| Building your own DIY solar panel to power your home | | | | The next thing you want to do is draw lines on the |
| energy needs is all the rage these days. Contrary to | | | | non-conducting sheet to mark placement of the cells |
| common perception, this does not require high technical | | | | to avoid moving them repeatedly. You need to solder |
| knowledge or skills. The best thing is, any average Joe, | | | | all the 36 cells (you can make them in compartments |
| with the necessary inclination and skills can make his | | | | of 18 for convenience) in series. Soldering is another |
| own DIY solar panel right in his own backyard. Here's | | | | tricky affair as the cells are very thin. Use appropriate |
| how you can do it and slash your energy bills for good. | | | | low wattage soldering iron and solder very lightly so as |
| Where Should I Start? | | | | not to break the cells. |
| If you're looking to build your own DIY solar panel, you | | | | After the cells are soldered serially, glue them on the |
| may want to consider shopping on eBay for blemished | | | | non-conducting sheet to keep in place. Place a little |
| and factory-second solar cells. You can buy 36 pieces | | | | glue in the centre of each square in the sketch drawn |
| of 3x6 (inches) mono-crystalline solar cells, to produce | | | | earlier and gently lay the cells on the sheet correctly. |
| a total of 18 volts, good enough for charging 12 volt | | | | Glue the cells in the middle only, not all over the cells |
| batteries. These cells are very thin and brittle, so | | | | because expansion/contraction in the temperature will |
| normally the sellers keep a stack of 18 cells in wax. | | | | damage the cell. |
| Since removal of wax is a problem, try to get the cells | | | | Next, anchor the panels in the box with screws and |
| without wax stabilization. Ensure that the cells have | | | | connect the panels appropriately. Place a blocking |
| metal tabs for soldering. | | | | diode in series to prevent discharging from batteries |
| Next Steps | | | | during the night or cloudy weather. This diode is fixed |
| The next step to build your DIY solar panel is to make | | | | on the positive lead and finally the wires are connected |
| a shallow box (without cover and made of plywood | | | | to a battery charging unit. |
| base and wood edges) to accommodate the 36 cells. | | | | As explained above it is not difficult to build your solar |
| Place a thin but rigid, non-conducting material sheet to | | | | energy source. It is essentially a series of basic steps |
| loosely fit into the well of the box. Also get a | | | | to follow, but it requires you to stick with it and see |
| transparent glass sheet to cover the box and protect | | | | through the process. |
| the cells from weather. Apply several coats of paint | | | | If you're keen to get really hands-on and slash your |
| over the box and the non-conducting sheet on all sides. | | | | home electricity bills by 80% or more, there are many |
| If you were unable to obtain cells without wax | | | | excellent guidebooks available online at low cost that |
| reinforcement, it is best that you dip the panels in hot | | | | will help you achieve this with ease. Many of them |
| water to melt the wax away and separate the cells. | | | | provide you with step-by-step and easy to follow |
| Next, clean them in a soap solution and dry fully. Be | | | | instructions and videos that will help you build your very |
| warned though, the cells are extremely brittle and | | | | own DIY solar panel! |
| fragile, so pay extra attention while cleaning. | | | | |