Solar panel using photocell array - has coupling provided via H-shaped connection tongues allowing defective photocell to be by=passed

摘要

The panel has a series of photocells (10) embedded in a synthetic material which is sandwiched between two rigid sheets. The upper sheet is transparent. The photocells (10) are electrically coupled to one another via plated connection tongues (12,15). Each of the tongues (12,15) has two parallel limbs (11,13,14,16) coupled via a cross limb (18,19). One of the parallel limbs couples two adjacent photocells (10). The other remains disconnected during normal operation of the panel and has an insulating pad (17) at one end (13b), separating it from the corresponding branch (16) of the successive connection tongue (15). Pref. the end (13b) carrying the insulating pad (17) is linked so that it lies parallel to the end of the corresponding branch (16) at a distance above it corresponding to the thickness of the pad (17). The secondary limbs (13,16) allow a defective photocell (10) to be bypassed by removal of the pad (17).