How To Make A Solar Panel and Reduce your Electric Bills

Solar energy is the most promising renewable energy source available in the world. The sun shines everywhere, and has been doing so for billions of years. Sunlight is readily available, clean, abundant, and free. By learning how to make solar panels and installing them, you can take advantage of solar energy to generate free energy for your home while saving money on your monthly electric bill.

You don't need to be an MIT graduate to learn how to make a solar panel. It's not rocket science; it's quite easy. All you need are the proper common hand tools, the necessary building materials and electronic components, and some basic handyman skills. Once you have acquired all the needed parts such as solar cells, plywood, plexiglass, tin wire, silicon, solder, rosin flux pen, UV Protector, and a voltmeter, you can make solar panels using the following ten-step guide.

1. Prepare the Plywood: Cut the plywood to the required dimensions to provide the base for attaching the photovoltaic cells. You'll need about 80 photovoltaic cells to generate 100 watts of electric power. The number of cells you need depends on how much power you wish to generate.

2. Provide UV Protection: Coat the plywood with several coats of a good UV protector.

3. Add Flux to Solder Points: Using a flux pen, ensure that all solder points are adequately fluxed to ensure sound electrical connections.

4. Connect the Photovoltaic Cells: Using solder, connect all the solar cells into an array. Connect one row at a time, then connect the rows.

5. Attach the Photovoltaic Cells to the Plywood: Using a good silicon adhesive, bond the photovoltaic cells to the plywood base. Use no more adhesive than is absolutely necessary.

6. Provide Access for Connecting Photovoltaic Array: Drill holes into the plywood in a convenient location for feeding through the array's output wiring.

7. Create a Frame Around the Array: Attach a frame-like border around the array at the edges of the plywood base using the silicone adhesive to prevent any water leaks. Secure the bonded frame with screws.

8. Attach Plexiglass to Frame: Using the silicone adhesive, attach the plexiglass window to the frame constructed above. Drill holes around the edge of the plexiglass to enable screwing the plexiglass to the frame without cracking the plexiglass.

9. Seal Wiring Access Holes: Using the silicone adhesive, seal the wiring and the holes through which they pass out from the frame.

10. Protect the Frame from Moisture: Despite the silicone adhesive and the protective coating, moisture may build up inside the panel. Drill a small drainage hole at the bottom of the panel, away from the wiring, that will permit a gravity drain for any accumulated water.

Now that you know how to make solar panels, why not get started on a project that can save you a great deal of money over the long term, and help free you from dependency on the power grid. Make it a family affair. Everyone in your home will benefit.