Soldering copper tabs for stringing, tabbing solar panels

Objective

To heat copper tabs for bonding for a solar cell stringing and tabbing application

End Product

solar panel

Equipment

Ambrell EASYHEAT 1 KW, 150 kHz to 400 kHz solid state induction power supply, equipped with a remote workhead containing one 0.1 capacitor

A single-position solder pen induction heating coil designed and developed specifically for this application

Materials

Copper strips

Temperature

356 ºF (180 ºC)

Frequency

200 kHz

Testing

The coil assembly consisted of a ‘C’ core ferrite, and the copper coil was wound around the core. The heat time for this application was 1-2 seconds

Benefits

• Speed: The heating process took just 1-2 seconds

• Repeatability: Induction is a repeatable heating process, so a consistent result is achieved each time

• Beneficial to surrounding substrate: Induction’s precision heating ensures there is less damage to surrounding substrates than you’d see from other heating methods

• Efficiency: There is less heat loss and lower energy usage for this application with induction when compared to other heating methods 

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