subject: How to Build Your Own Solar Panel and Get Started on Generating Homemade Energy [print this page] How to Build Your Own Solar Panel and Get Started on Generating Homemade Energy
The escalating cost of electricity has raised homeowners' interest in homemade energy to provide their power needs. One of the most popular homemade energy sources is solar energy. Solar energy is generated with the use of photovoltaic (PV) cells which turn sunlight into electricity. The problem is that installing solar panels on your roof can set you back as much as $20,000 to $50,000. So to cut costs many families are exploring how to build a solar panel on their own.
Learning how to build a solar panel, while it may entail a little bit of a learning curve, will not cost you that much and will be more rewarding in the long run. To make your own solar panel, all you need are damaged solar cells that can be salvaged or Indium Copper Selenide cells. You will also need some basic materials such as a soldering iron, a screwdriver, copper wire and an AC inverter. You basically have to solder the cells together in series to make a solar panel. If each cell is assumed to generate half a volt, then you need twenty-four cells to make a 12-volt panel. Instructions on how to build a solar panel are easily found online.
Unfortunately, PV solar panels made in this way will not generate much energy. You can use your homemade PV panels to recharge batteries or to generate energy for night lights. But this simple project can prepare you for more complicated homemade energy projects, so you can learn how to build a solar system that can power many of your home's appliances, for example. And, eventually, if your homemade solar energy panels generate enough electricity, you may even be able to sell some back to your power utility.
