| With professional guides widely available nowadays, | | | | do. You might save some money initially, but at a long |
| building solar panels in a DIY manner is becoming easy. | | | | run, if your solar power system can run without any |
| Yes, many people will tell you it is as easy as | | | | issue, you can save a lot on maintenance fee. |
| connecting up some photovoltaic components, and | | | | Mistake #3: No Proper Design for Frame |
| exposing them to sunlight. Building your own solar | | | | This is also one of the most common issues, but it can |
| power system is as easy as this -- really? | | | | be avoided with some care. Most beginners do not |
| It might be not, especially if you are a beginner and you | | | | have a proven design, so they make mistakes in |
| are building your first solar panel. To show you, I am | | | | choosing the dimensions of their solar panel frame or |
| going to reveal 4 common mistakes that most | | | | casing. And even if they do have a design, they usually |
| beginners will make. Well, some experienced DIYers | | | | do not remember to check the dimensions of the solar |
| do not even know about them. | | | | cells to make sure the cells can fit into the frame |
| Mistake #1: Miscalculation in the Number of Solar Cells | | | | properly. |
| and Battery Size -- Or No Calculation At All. | | | | It is important to follow professional instructions in |
| This is almost the most common mistakes. Most | | | | designing your sola panel frame. Also, make extra |
| hobbyists do not make careful planning before they | | | | effort in choosing the right materials for your design. |
| start their project, and they just roughly estimate the | | | | The frame functions to protect the easily brittle or |
| number of solar cells and the battery size they need. | | | | broken solar cells. Both the dimension of your design |
| Estimation of the power and voltage your system will | | | | and the materials you choose are key to ensuring your |
| generate will almost always not work. You need to | | | | frame provides good protection, especially against |
| perform calculation and measurements to make sure | | | | improper handling and knocking during installation. |
| that your solar cells can generate the amount of | | | | Mistake #4: No Proper Water Proof |
| power and voltage you expect them to, and your | | | | Considering most parts of homemade solar panels are |
| battery capacity is large enough to store the energy | | | | wood and metal, there is no reason why we should |
| for use at night and rainy days. | | | | scrimp on water-proofing the system. Yet no proper |
| Nonetheless, don't worry. It is easy to perform the | | | | water-proofing effort is a common mistake that many |
| calculation. Also, take into account the estimated | | | | DIYers make. |
| efficiency of your system, and power loss. Do not skip | | | | In fact, statistics show that most homemade solar |
| this step, because some small initial effort goes a long | | | | panels break down either due to improper handling or |
| way in ensuring your solar power system runs well. | | | | broken metallic joints. Vapor seeping into solar panels |
| Mistake #2: Choosing Low Quality Materials | | | | causes rust. This weakens the metallic joints, and |
| It is inevitable that we have to make cost vs. quality | | | | eventually causing it to break down. This is especially |
| considerations when we choose materials for building | | | | evident if the solar panels are installed in area whose |
| solar panels. However, experience shows that parts | | | | humidity level is high. |
| that costs lower are not always a good deal -- usually | | | | Solution? Get a high quality sealant, and ensure you |
| the quality of the parts are compensated for the price. | | | | seal any gap. |
| You have to have an expectation of how long you | | | | There are certainly many other pitfalls that we can |
| want your solar power system to last. | | | | encounter while setting up our DIY solar power |
| Commercially-built solar panels can last for around | | | | system, but the above four are the most common. |
| twenty years, so if you want to benchmark the solar | | | | It takes some experience before we could detect the |
| panels you build with them, you have to consider | | | | pitfall and know the precautionary methods to take to |
| getting more durable parts. However, if a system that | | | | prevent these mistakes. Having an experienced buddy |
| can last you for around ten years is what you need, | | | | to guide you along can save us some trouble. |
| there isn't any reason why you cannot go for | | | | Otherwise, a good alternative is to get a detailed, |
| something much cheaper. | | | | step-by-step guide to help us to avoid the pitfalls that |
| The rule of thumb is, do not sacrifice the durability of | | | | can bring down our DIY solar power systems. |
| your solar panels with cheap cost like many hobbyists | | | | |