How to Make a Solar Lamp

Making a solar lamp is one of the simplest solar energy products you can do at home. Solar lamps come in handy because they can save money by utilizing a renewable source of energy. Solar lamps can also be used during emergencies and power outages. By following these steps carefully and getting all the right equipment, you can begin saving energy and, in the long run, a few dollars.

Things You'll Need

• DC-powered lamp or light
• Solar cell or cells
• Charge controller
• Rechargeable batteries
• 2 fuses or fuse blocks
• Electric wires

Instructions

1. Ensure you'll have enough solar cells to provide enough voltage to charge your batteries. If your batteries will output 1.25 volts per unit, your cells will need to be able to produce that amount of voltage. Since most solar cells convert about 20 percent of the photons they get from the sun's rays, you may need multiple cells. If not, skip the next step.

2. Wire the multiple solar cells together. Leave the negative terminal free on one cell and connect its positive terminal to the negative terminal on the next cell. Continue connecting the positive on one to the negative on the other until the last cell. Then connect the first cell's negative terminal and the last cell's positive terminal to the fuse.

3. Connect the fuse to the charge controller's terminals using the electrical wires, using the respective terminals. For example, there should be positive and negative terminal markings for "solar," "battery," and "light." The fuse prevents electrons from returning back to the panel if the batteries are full. If you don't use the fuse or fuse blocks, you could also risk burning out the batteries.

4. Connect the lamp to the charge controller via the fuse and the respective terminals on the controller. Take the connected devices outside and expose the solar cells to as much sun as possible. If you lack sunshine, a 100-watt bulb can provide ultraviolet light for charging.

Tips & Warnings

• Ensure all your equipment is properly rated according to the instructions. Your charge controller can handle a specific capacity. Your panels can collect a certain amount of voltage. Your lamp light burns at a specific wattage. If any of these ratings do not add up, your lamp could improperly work or cause damage.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Solar-Powered Lamps
• Diagram for wiring panels together