I have purchased a Solar panel. It is bare bones, with some solder points.
I want to put this outside in all weather.
What do I need to do to protect it from the rain? I assume i can’t just solder a wire to it. Do i need to use some sort of silicon sealant over the back of the panel?
Chris
Hi, @iisfaq
Can you please post a photo of your PV panel?
They come in many forms or assembly.
I'm not sure how you will go with answers here as it is an Arduino microcontroller forum.
Tom... 
Exactly how many solder points? You may need to complete the wiring of the individual panel segments. And they all can be protected, after soldering and testing, with electronic type RTV that will not corrode the solder points.
It is just a single panel.
The size is a bit larger than an iPad.
Chris
Be sure you know which wire is + and which one is - after soldering and covering with RTV. Is there a metal frame around the panel to support it and protect the edges? How are you going to mount the panel so the wind does not blow it down?
There is no frame yet. I will plan to make something to frame it maybe out of U shaped aluminium or wood.
I have a tripod on the roof for my weather station already so may mount it to that
Chris
Then how are the edges sealed from rain, etc? Will metal frame make electrical shorts?
I have a solar panel outside since more than one year ago ant it is still ok. It's a smaller one with a double wire of about 1m long.
I just soldered the wires and protected the joints with insulating tape, the water don't get to the solder points.
After one year it is mainly ok. It looks like bleached because of the sun, and the plastic of the wires is starting to look a bit brittle. The red side now is pink. But it is still fine.
I wanted to check what happens with it outside after some time. The panel is cheap and I have several, so it's not a big problem. I can replace it.
I was thinking to wrap the solar panel with transparent plastic film, the one used to wrap food in the fridge. I don't know if this would help. And to use better wires.
I have seen people that put the whole device with the panel in a crystal tupperware from IKEA. But you have to find something with the right size. Or print a box and let only the panel face out.
@anon27210439 - did you find blocking diodes not necessary?
Yes, blocking diodes are necessary. Otherwise the battery current will go back to the panel when there is no sun. Except if you use some charging circuit that would already block the current.
You have to design it carefully. What do you plan to do?
Sunlight will quickly make that brittle and will break into tiny particles in a couple of months.
I am going to use an ESP32 c6 which has a CN3165 for the battery charger. It's specs state
No external Blocking Diode or Current Sense Resistors Required
Here is a link to the data sheet for the CN3165
A cheap/fast way to protect the electrical connections is hot-glue.
Make sure it's hot enough, so it bonds properly.
Big solar panels bond the cells to the glass and backing sheet with sheets of hot glue.
Your one is covered in epoxy, which will likely go hazy in a couple of years.
Leo..
So, your are using the FireBeetle 2 ESP32 C6 Development Board, right? With the CN3165 IC incorporated.
Then I understand that it's ok. In the documentation of the board they show that you can connect the panel directly: Firebeetle 2 Board ESP32-C6 Microcontroller Wiki - DFRobot
And your panel is max 6V, so I think that it is in specs.
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