Building Solar Panels

Do you worry about paying your monthly bills? Most people do, and what they don’t know is that you can make a huge difference in your utility bills and end up with some well deserved extra cash every  month with the money saved just by employing some renewable energy sources in their homes.

The best, long-term solution to saving money on your utility bills is to make your own energy. Luckily, building solar panels is quite easy. Not only is it much easier than you might think, you will probably be very surprised how affordable  solar panels, converters and other parts have become in recent years.

With the exception of solar cells themselves, solar panel technology is not very complex and can easily be built by even novice diy enthusiasts. Thankfully you can get ready-to-use solar cells and instructions on how to build your own solar panels online. Here are a few tips that just might help…

 

Plans For Building Solar Panels

Finding the right plans to build your own solar panels can be frustrating or even intimidating for the average person. Check out several different ones and find a plan that has the best instructions.

Get Access To Best Quality Easy DIY Project Plans For Building Solar Panels To Install On Your Home Here

Solar Panel Parts & Materials

The Internet is full of online deals for parts and materials. Using the instructions you chose, compare prices (including the cost of shipping) on all the parts you will need. This may take a little time, but it will seriously keep the construction cost down. You will also find many suppliers who offer everything that is required to complete the job in one package, as well as customer support to assist you through your project.

A good set of instructions will include a complete tools list, but will most certainly include hammer, saw, soldering iron, screw drivers and a knife.

The materials list is a little longer but you will easily find what you need at most local hardware stores. Be sure to check what materials you have at home first, as many people already have some timber and wood screws that can be used to make the frame for mounting the panels on the roof and the wood panels to make the housing for the cells.

You’ll want to purchase or obtain pre-tabbed photo-voltaic cells and the tab wiring to connect them. You’ll also need some EVA glue, solder and flux, plastic sheeting to cover the lid of the housing, as well as blocking diodes to stop current reversal.

Placement of Your Solar Panels

You’ve probably already thought about where you will be placing your solar panels, but if you haven’t now is the time to sit down and plan that out. A south facing slope of 30˚ that is not shaded or in the path of natural pests is required, and if possible somewhere that will allow wiring to be easily conducted into the area you choose to house the storage batteries.

Set Aside Time and Workspace To Complete Building Solar Panels

When starting out to build your own solar panels, allow a weekend and make sure you have a space that will give you enough room to work and is clean and dust free. The process is essentially an assembly project once the solar cells are fixed to a backing board in rows, usually of 6×6.

Join the cell tabs with the wire and add the blocking diodes and cable to connect to the storage battery and cover with the plastic lid. Seal the whole unit with silicone grouting.

Installing Your Solar Panels

Mounting the panels on the roof should occur after some insulation has been applied to the rear of the housing, and to really make the unit efficient paint the entire housing black – not the lid though! This may be a two person job, not just because it is heavy, but because it is awkward and made more difficult when working from heights.

It is also advisable to have a licensed electrician either review, or actually do, the connection to your home power supply. It is always better to be safe than to try to skimp on this very important step.

DIY Solar Panel Plans And Assembly Kits

If the whole building solar panels project seems a little too much for your own DIY skills, you can purchase a kit set or even a complete unit. Before you buy one though, try to either find someone who is using the unit you are interested in buying, or at least try to see a solar powered unit in action.

Building Solar Panels Is Fun!

Building solar panels should be fun and you can involve the whole family. It’s also a very useful project which can give a homeowner true independence while also increasing the value of your home. In times when power supplies may be unreliable, building solar panels could be considered a survival strategy that might not only save you money, but save your life as well in an emergency.