Building a Solar Panel - How to - Measure Volts, Amps, Watts of a Solar Panel

Feb. 16, 2010 - PRLog -- When building a solar panel or looking for a solar panel, you should always know the final wattage, volts, and amps that you want the solar panel to generate.

Solar electricity is generated from do it yourself solar power panels connected in series or parallel to form a home solar power system

Your solar panel should always use the same size and same type of solar cells to keep the power consistent.

Larger solar cells produce more amps, and smaller cells produce fewer amps and the watts are lower.

This is why it is important to make sure that you build solar panels that are similar in wattage, amps, and voltage output - and here is how you do it!

Step 1

Solar panels are measured in power - Watts, volts, and amps.
When determining the overall wattage of a solar panel we use this simple equation:

Watts equals Volts multiplied by Amps.

You can use this table to find volts, amperage, and wattage if you know any two of the three variables.

Solar cells create about.5 volts of DC electricity – regardless of physical size. The only thing that changes with the size of a solar cell is current. (AMPS).

Commercially available solar cell 3 inches by 6 inches output is more than likely rated at .5 volts with 3 amps of electricity.

Split a solar cell into two equal halves, each solar cell would be rate at .5 volts and 1.5 amps each. Volts stay the same, but amps changes with solar cell size.


CALULATIONS FOR SIZE

Determine how many solar cells to make a 60 watt solar panel.
We know that our 3 x 6 solar cells are .5 volts and have 3.3 amps. So we take 60 watts divided by 3.3 to get our overall solar panel voltage.

60watts divided by 3.3 amps equals 18 volts.

Solar panel voltage is 18 volts so we can find out just how many solar cells we need?

Solar Panel Voltage divided by single solar cell voltage equals the Number of cells needed per panel so now we take 18 volts divided by .5 volts it equals 32 solar cells.

This means that we will need to wire these solar cells together in series to achieve the 18 volts.

SOLAR ARRAY

Commercial solar panel array systems consist of individual solar panels being connected in series to produce higher wattage.

For example, a 180 watt, 3.6 amp solar panel array system may consist of three 60 watt, 3.6 amp solar panels connected together in a series - 180 watts.

You achieve higher voltage by connecting solar panels in series.

All the information to make or build your own home made do it yourself solar panels to generate free home domestic solar electricity is explained in the package.


Boost your understanding of how many solar panels are required to power your entire house.

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- ALL THAT IS SOLAR AND WIND POWER -

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Do some research on the internet as there are many packages and guides that explain how to make residential DIY solar panels for around $180.
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If you are interested to learn how to Make Solar Panels / Build Wind Mill Generator - visit:
http://www.make-a-solar-panel.com

Bret Parker’s... Make a Solar Panel package a self contained training program, engineered and designed to teach the skills he has mastered to everyone interested in the renewable energy as alternative power.
http://www.make-a-solar-panel.com

Comprehensive manuals and Videos on how to Use – Solar Power – Wind Power – Solar Electricity.