Home Made Solar Panels

Building Solar Panels For Your Home

I guess it was the loss of power from the last hurricane that really demonstrated the serious need for some type of alternative source of energy.  No electricity means no lights, no cooling fans, no ice for a cool drink, none of the things we take for granted.  So we decided that we needed something like solar power panels to generate electricity before the next storm hit.  And we needed to know exactly how to build solar panels that would provide us with the necessary electric power to run a few basic home appliances should that time come again.

My thoughts back then showed how little I knew about generating power from the sun.  You see, if you have an alternate energy source, it can save you money and help the environment 365 days of the year, not only during power outages.  I didn’t know that solar panels make electricity by utilizing certain wavelengths of light.  They operate best under conditions of low temperatures and strong direct sunlight.  You should also know that to convert DC to AC, an inverter will be required.  But, we can start with small, simple steps to begin the process of moving off the grid.  And once you start to become independent of mainstream energy, you’ll never want to go back.

How do we make our own solar panels?

Well, you can use a kit or simply find a well written, reliable guide to help you build your home solar panel.  The parts you’ll need include solder, soldering iron, flux, tabbing and of course the solar cells.  We prefer to find cheap solar panels from ebay or local stores.

What are the advantages of building solar panels?

One of the primary benefits is that we’re helping to clean the environment by eliminating dangerous elements that add to pollution in our air.  Of course, we like the money it saves us too.  The original cost can be less than $200 to build a solar panel and that can be quickly recovered from lower utility bills.  When you use a rechargeable battery, the energy will be stored for use at night or during overcast days with little sunlight.

Exactly what is a homemade solar panel?

The panel is simply a collection of cells that generate a small amount of electricity.  If you follow our advice, you can get used panels for a very cheap price.  Then, you can easily connect the solar panels together to produce enough electric power for many of the convenience appliances in your home.  Once you know how to make solar panels, by linking them together, you’ll realize just how effective your homemade electricity generator can be to lower your utility payments, help the environment and provide lights for your family during the next storm.