a dinner table. It is highly unlikely someone in their workshop is going to develop the skills needed to encapsulate a very large multilayer stack of different materials over large areas. The DIY module maker will be very disappointed wehn their module fails after a few months or years after all of their effort.
Steve
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Steven Hegedus
Professor and Senior Scientist
University of Delaware
Newark Delaware
Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2023 12:29 PM
From: Joe Utasi
Subject: What themes do you recommend Solar Today cover in 2024 and 2025?
I've been working as a "DIY Solar Consultant" for the last 15 years. Originally as "Cinci Home Solar" and lately as DIY SOLAR HELPER. I've got well over 100 jobs completed where I do the paperwork, make design recommendations, PASS THROUGH my "dealer" pricing, and then SUPERVISE the DIY "CREW" as they work on the job. When it's all done, I sign off all the warrantees (NABCEP #032611-321) and they have ALL the benefits at just under 50% of what "brick and mortar" solar installs would cost. If anybody has an need for info or to hear some of my stories, I would welcome your call at 513-616-6044. I've done systems from 4K up to 60K, grid tied (backfeed), no back-feed, limited backfeed, OFF GRID, FLA, SLA and 3 years now into LiFePo4 batteries. I LIVE OFF GRID. I've also done solar thermal (from roof mounted panels) into storage then out through a manifold to IN FLOOR RADIANT (Pex) distribution. I've made lots and lots of mistakes, and learned from them (I don't screw up much any more...) Nothing like lots of EXPERIENCE to make an install go smoothly!!!
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Joe Utasi
PV Solar Consultant
Cinci Home Solar, Keowee Home Solar, DIY Solar Helper
Original Message:
Sent: 10-16-2023 10:46 AM
From: John Burke
Subject: What themes do you recommend Solar Today cover in 2024 and 2025?
Re: What themes do you recommend Solar Today cover in 2024 and 2025 ?
Thank you,
As in the distant and recent 'past', I do recommend that ASES (and Solar Today) cover the appropriate use of the knowledge shared by other solar folks, during the past few decades... "D-I-Y Solar PV assembly. use and installation" ! These options have bee 'proven' to succeed with years of continued use and enjoyment, sharing the processes involved, as well as enjoying a 'solar home' that the owners had the desire to 'do it themselves'. ('Step by step' procedures, tools and recommended materials are available) !
No, we don't hear from many Solar D-I-Y enthusiasts, unless there are 'documented' accounts of the 'processes and successes', concerning the D-I-Y approach to independent solar lifestyle ! My departed associate and partner, Dr. Richard Komp (left this Earth, 2016), after sharing his book "Practical Photovoltaics, Electricity from Solar Cells" (*1981, aatech publications, Ann Arbor, MI), in which he describes every step involved with the D-I-Y Solar PV approach ! I was lucky to have spent years with Richard and many opportunities to put the steps for 'energy independence' for those who wanted to get a taste of how 'simple' it is to assemble a PV module, using easily obtained, 'blemished or not' components ! (We did assemble PV modules with at least 150 groups and individuals, over the years) !
We did focus with groups, that had 'no experience', of 'all ages', and for 'low cost' to the participants, and did produce over 6kW of PV, that were assembled in simple, 'one-day' workshops over a 15 year span, of shared enjoyment ! The resulting product was 'superior' to the factory produced PV modules in many aspects, including the great feeling of the participants upon completion ! I could go on about the resulting D-I-Y PV modules as well as the folks we do hear from. The 65W PV modules did cost about $2./W, but the enthusiasm and joy upon completion is not measured in dollars and cents ! (The simple installation of these modules was done with 'group learning' again, with the basic components; battery, wiring and electric fixtures, desired by the home-owner) ! Dr Komp was famous for his description of the PV assembly process ... "It's not Rocket surgery" !
John Burke,
(Chair PV Div. ASES, Inc.)
Maine Solar Energy Assoc., Inc.
Downeast Alternative Design Solar, Inc.
PO Box 184, Jonesport, Me 04649
17 Rockwell Rd, SE, Jonesport, Me 04649
(207) 497-2204 - (land-line & ans mach)
Original Message:
Sent: 10/13/2023 10:53:00 AM
From: Elias OUEDRAOGO
Subject: RE: What themes do you recommend Solar Today cover in 2024 and 2025?
The following two topics can be of interest:
1-Energy Storage at Residential and Community Levels: It is advisable to address the matter of energy storage, particularly within the residential and community levels. The adoption of batteries and mini-pumped hydro storage systems can be facilitated through the implementation of appropriate incentives and raising public awareness about the importance of storage at this step of the energy transition.
2-Policy Frameworks: Recent months have witnessed a reversal of policies which undermine the progress of the energy transition. An analysis of the role of society in ensuring that long-term favorable policies are held in place can offer valuable insights and guidance to the public.
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Elias OUEDRAOGO
Business Developer
Future Energy Company
Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2023 11:24 AM
From: Kat Friedrich
Subject: What themes do you recommend Solar Today cover in 2024 and 2025?
Do you have any suggestions about urgent and/or important themes facing the energy transition that Solar Today could cover in 2024 and 2025? If so, please post your ideas here or send me a message. Thanks in advance for your recommendations.
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Kat Friedrich
Editor in Chief
American Solar Energy Society
Monona WI
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