How to Build Solar Panels - Simple for the Average Joe

If you've ever done some digging or looked into installing a professionally made solar panel system for your home you've probably realized it's not quite as affordable as you'd hoped. You'd think the cost of green energy solutions for homes would become more affordable in our technologically advanced world. The sad fact remains, solar and other green energy solutions are terribly expensive and down right impractical for the average American family.

Although professional installations are expensive and hardly seem worthwhile, there are far more affordable, yet unknown solutions available to anybody willing to put forth some time, effort, and patience. Do-it-yourself green energy projects are perfect for anybody looking to go green and cut their electric bills but simply can't afford the lump sum necessary for a professional system.

What it involves...To get things started you'll need a guide or manual for you to understand exactly what you'll be doing.

Step 1: Finding the materials.

The first thing we did after reading the manual was go to the store and collect materials. This is easy for the most part and may involve running to a few different hardware stores for the basic supplies. Depending on your method and design, you may utilize different materials. Some are harder to find, especially the solar cells. You probably won't have a solar dealer near you and neither did we, so you'll likely have to do a search online. We found a certain online auction site had exactly what we needed in terms of solar cells.

Step 2: Joining the cell

The first step when actually building your solar power system is to join together the individual solar cells in order to create a solar panel. This involves a lot of soldering, a bit of craftsmanship, and a lot of patience. With a little care and practice it became second nature to us. Once your cells are joined you're ready to build the panel (casing) that the cells will sit in to absorb the sun.

Step 3: Case (panel) construction

There are a million different ways to build a case for your solar cells to sit in. Obviously, the top cover must be transparent to let the sun in, but also waterproof to keep the rain out and condensation out. You must also allow a spot for the wiring to enter the panel. We built ours out of Plexiglas and a wooden frame and then sealed it to waterproof.

Step 4: Wiring

The final step in setting up your solar panel is to wire it into your home so you can utilize the power that it produces! To do this you'll need a simple DC to AC converter. The converter will allow the DC energy that the panels produce to be turned into AC energy for use throughout your home.

These are the basic steps involved when building your own solar panels. There is a wealth of information out there. One site in particular, DIY Solar Power Guides, provides plenty of articles, videos, and all sorts of information that will allow you to make an educated decision when trying to figure out if DIY green energy projects are for you.