Mark, Thanks for making the videos that you make. I have soldered a lot of electrical and electronic circuits in my life, but soldering (tabbing) up these solar cells is a developed skill and does take some practice, even for those of us that think we know everything. You are doing a service to mankind, please keep it up! Best Regards, John Westmoreland
Confirmed, works. I also did put one drop of Rose's metal at on cell, where a tabbing wire will start, seems making it smoother gliding with soldering iron. Flux is must, I used simple rosin flux and thin tassel.
hey, thanks for the tips on the type of tip you use and keeping it clean, i ran into those problems with putting the pulse motor together and just changed tips. again, thanks for the information.
Could also use a damp sponge with a tiny bit of solder to clean the tip off. If it doesnt come clean then I would use the file. Also, if you add solder to the tip before letting it cool off for storage the solder will protect the tip for next use.
I've always had problems with the paint on the cell not allowing the tabbing wire to make contact. I've been using a dremel with a wire brush on low speed and a template to remove the paint were I'm going to set my tabbing wire to ensure good contact. I also use a 100 watt iron. To clean my soldering tip I use that steel wool type material the electronic stores sell along with a damp sponge. Since using that I never have to actually clean the iron. This is after 600 feet of tabbing. What are your thoughts or anyone elses thoughts on my process.
AirandEnergy A wet sponge is all that is needed, I used to solder smoke alarms all day! I use a scalpel to cut the film from the panels were I want to solder my wires and use superglue and baking powder to hold the wires firmly in place and seal the moisture out.
Hi Mark, great video. I followed your instructions and solder the solar cells perfectly. But when I finished I noticed that the solder flux is melted over the cells. How to cleas up this solder flux? Thanks
Use 90% isopropyl alcohol to remove rosin flux. Make sure it doesn't dissolve any of the component materials. (There should be no issues with solar cells, but try a small area, first, to be 100% certain.)
Please, do not use a file to "clean" a soldering tip. The tip is most of the time not made with one solid metal. It is a copper core with a durable layer of iron, chromium or other metals. Filing will expose the core leading to excessive wear and will shorten the life of the tip. Use a tip cleaner block or similar compound. Also remeber to re-tinn the tip of the iron after cleaning and use to prevent tip oxidation. :)
The tip keeps oxidizing because you don't keep it tinned. You're supposed to have a wet sponge and tip cleaning wire to clean and tin the tip. Also, don't leave it on when you aren't using it.
Hi, I hope you are fine I'm looking for a training course that includes how to make a solar panel starting with solar cells, meaning after the training course I can make a solar panel using solar cells. i hope you help me thank you
Hello! Great video, hope you still get notification from posts/questions. I got muy soldering gun (40w) with wide pointer, but the tab wire is not close to sticking... got one from ebay ... where did you buy it? is it possible its a bad quality tab wire? Thanks!
Thanks Mark. Have you noticed any corrosion of soldered connections, later (years) on homebuilt panels? A couple of mine corroded, tho, so far, haven't changed in their output. Cheers
Hi, i need your help; i have 78x156 cells that doesn't have white line on positive side. The tabbing wire does't stick because of it. What solution could you give to fix it.
Make sure the contacts are clean and free of contaminants, After that check your iron tip for oxidation by also cleaning it. Keep the iron on your surface for a good amount of time until you see flow taking place. Laying the iron onto the contact point similar to how you would hold a knife (almost horizontal to the surface) will make flow happen. Also good to offset your paste so that your iron is making contact with both the connection and the paste will generate flow very quickly.
Thank you, it's good to know, saves a lot of time. Is there any reason that in some other videos guys use normal solder as well? Maybe different tabbing wire?
Some types of tips are plated, but legacy irons like this one may actually have no plating at all. You're right is saying that any plated tip should never be filed, because that will essentially ruin the tip.
I suggest upgrading your soldering iron to a temperature-controlled type with an iron-clad tip (which you should never file). Metcal is a brand widely distributed and well-suited for this kind of work. They cost a lot more then the simple Weller you're using, but will easily pay for themselves in time, if you're doing hundreds of cells, and good results will be easier to obtain.
how do we find the good cells these days, I'm just getting into this, there are so many cells on ebay and aliexpress etc but how do you know what is good or not? how is the metcal going to be different from my Hakko? do I really need a special solar cell sodering station or is it just one with good temp control?
with tip that big you can file it just fine, a quick easy way to get a superior mating surface. Many soldering irons these days have tiny wimpy tips - bad for soldering/thermal transfer and you can't file them thus having to constantly keep it clean.
Good work. No offense, but you really ought to treat yourself to a nicer iron, one with temperature regulation and a bit more power. It will make this sort of work much easier! :)
try cleaning your tips on your bench grinder with the wire brush wheel....removes less of the original base material from your tip, but puts a whooping on the solder.
