Solar Power System - Complete Guide On How To Build Solar Panel

July 28, 2009 - PRLog -- It has become increasingly clear that humanity faces an energy crisis. The most common sources for our energy - fossil fuels - are environmentally destructive and increasingly scarce. Solar energy offers the alternative of generating your own power from the same clean source as all life on Earth: the sun. You may be under the impression that solar powering your home is prohibitively expensive, but with solar panel kits you can undertake this exciting home improvement project for thousands less than you might expect.

Over the last several years our national pastime of home improvement and DIY building projects has combined with solar technology to produce solar panel kits that are easy to install and capable of saving you thousands on your energy costs. In fact, with just a little work and a lot less money than you might think, you can have your meter running backwards and the power company sending you a check.

Also, because of the energy crisis the federal government and a number of state governments offer generous tax rebates and credits for solar-powered homeowners. Solar panel kits may look a bit like magic: not only does the power company send you a check, the IRS might too! Installation will take some tool smarts and a little bit of labor, but even if you hire out this process, you will still likely save a large chunk of money. With your tax incentives and lower energy costs, solar power pays for itself in only a few years.

Benefits of Solar Panel:

• Tax Incentives (Check your area for rebates offered by governments)
• •Save Electrical Expenses
• •Power your electrical appliances
• •Affordability
• •Environmental friendly

Learning how to build a solar panel, while it may entail a little bit of a learning curve, will not cost you that much and will be more rewarding in the long run. To make your own solar panel, all you need are damaged solar cells that can be salvaged or Indium Copper Selenide cells. You will also need some basic materials such as a soldering iron, a screwdriver, copper wire and an AC inverter. You basically have to solder the cells together in series to make a solar panel. If each cell is assumed to generate half a volt, then you need twenty-four cells to make a 12-volt panel. Instructions on how to build a solar panel are easily found online.

Unfortunately, PV solar panels made in this way will not generate much energy. You can use your homemade PV panels to recharge batteries or to generate energy for night lights. But this simple project can prepare you for more complicated homemade energy projects, so you can learn how to build a solar system that can power many of your home's appliances, for example. And, eventually, if your homemade solar energy panels generate enough electricity, you may even be able to sell some back to your power utility.

Building your own solar panels is remarkably simple. A bit of up-front planning and preparations makes the job a whole lot easier. Solar panels you build yourself are every bit as efficient and durable as those you can purchase at a cost that won't take years to pay off.

Solar panels are not all that complicated when you break them down into their parts. Individual solar cells, which are made mostly from silicone, create a chain that passes energy through the panel and into the system. The cells are housed inside a shallow frame and enclosed beneath a transparent cover.  Multiple panels collect vast amounts of energy which moves into the system. Keep the following tips in mind when planning to build your first panel.  

1. Evaluate your cells. The amount of energy produced by any panel will be determined by its individual cells. The cell's efficiency is based on its size, age and other factors. When using new cells check their efficiency rating, which describes the amount of energy each can produce per square inch. Total cell efficiency helps to determine total panel capacity.  

2. Wiring - The cells must be soldered together properly. Use cells that already have tabs on them whenever possible. This will reduce the work required by at least 50%. Make sure the cells are wired correctly to prevent reverse current. Follow the instruction guide's wiring directions.

3. Frame - Build the frame from plywood or aluminum. Aluminum is a better choice when possible because it is more resistant to weather. When using wood, make sure that the all pieces are painted. The platform that the cells sit on can be made of thin plywood because it will be fully enclosed.  Frame should be constructed as thin as possible to prevent profile shadowing on the cells.

4. Enclosure - Use Plexiglas or EVA vinyl sheeting and make sure the entire panel is water tight by using silicone caulk around all front and back edges. Remember to enclose or paint the underside of the platform and frame to weatherproof it.

5. Use a high quality guide that explains all of the above requirements and has the necessary wiring schemes and mounting advice for each panel and the entire system. Other factors, such as the inverter will have an influence over total system efficiency and these must be taken into account in order to get the most out of solar panels. Again, if you get the best guide available, these issues will all be covered.

You can easily get the solar panels in the market which are made up of silicone of high quality. Why to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars if you can make your own solar panel? Making solar panel is not at all difficult job. In order to build a working solar panel all you need is a little effort, simple materials such as:

• Solar Cells
• Wire crimping tool
• Wire cutters
• A sheet of plywood
• Copper wires
• Screwdriver
• Cobalt steel jobbers' twist drill bit, heavy duty, wire gauge size 26, 3" L, 1c" L flute
• Machine screw size high-speed steel hand tap taper, 10-24, H3 pitch diameter, 4 flute
• 7/32 drill bit
• Plastic sheet cutter
• Reamer
• Pliers
• Hacksaw
• Solder, 60/40 or silver
• Soldering iron, or soldering station
• Sheets of glass
• Drill
• DIY installation guide

If you are interested to learn more on how to build a solar panel, visit:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com

You may also want to get your DIY installation guide here:
http://www.earthenergyguide.com

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Andy O Silliven is an engineer and author in the fields of electrical engineering. He enjoys writing about the topic and keeping up with current events and research in the area of renewable energy sources. Recommends:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com