As much as converting to solar energy will certainly save you money over the long-term, the initial cost of a solar panel system and having it installed can be high. That’s why going down the DIY avenue can be the perfect option. Constructing a solar panel from scratch is something that you must do with care but DIY solar panels are not as difficult to assemble as you might have thought.
While the majority of home-made solar panels are powerful enough to run little more than a small diode, it is possible to construct a panel that can help reduce your house-hold energy bills by as much as 60%.
The cost of these panels can be little more than $200, a fraction of the cost of an insulated pre-manufactured panel from one of the big brands. The reason why the cost is so high is because practically all of the components used to construct the panel can be found either around your home or at a hardware store.
To make any real impact on your monthly electricity bill you will need a 16V panel, which you connect to a 12V deep cell acid battery, into which the energy is stored for later use. Photovoltaic cells are the perfect type of solar cells for your independent off-grid needs, and can cost as little as $1 per 0.55V cell. Be careful of the cells though since they are the most important part of the panel and are very delicate. The cells are connected by copper wiring which leads to the battery.
You can construct a simple panel frame on which you can place the cells with just plywood or perhaps aluminium, with a wooden back. A sheet of glass should cover the open side of the frame to protect the cells from the elements inside. It’s an idea to seal the frame with a sealant that is heat and rain resistant.
It is important that the battery used is deep cell since it will have to be charged and recharged many times over its lifetime, and deep cell batteries are designed specifically for this type of heavy duty use. You can construct a battery box of timber, but be sure to seal it for safety purposes, even though deep cell batteries are sealed themselves and are quite safe. However, you don’t someone poking around the battery, especially children!
You will also need a DC metre, which you attach to the battery, and inverter to access the power harnessed from the sun and to use it on your house appliances, most of which are run on AC power.
A simple instruction booklet can also be purchased over the internet to help you through the process step-by-step but the whole set up should be simple to construct. Once it’s built, then you can look forward to smaller electricity bills and extra cash in your pocket.
DIY Solar Panels Video – Part 1
Make your own DIY solar panels at home after watching this video series.
DIY Solar Panels Video – Part 2
DIY Solar Panels Video – Part 3
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