How to Build a Portable Solar Generator
With the rising cost of fossil fuels, including gasoline, and the need for clean energy alternatives, more and more people are turning to inexpensive ways of producing green energy. Solar panels provide free energy, and having one can make a huge difference for your energy bills. A portable solar generator setup can be used for charging such things as car batteries, RVs, and boats. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Drill
- Battery box
- 12-volt direct current (DC) meter
- DC input
- 12 or 16-volt solar panel
- Screwdriver
- Insulated wire
- Rechargeable 12-volt deep cycle battery
- Bungee cord
Instructions
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1
Drill a hole in the top of the battery box and then slide the cords from the DC meter and the input into the box. Use the double-sided tape included with the DC input to affix the input on the lid of the battery box.
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2
Loosen the screws on the positive and negative nodes of the solar panel. Attach the black side of the insulated wire to the negative node and the red side to the positive node. Tighten them down.
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3
Place the battery in the box and attach the black wire from the DC meter to the negative terminal on the battery. Connect the red wire to the positive terminal. Repeat the negative and the positive connections with the DC input and the insulated wiring from the solar panel.
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4
Close the lid on the battery box and secure it with the bungee cord. You do not want to seal it, because you might need access to the battery or the connection points later.
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5
Charge the battery by putting the solar panel in the sun and letting it sit for five to eight hours. As the battery weakens later, you can charge it for as little as one to three hours or as much as five to eight hours if it's dead.
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Tips & Warnings
Try a human-powered generator for another portable energy source when the sun is not shining.
Trickle chargers are solar panels that plug directly into a cigarette lighter or DC plug in your car and help keep car batteries charged, particularly during the winter.
If you want to use appliances that only have an AC plug, invest in an inverter. They are available online or at most electronics stores for anywhere from $20 to $300.