Wow. Good concept but a lot of bad habits. Don’t ever file your tip unless you are throwing it away. Soldering Iron tips have a special coating on them so the solder will stick to the tip. When you store your tip you should rubber on a clean wet sponge to get off any residual flux and add a glob of solder on it to protect it from the elements and oxygen. While soldering leave a glob of solder on the tip while do your doing your set up. This prevents the tip from oxidizing. Use some alcohol to get rid of the flux to prevent corrosion on your project. A good way to prevent corrosion in a harsh environment is clear nail polish/lacquer or clear heat shrink. Clear so you can see if your solder is broken, degraded, or corroded later down the line.
Crap. A copper tip needs a nickel-plate to prevent rapid erosion. Some years ago, I hand-soldered about 13,000 thro-hole pins in about 3 weeks. If you want to keep your tips in good condition, get some good flux paste or solder paste that has flux and solder powder and burn the oxide off.
Everyone whose never done it is an expert that knows better than the guy doing it. If ur such a damn expert why don't you just make your own video rather than telling the man how to do his
Mark,
Thanks for making the videos that you make.
I have soldered a lot of electrical and electronic circuits in my life, but soldering (tabbing) up these solar cells is a developed skill and does take some practice, even for those of us that think we know everything.
You are doing a service to mankind, please keep it up!
Best Regards,
John Westmoreland
That was What i was exactly looking for. Thanks. You are Best. I will try to clean it my tab wire is not melting.
Confirmed, works. I also did put one drop of Rose's metal at on cell, where a tabbing wire will start, seems making it smoother gliding with soldering iron. Flux is must, I used simple rosin flux and thin tassel.
Good job! You make it look so easy. Thanks for the Tips!
hey, thanks for the tips on the type of tip you use and keeping it clean, i ran into those problems with putting the pulse motor together and just changed tips. again, thanks for the information.
Thank you so very much for laying it out so we could understand. Appreciate it so much!!!
Awesome simple video with great tips! I appreciate it. Thanks.
Could also use a damp sponge with a tiny bit of solder to clean the tip off. If it doesnt come clean then I would use the file. Also, if you add solder to the tip before letting it cool off for storage the solder will protect the tip for next use.
I've always had problems with the paint on the cell not allowing the tabbing wire to make contact. I've been using a dremel with a wire brush on low speed and a template to remove the paint were I'm going to set my tabbing wire to ensure good contact. I also use a 100 watt iron. To clean my soldering tip I use that steel wool type material the electronic stores sell along with a damp sponge. Since using that I never have to actually clean the iron. This is after 600 feet of tabbing. What are your thoughts or anyone elses thoughts on my process.
AirandEnergy A wet sponge is all that is needed, I used to solder smoke alarms all day!
I use a scalpel to cut the film from the panels were I want to solder my wires and use superglue and baking powder to hold the wires firmly in place and seal the moisture out.
Hi Mark, great video. I followed your instructions and solder the solar cells perfectly. But when I finished I noticed that the solder flux is melted over the cells. How to cleas up this solder flux? Thanks
Anderson Lima I use vinegar water and carefully wipe the cells.
Thank you very much.
Use 90% isopropyl alcohol to remove rosin flux. Make sure it doesn't dissolve any of the component materials. (There should be no issues with solar cells, but try a small area, first, to be 100% certain.)
Hi sir. After tabbing and stringing we dip in uv cleaning (acetone+ip ) after that we facing a issue of removal of tabbing please suggest remidi .
I think you are handling the cell too much. They can be very fragile.
Hi Mark, I have enough solder with flux (60/40). Can I use it to tab the cell or which is the correct solder to buy.
+Ponniah Kunathasan You can use 60/40 but the flux in the solder will be messy.
Hello friend what a copper tip make a difference on your soldering?
It is a copper tip.
Great way ruining your tip
poor tip
Please, do not use a file to "clean" a soldering tip. The tip is most of the time not made with one solid metal. It is a copper core with a durable layer of iron, chromium or other metals. Filing will expose the core leading to excessive wear and will shorten the life of the tip. Use a tip cleaner block or similar compound. Also remeber to re-tinn the tip of the iron after cleaning and use to prevent tip oxidation. :)
I did all the step you mentioned but I still couldn't stick the tab wire on the PV properly. Need help.
The tip keeps oxidizing because you don't keep it tinned. You're supposed to have a wet sponge and tip cleaning wire to clean and tin the tip. Also, don't leave it on when you aren't using it.
Hi, I hope you are fine
I'm looking for a training course that includes how to make a solar panel starting with solar cells, meaning after the training course I can make a solar panel using solar cells.
i hope you help me
thank you
Hello! Great video, hope you still get notification from posts/questions. I got muy soldering gun (40w) with wide pointer, but the tab wire is not close to sticking... got one from ebay ... where did you buy it? is it possible its a bad quality tab wire?
