subject: Understanding How To Build A Solar Panel So That You May Reduce Your Energy Utility Costs [print this page] When you build a solar panel for your home, you can substantially reduce your electricity bills and it may even come to the point that you may no longer need to buy electric power from your utility. In addition, because of the reduction of your dependence on electric power generated by the utilities, you will be doing your part in protecting the environment. This is because solar power is a renewable source of energy and does not depend on the usual methods of producing electricity. Furthermore, creating your own homemade solar panel is not difficult and can even provide you with some excitement and fun.
It is common knowledge that a home solar panel is located on the roof but those whose residences are found in the northern hemisphere also have to know that the panels should be facing south to make the most of the sun's rays. On the other hand, those living in the southern hemisphere will have to let their solar panels face north.
The tools that you will require for your build solar panel project include plywood, saw, Rosin flux pen, soldering iron gun, screw driver, paint brush, wire cutters, drill, Plexiglas cutters, volt meter, and caulking gun. The materials needed include Plexiglas, solder, plywood sheeting, tin wire, silicon caulk, and solar cells.
When you want to build a solar panel for your home, it is also important to remember that you will need 80 cells to generate 100 watts of electricity. Hence, if your requirement is 1,000 watts or one kilowatt, 800 solar cells will be required. However, before you could determine the number of solar cells that you will require, you will need to figure out the total power that you want your solar panels to provide at one time.
The next step to take after calculating the number of solar cells to be used when you build a solar panel is to determine the total area of all of the cells and then cut the plywood such that it has enough area to handle the needed total area of the solar cells. Then, you will need to coat the plywood with varnish that has the capability to protect the wood from ultraviolet rays. The solar cells will then be attached to the plywood using silicon caulk and the solar cells will have to be covered with Plexiglas. The assembly should be sealed using silicon caulk to seal the assembly from moisture.
