Build A Solar Panel
|
|
It is now possible to build a solar panel from materials that are easily available in your local home center or online and save thousands over the cost of purchasing comparable commercial solar panels.
In fact, it's rather easy to do. If the right components and techniques are used, solar panels that you build yourself can be as efficient and long lasting as those you would purchase from an energy contractor, and at a fraction of the cost.
A single panel can be built for under $200 and multiple panels can be installed on any home that gets direct sunlight during at least part of the day. Compare this to the $50,000 or more that it costs to have an energy contractor do it for you and you can see why building your own solar panels is a great alternative that is growing more popular all the time.
In fact, it's rather easy to do. If the right components and techniques are used, solar panels that you build yourself can be as efficient and long lasting as those you would purchase from an energy contractor, and at a fraction of the cost.
A single panel can be built for under $200 and multiple panels can be installed on any home that gets direct sunlight during at least part of the day. Compare this to the $50,000 or more that it costs to have an energy contractor do it for you and you can see why building your own solar panels is a great alternative that is growing more popular all the time.
Copyright @ 2009, DIYhomepowergrid.com - All Rights Reserved.
A solar panel is made up of a number of solar cells that are linked together and collect energy from the sun. Multiple panels configured in an array are what you are used to seeing, usually on rooftops, and these make up the backbone of any home solar energy system.
The individual solar cells are made from silicon that is imbedded with other elements and a solar panel is simply a collection of interconnected solar cells. Materials to make panels, including solar cells are easy to find.
The amount of energy that a panel can produce is deteremined by the number of cells installed in that panel and the efficiency of those cells. Solar cell efficiency can vary based on the age, placement, size and construction of the cells.
To build a solar panel, you solder together the appropriate number of cells and configure them into a frame. The housing material for your frame can vary. Some people use plywood while others use aluminum.
The individual solar cells are made from silicon that is imbedded with other elements and a solar panel is simply a collection of interconnected solar cells. Materials to make panels, including solar cells are easy to find.
The amount of energy that a panel can produce is deteremined by the number of cells installed in that panel and the efficiency of those cells. Solar cell efficiency can vary based on the age, placement, size and construction of the cells.
To build a solar panel, you solder together the appropriate number of cells and configure them into a frame. The housing material for your frame can vary. Some people use plywood while others use aluminum.
How Much Power?
Resources To Help You Build A Solar Panel
For part 2 of this article, Please see Build Your Own Solar Panels.
Start with a good instruction guide that will help you easily sort out all the questions you might have about the above issues. Having the right guide will simplify the entire project and help you prepare and combine the parts correctly.
Personally, I like the Earth4Energy guide best. It has a lot of video content, which I always find helpful and the illustrations and written steps are easy to understand, even for beginners. I highly recommend this guide as a smart investment for anyone that wants to build a solar panel, but there are others available too. Even if you don't get the one I recommend, get something. Just make sure it has enough detail to get you through the entire project. You won't regret it because you'll find yourself referring back to it often as you grow your system.
Personally, I like the Earth4Energy guide best. It has a lot of video content, which I always find helpful and the illustrations and written steps are easy to understand, even for beginners. I highly recommend this guide as a smart investment for anyone that wants to build a solar panel, but there are others available too. Even if you don't get the one I recommend, get something. Just make sure it has enough detail to get you through the entire project. You won't regret it because you'll find yourself referring back to it often as you grow your system.
Just remember when you build a solar panel that it will be exposed to the elements 100% of the time, so build it with this in mind. Personally, I tend to think going overboard is preferable to building a flimsy panel. I want to get it built and installed and then I don't want to worry about it. The fewer time I have to climb up on the roof for maintenence the better.
It is also important that the finished panel is properly sealed using silicone adhesive caulk, and if I'm using wood, I paint all the individual pieces before assembly and then re-paint all exposed surfaces once its finished.
You can build a solar panel using new individual cells or from used cells that you've removed from an older panel that you disassembled. If you use new cells, do yourself a favor and purchase them "pre-tabbed". You'll spend a bit more but it is worth it because otherwise you have to solder a tab onto each cell before arranging them in your panel grid. Solar cells with the tabs already connected will cut your soldering time in half (at least).
Make sure you check out our other articles on used solar panels too. Depending on what you can find, used panels are often an excellent purchase for either reclaiming the cells to put in a panel you are building, or you can use the entire panel and avoid building one altogether.
It is also important that the finished panel is properly sealed using silicone adhesive caulk, and if I'm using wood, I paint all the individual pieces before assembly and then re-paint all exposed surfaces once its finished.
You can build a solar panel using new individual cells or from used cells that you've removed from an older panel that you disassembled. If you use new cells, do yourself a favor and purchase them "pre-tabbed". You'll spend a bit more but it is worth it because otherwise you have to solder a tab onto each cell before arranging them in your panel grid. Solar cells with the tabs already connected will cut your soldering time in half (at least).
Make sure you check out our other articles on used solar panels too. Depending on what you can find, used panels are often an excellent purchase for either reclaiming the cells to put in a panel you are building, or you can use the entire panel and avoid building one altogether.
Build It To Last
Again, this mostly depends on where you plan to use them and your local weather/environmental conditions.