Solar cell imperfections on Solar Roof?

[DaveSheremata]

Originally Posted by HTMLSpinnr

/Rant On

The big deal was the laziness portrayed in the question. My response was for the OP, however it was just as easy to mention that the review had been posted elsewhere (including replies and YouTube videos by me) and (indirectly) encourage a search. Teach a man to fish approach. Not all prefer it.

I went out of my way to be detailed in the other threads and thus chose to be just as lazy as the question which derailed the thread not searching for the link. Why would I want to repeat myself?

Indeed LTRAiN - All that HTMLSpinner said was "You can find effectiveness reviews in another thread. "... HTMLSpinner has already helped so much, on a regular basis, and in you barge "derailing" a very high tension thread. Wouldn't a defect in YOUR brand new car make you very uptight and want a thread to stay on-topic?... You should just go ahead and enjoy HTMLSpinners videos on the AC/Solar roof and feel content - if you can go find it

BTW, please note that it wasn't HTMLSpinner who called you and "ass" - and neither did I... he's only helped you, although evidently not enough to your liking.


Sigh - my apologies for the noise.

Dave

[raygundan]

Originally Posted by brick

I think it's kinda purdy.

Agreed. Sure, monocrystalline panels are more uniform (and efficient, and expensive)-- but I like the cool patterns in polycrystalline panels.

[SW03ES]

Yeah the panel in the picture looks fine to me too...

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by Boo

<snip> No need to be an ass.

...although it is always optional. Sometimes it is amusing, most of the time simply annoying.

Tom

[NoMoShocks]

Originally Posted by i3akachan

from one electrical engineer to another, i think your solar panels look fine.

there was an article that said the solar panels are from kyocera: Kyocera Solar Panels Chosen For Toyota Prius | PriusChat , Kyocera Solar Panels Chosen For Toyota Prius : Renewable Energy News .

so i googled "toyota prius 2010 kyocera," and one of the articles came up with a picture of the bare solar panel from kyocera: Kyocera offers details on solar cells used by 2010 Prius . looks similar to yours, so i wouldn't worry about the imperfections.

i think the best indication of any defect is poor performance (temperature inside is warmer than outside, etc.). maybe you can test that by taking transient measurements of the temperature inside and seeing if it is the same as other people's cars (for the same given outside temperature and humidity, of course).

Thank you. In my comment you quoted, I used your name in error as I was referring to HTMLspinnr was trying to be helpful, and it is way too easy for people to missunderstand text and take it as sarcasm when it really is not. No body language or tone to judge it by and the same words can be taken tow or more different ways.

I understand the "Oriented Strand Board" look is normal. Like I said, the photos don't show it well and they do look exactly like the Wikipedia photo you posted. My concern is more that one grid will be dark almost black, and the one next will have a purple color like things are coming unglued inside. I will try to get some photos to show this better at dusk tonight.

I truely appreciate your feedback.

[NoMoShocks]

OK all,
The night shot does a lot better job of showing what I am concerned about, so I will add this picture to the OP as well.. It is not the random pattern of the crystals within the cells. Rather, it is the fact that some grid blocks are mostly black, and others are mostly bluish purple. It doesn't show well in the photos, but the bluish pruple squares of this checker board look like they are starting to delaminate internally.

Anyway, the dealer will take a look see next week. If everyone else reports having this black and blue random checker board effect, then I will just suck it up and stop worrying about things.

[Saleman]

Wow! I havent seen anything like that. By though way I'm a sale person for a Toyota Dealer, I hope that I will be welcome into this Prius chat. I been with Toyota for about 8 years. I remember the first Generation prius, and now we have this 3rd Generation prius, wow what a great car.. once I pay off my 4runner I will be looking into getting one with a solar pannel prius. I guess now we can start buying a black prius no more hot car as we all get into it on a hot summer day... by though way on the air bubbles, I will find out more about that and I will post more info, warranty should cover it. But I will find out more to let you all know.

[HTMLSpinnr]

Mine exhibit a similar pattern. Nothing to worry about - these look the same as some of the portable PV panels my dad owns.

See pics:

[NoMoShocks]

Thanks HTML,
Yours looks quite a bit more uniform than mine, but it also shows that some variation is to be expected. At least the bluish color looks good with the Blue Ribbon and the White Pearl colors.

[NoMoShocks]

Hum, even EFUSCO's album has billions of images of the new Prius! Flickr: efusco's Photostream shows that the prototyhpe at the auto show had the variations in color on the panel. Really must be time for me to go find some other problem that really isn't a problem.