Some may think that building do it yourself solar panels would be difficult, but that’s not the case at all. In fact, building solar panels is a popular high school and college project – so it can be done by anybody! There are so many resources available online that allow you to print out your own step by step instructions, but these tips will give you the general idea of how to construct your very own solar power system!
1. Find Cheap Solar Cells
There is literally no difference between the high end solar panels that professionals use and those available on eBay. Even panels that are marked down for being chipped or damaged may be suitable for building a home solar panel. Used panels may also be purchased, but those are only usable for smaller projects like a garage or camper. The point here is to save money, so even low quality cells could be a good start if that’s what your budget can afford.
2. Build a Support
The support can be made out of cheap or expensive material – it doesn’t really matter. Many people simply use plywood for this part but it’s up to the builder. The wood will be coated with UV protective varnish anyways so it can even be recycled or reclaimed building scrap. The best thing about doing it yourself is that you can cut the supports to fit any unusual shape in your roof which is something that restrictive prefabricated panels just can’t compare to.
3. Attach the Cells
This part is easy. A soldering gun and some flux is all that is required. You will simply be soldering the ribbons from one cell onto the back of the next. A simple instruction guide should be able to depict exactly what this means if there are any questions. The ribbons need to adhere completely to ensure that your panels will collect as much energy as possible. The strips of cells will then be attached to the support that you constructed beforehand. Voila! You are now halfway done.
4. Create a Frame
The panel will need to be covered with Plexiglas to keep out the weather, so building a solid weatherproof frame is extremely important. The frame will simply be waterproofed wooden strips adhered to the panel by wood screws and silicon. Any holes or gaps must be filled in to ensure that no water will get inside and ruin your cells. A single hole may be drilled into the bottom of the frame, well away from the cells and any wires in order to drain the inevitable humidity that will gather under the glass.
And that’s it, folks! Your very own full scale solar panel that is sure to produce reliable and sustainable energy for years to come. It’s so strange that such a simple investment can end up putting money in your pocket each month when the utility bills come in. Don’t let a little elbow grease stand in the way of you, your family, and an environmentally friendly future.
Many homeowners would be surprised to find out that they don’t have to spend $20,000 on a solar power source for their home, but instead can easily build one for under $200 with the help of one of many readily available “do it yourself” solar panel guides. A couple of simply constructed solar panels can eliminate ever rising energy bills forever! Besides the fact that solar energy quickly pays for itself, a DIY panel system will reduce your carbon footprint so that you may begin doing your part to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. The following four products can get any beginner started with solar energy today!
Earth 4 Energy
Earth 4 Energy is a complete package that contains everything you could need to know about building your own solar panels that look just like the expensive store-bought ones. Whether you need just one panel or a whole array, you will be able to find the information you need included in the many helpful volumes that come with the set. The guides are all extremely easy to follow and include tons of picture and video so that even a complete DIY novice can find themselves with a professional quality solar panel system.
Home Made Energy
This website provides access to a “do it yourself” solar panel guide that is actually written by a professional electrician. Even though the man who wrote it had an excellent knowledge of electricity doesn’t mean that you do, the manuals and blueprints are still beginner-friendly and perfect for family projects. The people who bring you Home Made Energy will even pay $100 out of pocket if you aren’t able to complete a fully functional solar panel in one week! In additions to the guides, there are helpful included videos so that you can actually see what your progress should look like.
Green DIY Energy
Green DIY Energy contains five volumes of step-by-step guides, video, and money saving manuals to help the total beginner complete their own solar panel system from start to finish. This guide even comes with information about how to sell your energy back to the power companies, how to store energy overnight, and how to get the best tax deductibles to save even more! The blueprints are detailed but easy to read, and absolutely none of the plans require any sort of complicated tools or expensive materials.
Energy 2 Green
The comprehensive Energy 2 Green system features in depth information about everything you need to know in order to make your home completely sustainable and energy dependent. Not only will you learn how to build high quality solar panels, but you will also be able to produce amazing wind turbines as easy as putting together a puzzle! Even if you have never built anything in your life you are reassured by a full money back guarantee that you will successfully increase your energy independence with environmentally friendly fossil-fuel alternatives with no trouble at all.
Anybody can slash their energy bills and make an environmental difference without spending thousands of dollars. All of the above guides promise easily built solar energy systems for under $200 a panel, compared to the commercial price of thousands of dollars a piece. A do it yourself solar panel guide eliminates all of the hassle and experimentation of going green. There is no reason to miss the opportunity to break free of the grid and transform those ever increasing energy bills into cash in your pocket.
It’s hard to go wrong with do it yourself solar panels. In fact, it’s probably the easiest piece of home improvement that you will do this year. Besides being the easiest it will most likely save you the most money. There is nothing better than knowing you are doing your part to preserve this Earth for future generations while also doing a good deed for your wallet. A penny saved is a penny earned, and you will never earn so much cash with a single fun weekend project like this. The following tips will help to save you some potential headache to ensure that this is the simplest project you will ever feel great about doing.
1. Quality Instructions
A project is only as good as the instructions it was built from, so make sure you invest in a high quality source of information. There are numerous guides available online that detail every step of building a solar panel at home and many of them include a wealth of other invaluable money saving tips. Relying on offhand information isn’t recommended when dealing with electricity, so find a quality guaranteed source.
2. High-Grade Materials
Cheap as this project may be, there is no reason to skimp out on the few resources that you need. Investing in high quality photovoltaic cells will ensure longevity and less frequent replacement. When built properly, a solar panel can last up to thirty years – so make your purchases wisely! While the wood used for the housing is unimportant, weatherproof coating is. Use good judgment to sustain the life of your investment.
3. Watch Videos First
A lot of do it yourself solar panel guides include helpful video. Just don’t wait until you are in a jam to watch them! Seeing exactly what you need to do first is a great way to avoid novice mistakes. Solar panels are simple, but extra precaution never hurt anybody.
4. Do Internet Research
Ensuring that you are using the right tools for the job can be accomplished with a few quick Google searches. But the most valuable role that internet research plays in the solar panel construction process is finding the best price on materials. Solar cells can be purchased at dirt cheap prices online, so look around before buying.
5. Positioning
In the northern hemisphere panels should face south, and in the southern hemisphere the system should be facing north. The angle of the panels should equal fifteen degrees plus your degree of latitude in the winter and your latitude minus fifteen degrees in the summer. Proper positioning is the key to reaping the highest amount of energy from fewer panels.
6. Finishing Touches
Since you are dealing with dangerous electricity, a professional should always be called in to examine the final workmanship. It generally costs less than eighty dollars to have an electrician come and hook up the panels to the city’s grid which is the only way to go. The main grid carries enough voltage to kill a man ten times over, and it is something you should never attempt solo.
7. Maintenance
Since solar panels require no moving parts maintenance is minimal. An annual inspection is all that is required. Leaves should be brushed off in the autumn to ensure maximum energy collection and panels should be inspected for signs of aging. It is as simple as that!
8. Bang for the Buck
Well built DIY solar panels will ensure that you get the best value out of your investment, but such a thing doesn’t require much effort or money. The weekend consumed building a professional quality solar collection system is time well spent. You just can’t put a price on energy independence and environmental improvement.
