How to Make Solar Curtains

Improvements in solar technology have made solar energy more practical for everyday use. Organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells are part of the ongoing improvements in solar energy technology. OPV solar cells are different from regular solar cells made with silicon in that they are flexible, making application to different areas of technology easier. Solar curtains are an innovation that has resulted from this improvement. At its most basic, a solar curtain is a curtain with solar panels and a battery incorporated into it.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Solar cells (prewired)
• Premade curtains to fit window or door to be covered
• Battery
• Thread
• Scissors
• Sewing needle
• Electrical wire
• Soldering Iron
• Solder and Flux
• Multi-meter

1. Place the solar material over the premade curtain. Measure the solar material to fit the dimensions of the curtain but don't include the hems in the measurements. Cut the solar material to fit.

2. Use the scissors to make holes in the solar material where there are not photovoltaic cells. Attach the solar material to the curtain material with a needle and thread. Stitch the length and width of the combined materials from the top to the bottom.

3. Open the stitching of the curtain for the hem. Place batteries into the hem of the curtain, and leave an opening for the wiring to run from the solar material to the battery. Stitch closed to hold the batteries in place.

4. Place the wires that will connect the solar material to the battery. Stitch the wire into place in order to prevent unnecessary movement. Check the connections to the material to make sure they are secure. Stitch to close the hem.

5. Attach the curtain to a curtain rod and hang it in the window.

6. Connect wires from the solar material to the battery. Solar material that is not prewired has points for wire connection. Use a multimeter to determine the positive and negative locations. Solder battery wire at these points and seal with electrical tape. Then connect to the battery, positive to positive and negative to negative.

Tips & Warnings

• To make the most of a solar curtain, determine which window in a home faces the sun the most, and hang the curtain there. The two battery types used with solar energy are lead-acid and nickel-cadmium. Lead-acid batteries cost less than nickel-cadmium batteries, but nickel-cadmium last longer, require less maintenance and may be discharged more fully. They can be expensive to dispose of because cadmium is hazardous. An unsealed lead-acid battery will have to have distilled water added to it about once a year. It is also important to monitor the terminal to make sure that they remain clean. If you are using this energy source for an electrical device that doesn't have a battery, you don't need a diode. However, a diode, determined by the system you set up, will keep the battery from being drained when the solar material is not being charged.
• Do not charge alkaline batteries. Check with the battery manufacturer to make sure it is compatible with your solar system. Organic photovoltaic cells have a shorter life span than traditional silicon solar cells.

Resources

• U.S. Department of Energy Solar Engery Page