PV panel repair

[AE-NMidlands]

If you can seal it in a large polythene bag with a large amount of silica gel in the warm for a few months that could help ensure as much moisture as possible is removed before sealing the panel.

Good idea, i have a large tin of silica gel somewhere.

You could be wasting the energy you put into drying the silica gel!
Water vapour ("moisture") - and oxygen - will go through polythene. That is why good wine and beer boxes and crisp packets incorporate a metal foil or film layer. If I have anything special that I want to preserve while it is in the freezer I make sure it is carefully sealed in aluminium foil as well as being in an outer polythene bag as a protective layer.
A

[Mr Gus]

Good idea, how does it repel ice crystal "creep" ?
Presumably you make tight folds of the aluminium foil, & a thicker gauge of foil?

What differences to defrost does it make? (other than not using a microwave) stuck foil etc.

[Stinsy]

What is our collective view on freezers?

I think we're all agreed that a huge, decades-old, chest freezer will burn a huge amount of electricity and undermine efforts to save money, energy, and carbon. A small, modern, energy-efficient, freezer uses much less power but no freezer at all would be the most energy efficient solution.

Not sure I could live without mine. Interested to find out what you lot think...

[AE-NMidlands]

Good idea, how does it repel ice crystal "creep" ?

It doesn't, really! I try to leave as little space as possible around wharever it is, fold the seams over a couple of times to seal them then over-bag it with a poly bag sucked flat. Some water does migrate out and form ice inside the foil, but we try not to forget about the package and eat it up before too long.

Presumably you make tight folds of the aluminium foil, & a thicker gauge of foil?
What differences to defrost does it make? (other than not using a microwave) stuck foil etc.

Defrosting is 24 hours in the fridge, to conserve the energy we put into freezing the food! I haven't been aware of foil sticking to food...
A

[AE-NMidlands]

What is our collective view on freezers?

I think we're all agreed that a huge, decades-old, chest freezer will burn a huge amount of electricity and undermine efforts to save money, energy, and carbon. A small, modern, energy-efficient, freezer uses much less power but no freezer at all would be the most energy efficient solution.

Not sure I could live without mine. Interested to find out what you lot think...

I think they are essential for reducing food waste and storing some crops.
I tested ours recently and they use 0 and 0.4W when not running (so 77p per year) and 75W and 78W when they are running - which isn't a lot of the time.
Preserving fruit uses energy whether you go for Kilner jars or the freezer! My greatest discovery recently has been freezing surplus blanched Purple Sprouting Broccoli in the early spring.
A

[Oliver90owner]

If you can seal it in a large polythene bag with a large amount of silica gel in the warm for a few months that could help ensure as much moisture as possible is removed before sealing the panel.

Good idea, i have a large tin of silica gel somewhere.

You could be wasting the energy you put into drying the silica gel!
Water vapour ("moisture") - and oxygen - will go through polythene. That is why good wine and beer boxes and crisp packets incorporate a metal foil or film layer. If I have anything special that I want to preserve while it is in the freezer I make sure it is carefully sealed in aluminium foil as well as being in an outer polythene bag as a protective layer.

A bit of a dead end here? How much water vapour is there in a freezer at -19 Celsius?

[AE-NMidlands]

Good idea, i have a large tin of silica gel somewhere.

You could be wasting the energy you put into drying the silica gel!
Water vapour ("moisture") - and oxygen - will go through polythene. That is why good wine and beer boxes and crisp packets incorporate a metal foil or film layer. If I have anything special that I want to preserve while it is in the freezer I make sure it is carefully sealed in aluminium foil as well as being in an outer polythene bag as a protective layer.

A bit of a dead end here? How much water vapour is there in a freezer at -19 Celsius?

There isn't any to speak of, which is why it sucks moisture out of anything not isolated / protected from it. (actually the other way round: I think what moisture there is gets scavenged by the below-zero freezer shelves and is replaced by what migrates out of the meat or fruit.) Hence "freezer burn."

[Tinbum]

Hope it does the job. I first discovered it years ago, when I owned a small boat. It seems to be able to track down the same tiny gaps that water gets into, and fill them up. No idea what's in it, the only thing about it to watch is to try and keep it away from paint, as it damages some paint finishes and is hard to wipe off.

Arrived yesterday so will be giving it a go soon.

[Mr Gus]

The captain Tolley's is a favourite amongst vehicle restorers
Captain Tolley’s Creeping Crack Cure, Is designed for boats, caravans etc. It has a low viscosity so it creeps into hairline cracks and sets.

Some info including DATASHEETS
https://www.sailrite.com/Capt.-Tolleys- ... k-Cure-2oz

Good call OGB

[Oldgreybeard]

Hope it does the job. I first discovered it years ago, when I owned a small boat. It seems to be able to track down the same tiny gaps that water gets into, and fill them up. No idea what's in it, the only thing about it to watch is to try and keep it away from paint, as it damages some paint finishes and is hard to wipe off.

Arrived yesterday so will be giving it a go soon.

Hope all goes well, it's always good to be able to fix things, rather than replace them. It's never let me down, it's one of those seemingly magical fixing things, that actually does exactly what it says it will.