| Are you ready to make homemade solar panel? | | | | Once done, you can start joining the solar cells |
| One thing you need to remember is that building | | | | together. Place all the cells on the ground and using |
| homemade solar panel is quite simple and doesn’t | | | | the soldering pen, drop very little amount of solder |
| require extensive technical know-how. | | | | onto the small tabs found at the back of each solar |
| Okay, here’s a basic 6 step blueprint to make | | | | cell. |
| homemade solar panel which I learned from viewing | | | | 3) The solder applied on the tabs allows you to link all |
| step-by-step video tutorials downloaded to my | | | | the cells together with the copper wire. The top of |
| computer hard drive. | | | | the soldered tab is where you put the wire and to |
| Head over to your nearest hardware store and | | | | make it stick, just press it down until the solder cools |
| acquire the following items: | | | | off. . |
| 1) Blocking diodes | | | | 4) Now what do you see across the back of the |
| 2) Copper wires | | | | solar cells? Two lines of copper wire! The setup goes |
| 3) One sheet of Plexiglass | | | | like this: The negative end of the wire goes to the |
| 4) Plywood Panel | | | | negative slot and positive enters the positive slot. |
| 5) Silicone Sealant | | | | 5) Time to link up the cells! Arrange the wiring in |
| 6) Solar cells | | | | such way that the negative wires are unable to |
| 7) Solder and soldering pen | | | | come into touch with the positive wires. |
| 8) Stainless steel screws | | | | |
| 9) UV coating paint | | | | 6) Drill 2 holes to get the wire out of the back of the |
| 10) Wood to form panel border | | | | plywood panel, add the wood to form a border |
| My total cost: $206 | | | | around the cells, screw from the back and finally with |
| 1) Cut up the plywood according to the amount of | | | | the silicone sealant in hand put the Plexiglass sheet on |
| solar cells you have in possession. To generate say | | | | top of the panel. |
| 100 watts of power, you’ll need about 80 solar | | | | |
| cells. Build and combine multiple panels if you require | | | | Keep in mind that, if you watch step-by-step video |
| more power. | | | | tutorials like I have, then it will be a whole lot easier |
| 2) Paint the plywood panel with UV coating paint. | | | | to make homemade solar panel! |