Homemade Solar Cell

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Solar energy has been successfully tapped for power since olden days by adopting various methods. Solar energy is inexhaustible. It is eco-friendly and costs nothing, in its raw nature. It requires very little maintenance as compared to other forms of energy. Using solar energy to power domestic as well as commercial requirements is a hot subject of discussion in the current power crisis situation. Are you eager to build your own solar panel? If so, look upon yourself as fortunate since it is relatively simple, even for a beginner.

Construction of a solar panel can be divided into ten stages, which again is based on what your needs are, the quantum of solar power you would want to be produced and the number of solar panels you are keen on building.

Do you know how much you may have to invest in order to build your own solar panels? It is possible to build one which would drastically bring down your electricity consumption charges to less than $200, provided you execute your job perfectly.

Some people that build solar panels connect them to their electric company utility grid to supplement the home-generated power and lessen the bills. Others want to completely disengage from the grid altogether and produce 100 % of the homes electrical power needs. To totally disconnect, you will likely need at least 4-5 solar panels with high sun exposure to generate sufficient power.

Here are the 10 steps you need to create your own solar panel:

Stage 1: Arrive at your power production requirement and thereby the number of panel it would warrant. Studies reveal that a daily normal domestic requirement in America ranges from 10,000 Watts to 30,000 Watts. Your requirement is based on the number of gadgets you employ and whether that includes air conditioners, etc. In case you have no idea, you may glance at your electricity bill to arrive at your approximate monthly power usage. A conventional solar cell generates around 2 Watts of power, implying that you may require approximately 5,000 to 15,000 separate solar cells to ensure total power supply to your residence, meaning you would need around 5-15 separate solar panels and not beyond that. If you do not contemplate depending entirely on solar energy for your domestic need and you are looking to just reduce your utility charges to half, you may consider that too and yet build you DIY solar panels, which would worth the time and energy you spend on it.

Phase 2: Immediately after you compute the number of solar cells needed for the job; buy them on eBay, by mentioning chipped or broken solar cells on search engine. They happen to be financially viable being as efficacious as any new cells. You may purchase the solar cells from the shops in your area also; however, procuring them from eBay would be a better proposition.

Phase 3: Next, you will have to procure other related items also for the solar panels. They are: 1. Not too thick plywood (nearby hardware shop) 2. Flexi-glass about 0.5 inches in thickness (hardware shop). 3. Tin-coated tabbing cable (peruse in eBay). 4. Silicone (for closing up holes). 5. Solder iron (for linking the cells). 6. Rosin flux pen (for connecting your cells). 7. UV Protector (to prevent damage to your new solar panel). 8. Volt meter. The moment the aforesaid items are ready, you may begin assembling or erecting your very first solar panel.

Phase 4: At the outset, prepare the plywood by sawing it to correct dimensions, tidy it and see to it that all the cells that you have purchased are accommodated neatly on it. Then, apply adequate coatings of UV protector on the wood to save it from harsh sun rays.

Step 5: After you have cut the plywood to the proper width and height, cleaned it and applied the UV Protector, you then will attach the solar cells together. This is not an easy task and will be discussed in more detail in another article, however, generally locate the tabs on the reverse side of each cell and using a soldering iron place a small amount of solder onto the tabs. Use the tabbing wire attaching the face of one cell to the reverse of the next in a repetitive manner until the rows have been completed.

Stage 6: Next, you are required to stick all the rows of cells on the back of your plywood sheet with the help of silicone. Besides, you are required attach wires to every row of the cells and make a hole behind your plywood to enable you to have the wiring from the cells to the battery or any other power storage equipment.

Phase 7: Fix the flexi-glass to the edges of your plywood sheet and adequately cover the cells, by applying silicone again.

Stage 8: Cover any gaping gaps or holes (circling the holes which your positive and negatives wires are passing through, or at any other place) with the help of silicone.

Phase 9: Now make a breather hole at the base of your plywood close to where the cables exit to prevent wetness deposition inside the solar panel.

Stage 10: Next, join the electrical wires from the panel to the panels junction box- which in turn will connect to your charge controller and then to your batteries. Remember to seek the advice of your neighboring hardware outlet when you are doing this to ensure you are in possession of the right volts and amps for your wiring ” as they are fully knowledgeable in this aspect to guide you after seeing your equipment.

To begin generating energy, move the solar panels into the sun. Attach a voltmeter to see if it registers output and how much power you’re generating.

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In most 3rd world places, where electricity and other fuel sources are hard to come by, solar oven designs have been used. Not only are they effective in cooking food, but also for water purification in sunny countries like Sudan.

And like other solar technologies, there’s no reason first world countries should not promote solar cooking at home to help save energy. Although cooking may take four times longer than conventional ovens, no electricity or fuel is used – just the power of the sun.

Over time many solar oven designs have been mastered, but they generally fall into three main categories: parabolic solar cookers, panel cookers, and box cookers.

Parabolic Shape:

As the name suggests, a parabolic cooker is made from reflective material that is molded into bowl. This helps it concentrate the sunlight in one area and effectively cook your food. However, this design typically costs more and it’s rigid structure makes it less practical for traveling.

Panel Cooker:

A panel cooker is any cooker made with a series of flat, reflective panels arranged to direct sunlight to a focal point.

The panel shape is not as efficient as the parabolic shape, but it has the advantage of being foldaway, portable, and rather simple to make. These cookers can be found in a number of interesting deigns, but the simplest is by far the one made by folding one of those reflective windscreen blinds.

Box Cooker:

The final shape is the box cooker. The concept behind this solar oven design is very different to the parabolic and panel cookers. Here, the cooker works by absorbing sunlight through perspex, trapping that sunlight and heat in the cooker, and creating more heat as more light streams in.

What makes the box cooker appealing is that is really easy to make – the simplest design requires a cardboard box, a piece of clear glass or plastic, and tin foil – and it can cook a large portion of food at a time.

What I like most about solar oven designs is that they can be put together with simple materials found at home in the course of an afternoon. It’s a fun project to do with your kids, and the shapes you come up with are really limited to your imagination. And do not just think your solar cooker is only good for boiling water or steaming vegetables. People have successfully roasted meat in them and even baked bread. Another pro is that your solar cooker will be outside when used, so it will not cause your whole kitchen to heat up and put strain on your indoor cooling system – another way it helps you to conserve energy.

And if you think that over 75% of American households use their oven or stove on a daily basis – a tremendous amount of energy could be conserved if more of us used solar oven designs during summer.

There really is no excuse for not looking more into solar cooking. With a number of affordable solar cookers and free instructions available on the internet, you owe it to yourself, your kids and the environment to try one out for yourself.

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