How to Make Your Own Solar Panels for less than $200?

Posted by Jessica Garzke on August 21, 2011

Make Your Own Solar Panels: In order to make your own solar panels there is not much time or items required.

Make Your Own Solar Panels: Keep in mind!

You will save money and feel pleased with the fact that you managed to build them on your own. Simply follow the steps outlined hereunder.

First of all, buy a couple of bricks of 3 by 6 mono-crystalline solar cells.

Create a solar panel by using a shallow box that can be made by plywood sheets. Then, cut the plywood to match the measurements you took.

Next cut pieces of masonite peg board or any thin, rigid and non conducting materials to fit inside the solar panel.

Then in order to protect the cells the panel must have a plexiglass, as a normal glass will shatter if any hard object hits it. Plexiglass will make the object bounce back.

Make Your Own Solar Panels: Attention!

After completing the box, you can start your painting work in order to protect them from moisture and the weather.

The box should be painted internally and externally. Be careful when painting on the peg board or they will curl when exposed to moisture. This can be dangerous since curling can damage the cells.

Then you should separate the cells.

It is a relatively hard process to get the wax off the cells by bathing the cells in hot water. Do not use boiling water because it will make a loose connection on the cells.

When you have managed to separate the cells then it is time for you to install them into the panel you have made.

Make Your Own Solar Panels: Be careful!

Be careful when soldering the cells because they are very thin and easy to break. Make sure the spacing between them is enough and match the grid pattern you have made.

The process is repeated until you have three strings of six cells for a total 18 for this panel.

After you finish soldering all the cells and have 18 cells into a series connection, you have to glue them at the centre of the cell and place them gently on the board.

Don’t forget that if you press too much it might crack your cells. After that you just have to check out about its wiring constructions and you are done.