Making a solar panel for residential solar energy is one of the most fun DIY projects you can ever take on. It beats the heck out of making a spice rack I’ll tell you that. I’d say the main reason I love making a solar panel is that the end product saves me money. They’re also not that hard to build. All you have to do is acquire a few parts and use some tools you probably have in the garage to construct everything. Personal wind power is another great way to generate electricity for free.
Now, you can literally make a residential solar energy panel from raw materials. We’ll discuss another, better option however. What we will discuss today is a method of acquiring used solar components for your construction materials.
First you will create a wooden box and then place the soldered solar cells inside. Then you want to seal some type of glass or Plexiglas on top.
Obviously, you’ll need to know a bit more information but this is a good start. But I want you to have an understanding of the basics. I recommend getting your hands on a how to guide will walk you through all the steps.
Once you’re done creating your solar panel, you can test how much electricity it generates. You’ll also want to find the perfect place to mount your solar panel. Up on top of the roof is probably the best place, but anywhere to get a lot of sun is good.
You want to be sure that you’re in compliance with regulations and not breaking laws. Some folks even pump their extra power back to the grid. Could you imagine that, your utility company paying you.
Okay that wasn’t so bad, now you’ve got a great understanding of what it takes to make solar panel. This project is more fun than any DIY project I’ve ever undertaken. For those of you with kids you find this is a perfect opportunity to teach them a thing or two. You’d be teaching the little ones about a variety of things that are useful to know. It’s a win-win all around.
Purchasing and setting up new solar panels is still an expensive task nowadays.
This article will discuss building solar panels for your home.
Making a home-made solar panel system can save you a lot of money as you would be able to use low priced items for its components.
A good example is the usage of wood to build the solar panel housing.
However, you should also consider the idea of investing on longer lasting materials for your solar panel.
Although it may cost more, it may be more advantageous in the long run.
Most builders use pre-tabbed solar cells when making a solar panel.
Although it would cost more, it is more practical to use them because you would no longer need to solder the solar cells and the tabs.
Whatever materials you intend on using, you can create a solar panel that can rival the performance even that of the commercial solar panels at a lower cost.
You can also use materials like Mono-crystalline solar cells. Try looking for 3X6-inch sized cells that are rated more or less 3 amps each. Click here for more information.
Brand new cells are generally highly priced, so it is wise that you shop around for similar items that would fit your budget.
Each of these cells can produce up to ½ volts, this means that if you set up a solar panel with 36 cells in it you can generate up to 18 volts- more than enough to charge 12 volt batteries.
If you connect the cells in a series connection, it would be able to produce an output that is above 18 volts.
This means that when the 36 cells are wired together, they can get an accumulated power of 60 watts.
The generated electricity can now be stored in batteries that can later be applied for running lights and other home appliances; in fact you can even hook your appliance directly to the inverter slot of your solar panel.
For a higher production, you will have to use solar cells with higher amplitude rating.
To approximate the size you would be using, keep in mind the formula which is Amp x Volts= the amount of power in watts. Although the size of cells can be modified, the similar number of cells is needed.
Solar cells, whatever their size is, produce the same voltage.
Bigger cells translate to a higher amp production, that’s why you can use larger cells if you wish to increase the amp of your panel.
Although there is a clear advantage in using bigger cells, it may not be practical in most situations because you can produce more power with larger cells but the whole structure would be large and heavy.
Mixing cells of different sizes may seem to be a brilliant idea, but it is not.
If you do this, your panels would only be able to produce a limited current because your larger sized cells would not be utilized to their maximum potential.
How to Make the Solar Panel Box
Creating a shallow box case is like creating an exoskeleton for your solar panels.
A decent solar panel box can be crafted out of scrap wood.
Let’s say you would build a solar panel that will hold 36 3×6 inch solar cells. You would need 3/8 inch of thick plywood and some 3/4 x 3/4 wood pieces along the edges.
When you create the solar panel box, make it as shallow as possible.
This is because when you create a deep panel box, the sides may overshadow the cells.
To do this, follow these simple steps.
1 Make two sub-panels, and have both to contain 18 panels each.
2 Create a divider in the center that would be situated between the two solar sub-panels.
3 Drill about 3-4 ventilation holes in the middle to allow air flow.
4 You can drill holes at the bottom to keep rain and moisture from building up in the device.
This will also promote balance in air pressure of the device and the outside.
5. For the substrate of the contraption, it is advisable to use an insulating material.
6. Create a front cover made from translucent material.
7. Lastly, apply paint so that your solar panel will not be weathered by various weather conditions. Experts suggest that light colored paint should be used. This is because darker colors are more likely to absorb heat, which may reduce the solar panel’s energy output.
Once the solar panel box is completed, you can now start preparing the cells for setup.
1. Begin by creating a layout of the cells in the panel, visualize and draw a grid board on both pegboard pieces to exactly illustrate where the 18 cells would be situated.
2. Lay out the cells on the panel, draw a grid board on both pieces of pegboard to show where each of the 18 cells will be located. Solder all 18 cells, on each sub-panel, together in a series. Connect both halves in series.
3. Solder the cells together, be sure to use a soldering iron that is low in wattage and a rine rosen core solder.
4. Have the cells lie face-down. Lay the tabs about a cell across the solder points in the other cell’s back.
5. Be sure that the spacing between the cells are matched with the grid pattern. Solder the cells carefully and precisely.
6. Glue the solar cells in place by applying silicone caulk in the middle of each cell. Be sure to follow the guidelines you traced earlier.
7. Test the cells for functionality first and then install them to the main frame. After this, you can do the wiring. To avoid a reverse discharge on your batteries, it is advisable that you include a blocking diode in the circuitry.
8. Link the sub-panels together using a wire that run through the vent holes of the center divider. Apply silicone caulk to anchor them in place.
There you have it, your home-made solar panel is now ready for installation.