| This how to will help you create your own solar | | | | It's good to have a preparation, right? |
| generator for about 350 dollars or less depending on | | | | 6. I'd recommend a plastic cooler or a wooden box |
| the things that you purchase. | | | | because of the water-proofing that it will give. Get a |
| What would this power generator do? If the 20 W | | | | drill, insulated wiring, and drill a spot on the cooler or |
| solar panels get 5 hours every day of full sunlight, then | | | | box. These guidelines would sound hard, but they're a |
| you'd have produced 100 W hours of energy. | | | | lot easier when you already the things on hand. |
| If you're making use of something that gets 25 W, then | | | | 7. Put the volt meter in a spot and link the wiring from |
| you can power it for around 4 hours with the electric | | | | the volt meter to the terminals on the battery. Always |
| energy that the solar generator draws that day. | | | | take note connect the positive pole first, then the |
| Since this DIY project needs a battery, you have the | | | | negative pole. |
| capability to store more than 400 W of energy. This | | | | 8. Make sure that the panel is wired properly to match |
| solar generator would be the greatest project that you | | | | the supposed running voltage of the battery system |
| will do all year. | | | | and solar charge controller. Proper diagrams of wiring |
| 1. Get a solar panel that is rated at 12 Volts. You must | | | | for PV module could be acquired from the system |
| be able to look for a good, quality solar panel for | | | | designer or manufacturer. Identify the negative and |
| around 175 dollars. | | | | positive leads of the PV module prior to linking the |
| 2. After that, get a SunGuard 4 amperes charge | | | | charge regulator. The controller would automatically |
| controller. You could find them on the Internet by doing | | | | stop the battery from over-charging. |
| a little research on any search engines. These is about | | | | 9. Link the battery to the terminals on the controller |
| 25 dollars. | | | | labeled Battery, also making sure that the battery leads |
| 3. Next, get a 32 ampere hour battery. They should be | | | | polarity are matched to the terminal blocks polarity. |
| about 60 dollars or so. | | | | 10. Because of the controller's high efficiency, it'll be |
| 4. You will need an AC to DC power converter. I'd | | | | damaged if hooked up incorrectly. Connect the PV |
| recommend a 175 Watts power converter. You're | | | | module leads to the terminals on the controller PV |
| looking for a power converter such as this. 30 dollars | | | | Array, making sure that the input leads polarity are |
| or so would land you this simple, but effective | | | | matched to the terminal blocks polarity. |
| converter. | | | | 11. Link the positive and negative leads of the load to |
| 5. Grab a cheap voltage meter to see the load on | | | | the terminal block Load, making sure that the load |
| your power generator. | | | | leads polarity are matched to the terminal blocks |
| Now, this is the portion where you'll use your creativity. | | | | polarity. |
| Where will you plan on utilizing your solar generator? | | | | |