DIY Solar Panels World

How To Build Solar Panel (Part 1 of 3)

In this 3-part “How To Build Solar Panel” series, we’re going to go through some tips that can help you put together a small solar panel system that can power up your gadgets and garden equipment like water sprinklers and automatic gate openers.

In Part One, we’re going to take a look at the materials you need to build a successful project. In Part Two, you’ll learn how to put these parts together to form a complete system. Different applications certainly need different design considerations. We’ll cover how to modify your design to suit particular applications you have in mind. In Part Three, you’ll discover how to push your solar panel system up a notch so you’ll have a winner in your hands.

Before I go on to explain the different materials and components you need to build a solar panel, I must take some time to explain an important thought with you: you do not have to be an engineer of any sort to build a professional looking (and working) solar panel system.

You however need to know some basic soldering and this can be learned in a short span of 5 minutes…flat. You’ll also need to start your imagination engine so you’ll know how you’ll be using your solar panel to power your electrical devices.

In case you do not have any DIY skills at all, you can always buy ready-made solar panels complete with mounting brackets and connect the electrical wiring from there. This will be a little more expensive, of course.

Now, let’s look at the materials we need:

1. Solar Cells
2. Plywood
3. Jones Plug
4. Silicone Caulk
5. Super glue and screws
6. Diode
7. Plexiglass
8. Wires
9. Paint
10. Battery

Solar Cells. Depending on your budget, you can either buy new cells or purchase slightly damaged ones. Yes, you can certainly put together broken solar cells. However if you’re not confident doing this, my best suggestion is to spend a little more money to buy new cells from eBay.

Plywood. No matter how small your project is, unless you’re very skillful with woodworking, you’ll probably need 3/8” thick plywood. A very good idea that I came across is to use a sturdy photo frame (metallic or wooden one) and work from there. At least you don’t need to put in too much effort for the solar panel frame. You can get plywood easily from your local hardware store.

Jones Plug. This is a two-pin plug that terminates the end of the wires that comes out from the solar panel so you can plug this into your electrical system. You can find these at Newark Electronics or sometimes at eBay.

Silicone Caulk. This is a strong, waterproof seal that is used for fixing household items like our bathtubs and kitchen sink. Your local hardware shop sells silicone caulk.

Super glue and screws. Some super glue is useful to hold the pieces together before you screw them down firmly. Again, your local hardware shop probably sells super glue and screws.

Wires. It is best to get those wires that come in a twisted pair of red and black so that you can be very sure of the polarity as you solder up the wires.

Paint. Choose paint with UV protection so that it can protect against the continual UV radiation beating against the materials.

Diode. This component only allows electricity to flow in one direction of your choice. This is needed so that your battery will not be drained into the solar panel during the night or when the sky gets too cloudy.

Plexiglass. This provides a protective cover over the solar cells. Plexiglass has various advantages over glass – it doesn’t break easily and is much easier to handle.

Battery. One of the most important parts of the solar energy system is the battery. It ensures that electricity is available to your electrical application when there isn’t enough power output from the solar panel (probably due to a cloudy day or during the night).

These are the components you’ll need to put together a complete solar power generator that can supply a small electrical application.

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In next part (Part Two) of the “How To Build Solar Panel” series, you’ll learn how to put all the above parts together. Till then, get your imagination engine cranking so you have an idea how you’ll want to put your solar generator to work for you.

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