solar power cell

solar power cell

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Solar power is an effective power source alternative, and it can be used to power your home. When considering using it as a power source, there is a need to know how to make a solar panel.

Solar panels are photoelectric cells made out of glass and silicon. Sunlight is captured by the cells and converts it to energy. It is light and easy to move. The ideal placement of the panel is on the rooftop; however, it can be placed in other areas as long as it is properly exposed in sunlight.

To make a solar panel, the following materials are needed:

One pc. 2'x4' sheet of ¾" plywood 12' of ¾ strips of wood One pc. 2'x4' sheet of plexi-glass One pc. 2'x4' sheet of pegboard One pc. 16oz tube of clear silicone One pc. 3.0 amp diode 36 pcs. 3"x6" solar cells 1-quart white enamel paint One can 16oz wood glue

Assembly instructions:

The Plywood: Paint the plywood with 3 coats of white paint. This is for moisture protection. Do the same with the pegboard. The ¾" wood strips are used as mounting, which are around the outer edge of the plywood. It must be painted also.

The Pegboard: It serves as an insulator. The pegboard should be cut to loosely fit on the plywood within the ¾" wood strips. Using the ¾" strips will on the pegboard keeps the sides of the panel low. This works to maximize the sunlight absorption.

On Solar Cells: Take note that each 3"x6" solar cell produces.5v APR. To recharge a 12-volt battery, 36 pieces of cells should be connected in a series (36 x.5v = 18v). This should charge the battery sufficiently. The two strips located at the top blue side are negative terminals. On the backside, there are six soldering points, which are the positive terminals. In order to make a series connection, hook-up from the negative side on the top to the positive terminal of the following cell located at the bottom. In soldering bus wire across the 3 terminals at the bottom side, allow an inch of protrusion. The protrusion will make the connection to the next cell easy. Produce 3 strings of cells with the use of 12 cells in every string.

Mounting the Cells: Arrange carefully the solar cells on the pegboard. Every string should have twelve cells each. This panel should be composed of three strings. When laying the cells, utilize a bus wire and run it over in the adjacent string to continue the connection. Every cell must have a daub of silicone in the center of the cell, glued to the pegboard. The silicon will make the cells float from the surface in order to reduce the stress and prevent breakage. Drill a hole in the side of the ¾" strip and run the positive and negative wires to the exterior panel.

Testing the cells: It is crucial to run a test on the voltage output of the solar panel in direct sunlight before the mounting of the plexi-glass. Test the voltage output using a voltmeter. When the reading shows negative voltage, switch the terminals of the test leads. This will establish the true positive and negative ends of the cell. Solder a 3.0-ampere diode on the positive terminal. The diode will protect the batteries from draining by the solar panels in the night.

The Plexi-Glass: Apply beads of silicone around the top edge of the ¾" wood strips. It will seal the panel from moisture. Drill screw mounting holes 12 inches apart at least. Make sure that the screws are snugly screwed, however, do not over torque that it may break the plexi-glass.

Making your own panel may take some time and will require precision, but it is more cost efficient to make a solar panel of your own. Prefabricated panels cost thousands of dollars, but going DIY only requires a couple of hundred of dollars. This will provide a substantial reduction in your power generation cost, and save a considerable amount of money.

I built my own solar panels and a wind generator and saved well over $30,000. I get a cheque from the power company because I produce more energy than I use. If you'd like to learn how you can do the same check out Homemade Solar Panels.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells : DigInfo