How to Create Do It Yourself Solar Panels for Home Use
Do it yourself solar panels for home use are not too hard to create, especially if you have an aptitude and/or experience in carpentry and electrical wiring.
While you can hire a professional installation expert to put in factory made solar panels, it is quite expensive to do so.
It is not hard to find step by step do it yourself instructions for making solar panels on the internet; many people who are concerned about using green energy and the environment have successfully created their own solar panels for home use following detailed instructions.
The first step to creating solar panels for home use is to purchase the necessary tools.
Besides general tools such as a screwdriver, drill, saw and electrical pliers, you will also need to purchase solar cells, a soldering iron, electrical cable, diodes and connectors.
These items are not as easily found as regular carpentry tools are; however, all the above-mentioned items can be found for sale at a reasonable price via a number of online retailers.
One important thing to note regarding purchasing solar cells is that some already have either metal tabs or wire soldered onto them.
These solar cells are known as tabbed cells and usually cost more than regular solar cells; however, they are easier to work with as you do not have to solder the metal tabs on yourself.
What solar cells you buy will most likely depend on your budget and how much time you have to complete the solar energy panel construction and installation for your home.
The next step is to build a solar panel frame from either wood or metal.
Metal is advisable as it lasts longer and can hold out better in inclement weather.
You would then need to give the solar cells a plexiglass covering to protect the cells from the elements.
Plexiglass is quite resilient and can handle not only rain but also flying debris and even hailstones.
After completing the frame, you will need to layout the solar cells.
This is done using a tile spacer and marking the position of each cell on the backing board.
The cells will need to be soldered together using a soldering iron.
Many people create an arrangement of four rows of nine cells but you should feel free to create whatever arrangement is best for your home.
Once you have completed the solar panels, you should place them on the roof.
It is important when placing your finished product to make sure that nothing is blocking the sun from reaching the panels; if there is some obstruction in the way, the solar batteries connected to the solar panels will not charge fully and you will not have enough power for your home.
You should also take into consideration such factors as which direction the sun travels in and what type of roofline your home has.
While building solar panels yourself does require a fair bit of work, it can be more than worth it.
Not only do you gain the satisfaction of helping the environment, you also save the money you would have otherwise spent on your monthly electricity bill.
While you can hire a professional installation expert to put in factory made solar panels, it is quite expensive to do so.
It is not hard to find step by step do it yourself instructions for making solar panels on the internet; many people who are concerned about using green energy and the environment have successfully created their own solar panels for home use following detailed instructions.
The first step to creating solar panels for home use is to purchase the necessary tools.
Besides general tools such as a screwdriver, drill, saw and electrical pliers, you will also need to purchase solar cells, a soldering iron, electrical cable, diodes and connectors.
These items are not as easily found as regular carpentry tools are; however, all the above-mentioned items can be found for sale at a reasonable price via a number of online retailers.
One important thing to note regarding purchasing solar cells is that some already have either metal tabs or wire soldered onto them.
These solar cells are known as tabbed cells and usually cost more than regular solar cells; however, they are easier to work with as you do not have to solder the metal tabs on yourself.
What solar cells you buy will most likely depend on your budget and how much time you have to complete the solar energy panel construction and installation for your home.
The next step is to build a solar panel frame from either wood or metal.
Metal is advisable as it lasts longer and can hold out better in inclement weather.
You would then need to give the solar cells a plexiglass covering to protect the cells from the elements.
Plexiglass is quite resilient and can handle not only rain but also flying debris and even hailstones.
After completing the frame, you will need to layout the solar cells.
This is done using a tile spacer and marking the position of each cell on the backing board.
The cells will need to be soldered together using a soldering iron.
Many people create an arrangement of four rows of nine cells but you should feel free to create whatever arrangement is best for your home.
Once you have completed the solar panels, you should place them on the roof.
It is important when placing your finished product to make sure that nothing is blocking the sun from reaching the panels; if there is some obstruction in the way, the solar batteries connected to the solar panels will not charge fully and you will not have enough power for your home.
You should also take into consideration such factors as which direction the sun travels in and what type of roofline your home has.
While building solar panels yourself does require a fair bit of work, it can be more than worth it.
Not only do you gain the satisfaction of helping the environment, you also save the money you would have otherwise spent on your monthly electricity bill.
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