How Do You Make Solar Panels?
Solar panels use energy from the sun to generate electricity. While constructing solar panels is not excessively difficult, and uses only solar cells and a few other materials that you can obtain at your local hardware store, you must observe certain criteria to ensure the practicality and longevity of your solar panels. In order to use solar cells in practical applications, you must connect them electrically to each other, protect them from mechanical danger from the weather, and protect them from moisture. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 36 3*6 solar cells
- Plywood
- Masonite peg-board
- Plexiglass
- Soldering iron
- Silicone caulk
- Deep-cycle batteries
- Blocking diode
- Charge controller
Instructions
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1
Build a shallow box (ie, 3/8 inches deep, with 3/4 inch pieces of wood around the edges) out of plywood, to house your solar panels. Your box should be large enough to house 36 3*6 solar panels.
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2
Cut masonite peg-board, which is thin, rigid, and non-conducting, with which to align your plywood box.
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3
Obtain a piece of plexiglass large enough to completely cover your plywood box. Drill holes in the plexiglass around the edges. If you are too aggressive, you may crack your glass, so drill with caution.
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4
Paint all parts of your plywood box, to protect the box from humidity. Paint the masonite peg-board with several coats of paint.
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5
Solder your solar cells together in series. Lay the negative solder tabs on top of one cell over the positive solder tabs on the back of the next cell. Gently tap the cells with a soldering iron; if you push too hard, you will break the cells.
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6
Use a dab of silicone caulk in the back of each cell to attach the cells to the masonite pegboard that is lining the plywood box.
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7
Use plexiglass to cover the solar panel and protect it from the elements. Attach the plexiglass to the box, using screws. You are now ready to wire your solar panels to a battery bank, in order to power appliances as you desire.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
