How to Charge Solar Panels

Solar-panel use is steadily becoming more widespread.

Solar panels are a becoming popular way to not only save money on your electric bill, but also help the environment by reducing the pollution caused by the production of electricity. A solar panel does not store any energy itself; instead, it is all immediately used by whatever appliances you have connected to it. You can, however, use the solar panel to charge a battery, which then can be used later.

Things You'll Need

• Battery
• Battery box
• DC input
• DC meter
• AC inverter
• Drill
• Insulated wire

Instructions

1. Attach the DC meter and DC inlet to the top of the battery box using your drill. The DC meter can usually be found at an auto-parts store while the DC meter will usually reside in an electronics store. The battery box is found at your local hardware store.

2. Connect the DC meter to the battery using the insulated wire. You need to connect the negative pole first and then the positive.

3. Connect the DC inlet in the same matter used to connect the DC meter. Connect negative pole first then positive. The DC inlet will be used to plug in small appliances. This is the inlet you commonly find in many cars.

4. Connect your solar panel to your battery by attaching to the negative pole first, then the positive. This will allow the power to flow from your solar panel directly to your battery. It will take about six hours to charge a dead battery.

5. Close and secure the battery box. This can be done with tape or a bungee cord if you have one available.

6. Attach the AC inverter into one of the DC inlet ports if you want to run a larger appliance. This will convert the DC inlet to the standard AC format used by many household appliances and electronics.

References

• AMECO: Solar Panel Installation Techniques
• Solar Home:Frequently Asked Questions about Solar Panels
• Rain: How to Make a Solar Power Generator for less than $300