Where to get electrically conductive epoxy?

[DanU]

I can't seem to find this stuff anywhere for a reasonable price. And I'm NOT willing to spend $20 for a small tube when I only need a drop of epoxy. I need it to glue wires to a 4W solar cell that I'm going to use for trickle charging. The wires are currently just taped on... but I'd like something more permanent.

I've heard that you can make your own by mixing regular epoxy and some graphite powder. Anyone else heard of this before?

[BBA]

How much is a rear window defroster repair kit? Might include the same stuff.

[alondra]

not familiar with solar cells, but don't they have any way to attatch conductors, lugs to solder to or bolt to.? might try JB Weld (auto supply) this will stick any thing, and can be filed or sawed, so seems metalic, dont know how conductive. I,m out or would check with ohm meter.

[DanU]

BBA, I've never tried rear window defroster paint. Will it have the correct properties to use as a glue? It needs to solifidy into a hard mass and of course needs to adhere strongly to the solar cell.

alondra, the solar cell i'm using is a bare glass panel with a metallized bottom. The wires are either taped or glued to the metallized bottom.

I've never tried JB Weld, but I do have some QuikSteel, which is a steel-filled epoxy putty. I checked the QuikSteel with my DMM and it doesn't seem to conduct electricity at all.

I'll pick up some regular epoxy and some graphite tomorrow and let you know how well it works.

[Bsdboy]

I think I would use conductive paint to make the connection and cover that with a blob of epoxy to hold it permanently,just an idea.

Bsdboy

[DanU]

I tried mixing the graphite and epoxy today. Unfortunately I'm reading about a kilohm of resistance with this home brew mixture.

I'll try the conductive paint next. Hopefully I can find a place that sells it nearby.

[Bsdboy]

Conductive paint can be found at most auto parts stores in rear window defroster repair kits.

Bsdboy

[JimJr]

Thair is A repair kit for window defogers to connect the wires to the grid that will work better than the conductive paint. It is made to do what your looking for and is cheep. You can find it at any good auto parts and I have used it many times from Napa auto parts.