The hazards and scientific prevention of hidden cracks in portable solar panels

  • What is hidden cracking in solar panels?
  • What are the causes of hidden cracks in portable solar panels?
  • What are the potential hazards of hidden cracks in portable solar panels?
  • How to reduce the risk of hidden cracks in portable solar panels?

What is hidden cracking in solar panels?

Hidden cracks refer to the tiny cracks inside the solar cells that make up a solar panel, which are difficult to directly observe with the naked eye when subjected to external forces or thermal stress. These cracks are like “broken wires” on a circuit board, which can affect the normal flow of current.

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What are the causes of hidden cracks in portable solar panels?

The characteristic of portable solar panels being “portable” exposes them to various risks at all times. Repeated transportation bumps and accidental collisions, unpredictable tree branch scratches or flying stone hits outdoors, heavy pressure or rough bending during non-standard storage, and thermal shock caused by severe temperature differences, these frequent and “inevitable” mechanical and thermal stresses may cause hidden cracks inside fragile battery cells.

What are the hazards of hidden cracks in portable solar panels?

Hidden cracks will directly weaken the power generation capacity of solar panels, causing you to noticeably feel slower charging and a decrease in the amount of electricity that can be charged. Moreover, the cracks are prone to form “hot spots”, causing local abnormal high temperatures. This not only accelerates panel aging, yellowing, and even burns key materials, but in extreme cases may also pose safety hazards such as smoking or fire. The worst thing is that severe hidden cracks may cause the entire board or part of the circuit to completely strike, putting you in a difficult situation during outdoor journeys that rely on it for power supply.

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How to reduce the risk of hidden cracks in portable solar panels?

  1. Understanding packaging materials: High quality packaging materials (such as EVA film) and processes (such as lamination technology) can better cushion stress and protect battery cells.
  2. Be careful when transporting and carrying: try to use the original protective bag as much as possible, this is the most important protective measure! The buffer layer inside the storage bag can effectively absorb the impact during transportation. When there is no protective bag, be sure to wrap it in soft clothing or other materials for isolation.
  3. Avoid heavy pressure: Never stack heavy objects on solar panels or sit on them. Handle separately during transportation to avoid collision with other hard objects.
  4. Pay attention to the placement: When transporting in the vehicle, fix the position to avoid sliding and collision. Place the backpack as close to the top as possible to avoid being squeezed by items at the bottom.
  5. Standardized usage: Use gentle movements when unfolding, folding, and moving to avoid excessive falls or bending.
  6. Pay attention to the placement environment: Place on a flat ground without sharp stones or branches. Pay attention to fixing or folding in strong wind weather to prevent being blown down or bumped.