Everyone is becoming very environmentally conscious these days. This is a very good thing. We need to do more to help our planet stay healthy and pollution free, or in other words help the planet stay green. One thing that you can do to not only help the environment but also save you some money is to use solar energy instead of power from the electric company. This means that your power source is completely carbon neutral; it also means that you don’t have to pay an electric bill every month.
However, if you buy new solar panels directly from the manufacturer, you will find that they might cost upward of ten thousand dollars. When you factor in the cost of installation, you could be looking a price tag of thirty thousand dollars or more. That is why you should take the time to learn how to make your own solar panels.
The first thing that you need to do is get some solar cells. These are very expensive if you get them new. However, there are a lot of factory seconds and rejects that have small chips on the edges. Because their surface area is compromised, they won’t produce as many volts. However, these chips are generally very small; you’ll still be able to get them to work for you.
Also, you will literally be paying pennies on the dollar for them on an online auction site like Ebay. When you start to look around for kits on how to make your own solar panels, make sure to buy ones that are tabbed. They will save you a lot of time later.
When your solar cells arrive, you should build a box for them. A simple, shallow plywood frame will do. Drill some small ventilation holes in the plywood and add a layer or pegboard for added ventilation. Before you start any installation, coat both the frame and the pegboard with weatherproof paint. This will prevent the wood from warping over the years. Now it is time to install the solar cells themselves.
This will involve soldering and a little wiring. If you have never soldered before, find some scrap metal and practice adhering two pieces together. Once you have that down, you need to take the tabs that are attached to the solar cells and solder them together to form your panel.
Each panel that you make should have all of the same sized solar cells. That is because the amount of power that you will produce is no more that the amount that the smallest cell will produce multiplied by the number of cells.
When they are soldered, you need to run wiring along each cell, starting from the middle and moving outward. Then all the wiring should run to one plug that you can use to power batteries or the appliances in your home.
This is only an overview of how to make your own solar panels. If you want more specific information, especially about the wiring, you should consult an local expert or take the time to read a basic electrician’s manual.
