Glass breakage

Definition

The front glass is the layer that protects the cells from moisture and mechanical stress. When the glass cracks, the panel may continue to produce for a while, but it is no longer protected. The break often forms as lines spreading from an impact point or as a pattern resembling a spider's web.

Signs in the imagery

In the RGB image it shows as crack lines or shattered areas that reflect light differently across the glass surface. If the break has reached the cells, the thermal image may also show cells heating along the crack. Classification relies on the visible-light image.

Possible causes

• Hail
• Stones thrown up by mowing or vehicle traffic
• Over-tightened mounting clamps or stress from the mounting structure
• Thermal stress from sudden temperature changes

Effect on production and safety

Moisture entering through the broken glass corrodes the cells and connections, and the production loss grows over time. Insulation resistance can drop and leakage current can occur, which means a risk of electric shock for the field team. A broken panel can also cause outages in the same string when the earth leakage protection trips.

Recommended action

Raise a work order and warn the field team not to touch the broken panel with bare hands. Replace the panel safely. Insulation measurement can be carried out by our solution partner as an option. After hail, plan a rapid damage inspection of the whole plant.