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Step 6Preparing Copper Indium Selenide cells.
These are rather well prepared already.
They have easy to solder tabs, and are marked which end is Negative with a
dash of a black marker.
The ones I got, I mounted in frames and in an acrylic polymer sheet sandwich.
Three in series ... in parallel with three more in series ... makes nice 12 volts.
I have been advised that these cells undergo some kind of reaction if first exposed to
full sun with no load for about 15 minutes, and that the result is good. I'm told that the
result generates more output than if they are not treated this way. Just FYI. I didn't
notice the difference between the panel that had pre-sunned cells and another that
didn't.
The cells are glass tiles that appear to be made similar to the Amorphous glass,
but they are more efficient, and produce around 4.5 volts and 100ma each in full sun,
approximately. As they say, your mileage may vary. I have no advice for broken
CIS cells.
It is very easy to connect CIS cells together. Peel back the tabs a little, which point to
each other under the cell, and start to peel back the stickytape that holds it on,
just enough so that you can solder them in series.
And watch the polarity! I goofed it up a couple of times.
No damage done, but I had to do it over.
When soldering, wet the ends of the tabs with solder, then press down quickly
with a popsickle stick or something to flatten them against the bottom of the cells.
The cells go together nicely like tiles.
With moderate carefulness, you don't need to worry much about ruining them yourself,
just don't leave them alone with curious people until your panel is done and safe inside
a solid frame. I've fastened them with both RTV Silicone and double-sticky-foam-tape.
I prefer the Silicone glued result, with the cell tiles grouted against the glass from behind.
(No silicone between the cells and the frame glass)
DSFT (foam tape) is more likely to (it has, in fact) let go of a couple of the cells.
As mentioned before, although I don't know if it's necessary for CIS cells, use a diode
when charging batteries with the panels.
They have easy to solder tabs, and are marked which end is Negative with a
dash of a black marker.
The ones I got, I mounted in frames and in an acrylic polymer sheet sandwich.
Three in series ... in parallel with three more in series ... makes nice 12 volts.
I have been advised that these cells undergo some kind of reaction if first exposed to
full sun with no load for about 15 minutes, and that the result is good. I'm told that the
result generates more output than if they are not treated this way. Just FYI. I didn't
notice the difference between the panel that had pre-sunned cells and another that
didn't.
The cells are glass tiles that appear to be made similar to the Amorphous glass,
but they are more efficient, and produce around 4.5 volts and 100ma each in full sun,
approximately. As they say, your mileage may vary. I have no advice for broken
CIS cells.
It is very easy to connect CIS cells together. Peel back the tabs a little, which point to
each other under the cell, and start to peel back the stickytape that holds it on,
just enough so that you can solder them in series.
And watch the polarity! I goofed it up a couple of times.
No damage done, but I had to do it over.
When soldering, wet the ends of the tabs with solder, then press down quickly
with a popsickle stick or something to flatten them against the bottom of the cells.
The cells go together nicely like tiles.
With moderate carefulness, you don't need to worry much about ruining them yourself,
just don't leave them alone with curious people until your panel is done and safe inside
a solid frame. I've fastened them with both RTV Silicone and double-sticky-foam-tape.
I prefer the Silicone glued result, with the cell tiles grouted against the glass from behind.
(No silicone between the cells and the frame glass)
DSFT (foam tape) is more likely to (it has, in fact) let go of a couple of the cells.
As mentioned before, although I don't know if it's necessary for CIS cells, use a diode
when charging batteries with the panels.
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