Solar Panel Construction: A Hands-On Approach
Existing instructions for solar panel construction make it sound much more complicated than it actually is.
The fact is that constructing solar panels yourself is not difficult unless you do not have an understanding of what you are trying to do and a concise plan to do it.
Here’s a quick overview of the entire process, just to prove to you how easy it is:
1. First, decide if you actually need to construct your own panel. You might have an easier time of it if you just find one that someone else is throwing out or needs to give away - and that could solve your problems quickly.
2. However, if you insist on making them by yourself anyway, here’s the crash course:
First of all, you might be enthusiastic to replace your electric bills with your own DIY solar panels; but my suggestion to you is that don’t venture this at your first project.
You should start from a small project in the beginning and then expand on your work. Try to make a 40 or 50-cell solar panel at first phase, observe how it works and then follow through towards the bigger one accordingly.
Lets get started with your first solar panel project:
At first, collect the required parts like 40 or 50 solar cells from eBay, a few pieces of plywood (cut according to the required length and breadth), tabbing wire, solder and a rosin flux pen.
Next, place the solar cells in series, face-down, and drop a small amount of solder on each tab, one-by-one.
After that, you are required to wire these cells together in such a way that if wire passes from the back of one cell the other end of the wire should pass to the front of another cell. In this manner you need to connect all the cells.
The next step is to join the separate rows together in a parallel fashion, and then attach the cells to the wood with silicone.
And in the end, at the bottom of the plywood, drill holes to pass the positive and negative wires from the solar cells. These wires are then to be connected to the inverter at first and then to the power box on your house.
If you’re uncertain about how to connect everything at the end, call the electrician or the power company for assistance - better safe than sorry.
This is a crash overview but the article can provide you with the basic ideas. Wiring of the solar panels together is the most delicate and troublesome part of this total process. However, the time and practice can make you a master of this art.