Thanks!
I bought my tabbing from MLsolar. It is possible to have bad wire.
thanks! I'll try from there
Thanks Mark. Have you noticed any corrosion of soldered connections, later (years) on homebuilt panels? A couple of mine corroded, tho, so far, haven't changed in their output. Cheers
too much flux, clean with a Qtip and isopropyl alcohol
Hi, i need your help; i have 78x156 cells that doesn't have white line on positive side. The tabbing wire does't stick because of it. What solution could you give to fix it.
I am sorry, I have no solution.
My tapping wire is not melting, But I am using 40 w iron. What can I do? Is it something to do with the wire?
Make sure the contacts are clean and free of contaminants, After that check your iron tip for oxidation by also cleaning it. Keep the iron on your surface for a good amount of time until you see flow taking place. Laying the iron onto the contact point similar to how you would hold a knife (almost horizontal to the surface) will make flow happen. Also good to offset your paste so that your iron is making contact with both the connection and the paste will generate flow very quickly.
I didn't see that you used any solder? Do you just simply melt the tabs with the soldering iron??? Thanks in advance.
Yes, The tabbing wire has plenty of solder already on it.
Thank you, it's good to know, saves a lot of time. Is there any reason that in some other videos guys use normal solder as well? Maybe different tabbing wire?
kosztaz87 Some of the old, cheap tabbing wire was not pre solder and you have to add it to it.
Never file or sand your iron tip it is chrome plated to be able to wet the solder once you lose the plating it will not work for crap.
Some types of tips are plated, but legacy irons like this one may actually have no plating at all. You're right is saying that any plated tip should never be filed, because that will essentially ruin the tip.
I suggest upgrading your soldering iron to a temperature-controlled type with an iron-clad tip (which you should never file). Metcal is a brand widely distributed and well-suited for this kind of work. They cost a lot more then the simple Weller you're using, but will easily pay for themselves in time, if you're doing hundreds of cells, and good results will be easier to obtain.
how do we find the good cells these days, I'm just getting into this, there are so many cells on ebay and aliexpress etc but how do you know what is good or not?
how is the metcal going to be different from my Hakko? do I really need a special solar cell sodering station or is it just one with good temp control?
Do not file but do keep it clean
with tip that big you can file it just fine, a quick easy way to get a superior mating surface. Many soldering irons these days have tiny wimpy tips - bad for soldering/thermal transfer and you can't file them thus having to constantly keep it clean.
this guy knows what he is doing, a big fat, but sharp tip, for precision.
if you make a solution of amonium chloride and water all you have to do is do a quick dip and your tip will be as clean as new no need for filing
You can find something like this on the Avasva page. Full step-by-step instructions right on your desk.
Good work. No offense, but you really ought to treat yourself to a nicer iron, one with temperature regulation and a bit more power. It will make this sort of work much easier! :)
try cleaning your tips on your bench grinder with the wire brush wheel....removes less of the original base material from your tip, but puts a whooping on the solder.
Files are fine on solid tips but will kill multi layer tips
thx
nice
Wow. Good concept but a lot of bad habits. Don’t ever file your tip unless you are throwing it away. Soldering Iron tips have a special coating on them so the solder will stick to the tip. When you store your tip you should rubber on a clean wet sponge to get off any residual flux and add a glob of solder on it to protect it from the elements and oxygen. While soldering leave a glob of solder on the tip while do your doing your set up. This prevents the tip from oxidizing. Use some alcohol to get rid of the flux to prevent corrosion on your project. A good way to prevent corrosion in a harsh environment is clear nail polish/lacquer or clear heat shrink. Clear so you can see if your solder is broken, degraded, or corroded later down the line.
silicone conformal coating
I have not noitice any corrosion. I do put a dab of silicone on my bus connections just in case.
I just use a 100w soldering iron
hydrochloric acid works great
A FILE?!?!?!? flux and steel whool in jar ?
Crap. A copper tip needs a nickel-plate to prevent rapid erosion. Some years ago, I hand-soldered about 13,000 thro-hole pins in about 3 weeks. If you want to keep your tips in good condition, get some good flux paste or solder paste that has flux and solder powder and burn the oxide off.
Instructions from the Avasva site are perfect for beginners.
With Avasva plans doing something like that was easy.
You need to make some changes. Check Avasva Solutions if you want to make it right.
I know Avasva has the best online plans ever
I did it quickly and efficiently with instructions from Avasva webpage.
Everyone whose never done it is an expert that knows better than the guy doing it. If ur such a damn expert why don't you just make your own video rather than telling the man how to do his
N
You can find best solutions on Avasva website.
best place i found to buy solar cells
aliexpress "dot" com