Solar panels collect the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity for home use with a collection of individual units called cells. It takes a fairly substantial amount of individual cells to provide enough power for all of a standard home’s needs. There are many different manufacturers who supply solar panels for home and business use but the startup cost of converting your home to solar power can be daunting.
Fortunately, there are alternatives for those who want to make use of solar power without spending a great deal. You can buy a do it yourself solar panel kit, shop for used panels through sites like eBay or buy directly from the manufacturer and from a domestic company. Purchasing within your own country and without going through a retailer can save you a considerable amount of money.
If none of these possible avenues for affordable solar power works for you, then you might want to consider building your own panels. Of course, you’ll need to bear in mind that panels you construct yourself, while perfectly functional, will likely produce far less wattage than professionally built silicon panels would. So you shouldn’t expect the same kind of output from your do it yourself project.
Making a solar panel basically entails gathering and placing individual solar cells within a frame. The frame can be built from almost any material, including wood or metal. Metal is more durable than wood and since your panel will be exposed to the elements regularly, metal makes the best sense in most cases. You will also need to cover your cells. You can use glass or plexiglass, but again plexiglass offers more durability.
You can find lots of solar cells available online at auction sites like eBay. These can usually be purchased at reasonable prices and are considerably cheaper than the cost of a full panel. Once you have your cells, you then need to put them in place in your frame, using tile separators to space them out carefully. When they are all placed, you can solder them in place and then cover them with a piece of plexiglass.
After you make your own solar panel, you will then need to position it optimally to catch the most sunlight. The best location for this is usually the roof of your house, particularly if you have an unobstructed southerly view, as this provides for the most powerful sun. Once in place, your panel can begin soaking up and storing the sun’s energy.
Solar energy is a sensible idea that may seem out of reach to most people, but it doesn’t have to be. You can tap into the power of the sun with your own homemade solar panel, easing yourself off the grid and into the wonderful world of sustainable energy. Consider taking the DIY approach and making solar energy a reality for your home today!
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