Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for protecting solar panels from damage due to overheating. A system comprises a solar panel and a control system. The solar panel comprises a plurality of solar cells, and a plurality of thermochromic temperature sensors thermally coupled to different areas of the solar panel. The thermochromic temperature sensors are configured to change color in response to heat generated by the solar cells in the different areas of the solar panel. The control system is configured to detect colors of the thermochromic temperature sensors, determine a temperature of each area of the solar panel based on the detected colors of the thermochromic temperature sensors, and cause the solar panel to shut down in response to determining that the temperature of at least one area of the solar panel exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold.

Abstract: A method of detecting temperature of an electrical terminal. The method includes: applying a material patch to a surface of the electrical terminal, the thermal mass of the material patch is less than 25 percent of the thermal mass of the electrical terminal, whereby the material patch does not appreciably increase the electrical resistance or thermal capacitance of the electrical terminal; and remotely sensing a change in the material patch with an electrically isolated circuit which is external to the electrical terminal to determine if the electrical terminal is operating at a safe temperature to optimize current flow across the electrical terminal.

Abstract: An optical module includes a housing with a first end and a handle extending from the second end. A temperature indicator on the handle is thermally coupled to the housing to improve correlation with an optical module surface temperature. The temperature indicator provides an indication that the optical module surface temperature of the housing exceeds a predefined temperature limit.

Abstract: A variety of particles forming microencapsulated thermochromic materials are provided. The particles can include a thermochromic core and a metal oxide shell encapsulating the thermochromic core. The thermochromic core can include one or both of an organic thermochromic material and an inorganic salt thermochromic material. In some aspects, the particles include a dye selected from a crystal violet lactone dye, a fluoran dye, and a combination thereof. In still further aspects, the particles include a color developer selected from a hydroxybenzoate, a 4, 4?-dihydroxydiphenyl propane, a hydroxycoumarin derivative, a lauryl gallate, and a combination thereof. In some aspects, the metal oxide shell is a TiO2 shell. The particles can be used in cements and paints and for a variety of building materials. Methods of making the particles and building materials and methods of use, for example, for removing a volatile organic carbon from a building material, are also provided.