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Michael Davis, an astronomer from Arizona, has found an inexpensive way to produce electricity that can be used to power a home. He found some damaged and blemished solar cells on eBay, and decided to use them to construct his own solar panels.
 Most of us understand the benefits of using the sun to produce electricity. Sunlight is available for free and there is less harm to the environment. Up until now, the main stumbling block has been the cost of solar panels which contain electricity-producing photovoltaic (PV) cells. Michael found some damaged PV cells on eBay and decided to give them a try by using them to construct his own solar-powered electric generator. Here is what he learned: * They can perform almost as efficiently as new cells. * They are just a fraction of the cost of new cells. * They can be purchased on eBay or from other sources. How To Construct A Solar Panel If you are handy with tools, you can construct your own solar-powered generator following these basic steps: 1. Determine Your Requirements This will be based on the amount of power you use and the amount of sunlight available to you throughout the year. Since it takes a lot of photovoltaic cells to completely power your home, you may want to consider starting small - only providing enough electricity to power some lights and essential appliances. 2. Locate And Purchase Photovoltaic Cells Damaged or blemished cells can be found on eBay or from other sources. Although, even a badly damaged cell will produce electricity, you'll want to find ones with minimal damage and the highest efficiency rating. Also try to avoid cells that are coated with a protective wax because this is difficult to remove. 3. Wire The Cells Together If the cells are not already connected together, you will need to connect them yourself. This is done by laying them out in the desired pattern to fit into the panel described in the next step. You then use solder and metal strips or wire to join them together. 4. Construct Panels To Hold The Cells. Depending on the size of your system, a single panel may be all you need, but you'll likely need several. They must be large enough to hold your cell assembly, but hopefully not so large that you can't carry them up to your roof, or wherever you will be mounting them. Panels can be connected together to form a system of virtually unlimited capacity. 5. Put It All Together Place your completed solar cells inside the panel, running the wires out through holes. Then cover the panel with Plexiglas. This will increase their efficiency and make the whole system more weather-resistant. Finally, test the panel under the sun using a multimeter. 6. Mount Your Solar Panels Most homeowners mount solar panels on the roof, but they can go anywhere that sunlight is unobstructed. Face them southward if you live in the northern hemisphere. 7.Hook Your Panels Up To Your House Wiring. As a final step, you will need to connect the panels to your home's electrical system, or at least to the lights and appliances that you want to run. In addition to wiring, you'll need these items: * Inverter - necessary to convert your solar-produced electricity from DC to AC * Emergency shut-off switches * System monitor and Battery back-up (optional) With a little guidance, you can complete this project on your own, and be on your way to to freedom from dependence on the power company. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. About the author: John Horning has a website devoted to solar energy. Learn more about building a solar powered system for your home on his website, www.DIY-Solar-Power.net. |