| As more and more people are becoming more aware | | | | sometimes get them from broken solar lights (the solar |
| about global warming and with the economy being in | | | | cells are almost never the problem) or from the |
| the state it is right now, people are looking for a lost | | | | company that makes and maintains highway |
| cost solution to their energy needs. Solar power is a | | | | construction signs or weather sensors. These |
| great alternative clean energy source but how can | | | | companies will sometimes willingly just give them to |
| you harness that power without spending your life | | | | you because it can be expensive to dispose of the |
| savings? Well the solution for me was to buy chipped, | | | | cells. If not they will usually sell them to you for even |
| defective, or damaged solar cells and build my own | | | | less than you can find them for on eBay. You will also |
| solar panels. | | | | need lumber for the solar panel's housing and some |
| Before starting a project of this size you will have to | | | | caulk. Some solder and a soldering iron is also |
| know your budget available and how many solar | | | | necessary. |
| panels you will want to build. Determine in watts or kw, | | | | When constructing the panel's housing be sure to |
| how much power you're going to need for your | | | | calculate the amount of room you need depending on |
| energy goals. If you check your monthly utility bill, it will | | | | how many solar cells you are going to have in a single |
| show you how much power you consumed that | | | | panel. If you need to you can always break them up |
| month and if you have saved other bills you can | | | | into smaller sections. I personally broke mine down into |
| estimate your average usage. Once you have your | | | | two subsections so I would have an easier time in |
| energy goal you can determine how many solar | | | | constructing and assembling my solar panel. Once your |
| panels you're going to be building. 36 solar cells | | | | housing is done you must solder the individual solar |
| produced about 20 watts in a single panel for me so | | | | cells into an array. Each array should be equal in size. |
| that can give you a rough estimate. Depending on the | | | | When your arrays are complete secure them to their |
| size of the panels you want to make you can use | | | | housing and screw down the Plexiglas top. |
| more or less solar cells than I did. | | | | Now its time to mount your panels. You can either |
| So now that you have an idea of what you're going to | | | | mount them on the roof which is probably the easier |
| build and how many, you have to start gathering the | | | | of the two options. You have to find you roof jousts |
| materials. Like I said before the best solar cells to use | | | | and secure your panels with a bolt. If that is not a |
| are damage or defective cells as they are so much | | | | viable option for you, you can always use a ground |
| cheaper than their new counterparts. You can find | | | | mount. They are available in many hardware stores or |
| these solar cells in many different locations but one of | | | | you can make your own. |
| the easiest that I've found is eBay. You can | | | | |