newbie question: what are laminates?

 With regard to PV cells, that is?

TIA

 

(Semi) flexible sheets, I think.  Have a look at Astropower panels
for more info.
HTH
--
Rob

 Laminates that www.sunelec.com is selling are regular solar panels that are
missing the frames

They are solar cells sandwiched between glass and telvar , if you flex it ,
you destroy the panel

You must make a supporting structure for these panels. These should be
looked at as just work-in-process panels
that sunelec got a hold of when Astro power went bankrupt , they don't have
Jboxes , diodes or frames , just the raw
sandwich of a panel with strips coming out the back intended to connect to a
terminal block inside a Jbox

I'm not sure how the warranty could be honored as Astro power is no more

I have 20 BP laminates (75 watts) I bought from Sunelec in 2003 , I had to
make frames , but they did have MC connectors and diodes ,
this was for 1.50 watt, so I at the time thought it was worth the risk and
hassle. Though having done it , I would not do again , way to much work for
the savings

 

<snip>
Telvar?
I'm looking for PV panels that can easily accept water cooling tubes
on the back so that they provide warm (not hot) water and electricity
at the same time. Since I would have to dismantle framed panels
anyway to odo this, would laminates be a better choice, since the
construction work is required anyway?
Would the "telvar" backing allow tubing mounted to the back to absorb
heat from the panels?


Thanks for the answers.

Rick

 On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 04:57:20 GMT, kelvin_cool_ohm

Probably means tedlar (tm dupont).


Seems like it.  You might make the plumbing BE the structure.


About the only thing that sticks to tedlar is silicon caulking.

sdb

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