How To Build A Solar Panel For A Kid Project: If you are looking for a fun but educational project to keep the kids occupied, help them learn how to build a solar panel for a kid project.

It is a project that produces something useful, while giving you the opportunity to get the kids thinking about renewable or green energy sources and learning how they work. It is a lot more fun than just reading about it.

How To Build A Solar Panel For A Kid Project:

It works!

There are different materials and methods you can use to build a solar panel. You may want to choose a method that allows you to use materials you already have to hand.

• Alternatively, you can usually source all the materials from your local DIY store.

The age of the children may also help you to decide on the method to use, if it is too simplistic, it may not capture their attention and enthusiasm. In the method described here the use of an electric stove means that it is essential an adult supervised the project for safety.

The common household items you need for this method include an electric stove, two tablespoons of salt, liquid soap in a dish.

• How To Build A Solar Panel For A Kid Project: Remember!

In addition, if you do not have this, you may need to buy a sheet of copper flashing, tin snips, two alligator clips, sandpaper, a two-liter plastic bottle and a microammeter. If you are wondering what a microammeter is used for, it measures the electric current.

Firstly, you need to measure the stove burner length and width so you can cut a square of the flashing sheet to cover the stove. Once you have cut the copper to size use the sandpaper to sand it carefully on both sides. Make sure the sanding is done with smooth gentle strokes; if it is done too roughly you may cause a hole in the copper sheet.

How To Build A Solar Panel For A Kid Project: Be sure!

Next you need to use the liquid soap and dish to wash away the dust from both sides of the copper sheet. Once the dust has been removed the copper needs to be dried thoroughly on both sides. You can use a dry absorbent duster, but ensure that the material does not snag leaving threads on the edges of the copper flashing.

• Once the copper flashing is completely dry, place it on top of the stove.

It needs to be heated on the high setting for 30 minutes. Turn the stove heat off and be careful not to touch the copper as it now will be extremely hot and needs to be left on the stove to cool to room temperature. It is important you do not try to rush the cooling by applying cold water; it will damage the copper.

While your copper flashing is cooling take the two-liter plastic bottle and snips and cut an opening in the top. If you use snips, it makes it easy to cut across the widest part of the bottle. This should leave you with an opening equivalent to the widest part of the bottle.

You now need to cut another piece of copper the same size as the piece you have heated. When the heated piece has cooled to room, temperature, place both pieces together and bend them into a crescent shape. Separate the crescent shapes and place them inside the bottle opposite each other.

• They should not be touching each other at any point.

Now take your alligator clips and attach one to the clean piece of copper and the other to the heated piece of copper, which has now been oxidized. Next using the microammeter, connect the alligator clip on the heated copper to the negative terminal. The clip on the clean copper is to be connected to the positive terminal.

Take a small bowl or jug and add three cups of hot tap water. Add two tablespoons of salt to the hot water and allow it to dissolve. Pour the dissolved salt water into the neck of the plastic bottle leaving a little space at the top. Your solar panel is now ready for testing.

How To Build A Solar Panel For A Kid Project: A powerful tip!

For best results place your solar panel outside positioned in a sunny spot. Leave it for 30 minutes and then take a note of the microammeter reading. If you, then leave it for a further 30 minutes before taking a further reading you can compare the results to see how much energy you have produced in that short period of time.

As mentioned previously, there are several equally effective descriptions of how to build a solar panel for a kids project. The kids will have fun and can become really excited when they can measure the results and see that it actually works. These are the facts that you should consider about How To Build A Solar Panel For A Kid Project.