What would it take to make a solar powered battery charger? It will take some creativity and a step by step instructional guide.

The science of solar power is quite simple. The Photovoltaic (PV) cells generate Direct Current (DC) when exposed to direct sunlight. The more sun you give it, the more power it will produce.

To run your household appliances, you will need to convert the Direct Current to Alternate Current (AC). To do this, you will need a device known as a power inverter.

If you are planning to use solar power to charge a conventional rechargeable battery, the PV cells may work just fine.

Many DC powered equipment such as notebook, cell phone, Ipod for instance, run on DC power from the battery.

AA batteries are a good fit for charging with solar cells, since they have a low voltage of just 1.5 volts per battery and don’t take long to charge.

A rechargeable 1.5V AA battery will typically have a storage capacity of around 1600 milliamp hours (mAh). Just as you need around 16 ‐ 18V to charge a 12V battery, you also need more voltage from your solar battery charger than the battery will provide in order to force the extra current into the battery, thereby charging it.

Using water as an analogy, envision two pipes with flowing water meeting up in the middle. Voltage is comparable to the pressure of the water.

If the water pressure is higher in pipe A than in pipe B the water will flow from pipe A to pipe B. If pipe B’s pressure is higher than pipe A, the water will flow from pipe B to pipe A.

To charge a 12V battery, you need to supply more “pressure” to it (a higher voltage) to force the current into the battery cell and charge it.

Current can be compared to the amount of water that is flowing. Think of a battery like a water tank. If the pressure going into the tank is higher than the pressure coming out of the tank then you will fill the tank with water.

Depending on how much water is flowing dictates how fast the tank will fill up. Likewise, it is dependent on how much current is flowing from the solar panel to determine how fast the battery will fill up with power.

DIY Home Solar Power System

Do you want to know how to use solar power to reduce your home monthly electricity bill?

If you do, check out the 30 Solar and Wind Power For Homes Videos e-book. It is free to download. Just click on the link below.

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1) Power 4 Home Review – A Complete Review of John Russel Power4Home

2) Earth4 Energy Scam – Is The Earth4Energy E-book A Fraud?

Many home owners are looking into using renewable energy such as solar power to reduce their monthly electricity bills. Those that have the budget will be able to afford a professional solar contractor.

For those who has a limited budget, the cheaper alternative is to build a home solar power system via a Do It Yourself (DIY) approach.

If you are a DIYer, here’s 6 tips on building solar panels for your home.

1) Start on a small scale.

It is a good idea to start by making 1 solar panel first and then scale up from there. You cannot be 100 percent sure that the solar module will work for your home.

There may be a large shadow that overcasts your house or the angle of the sun may not be right for your area. Your roof may not be able to support the extra weight.

It is best to start off small and then expand from there.

2) Use deep cycle battery.

The best type of battery to use in conjunction with a residential solar power system is the deep cycle type. Deep cycle battery discharges its power at a slower rate and it is much more robust and lasts longer.

Do not use lead acid battery from automobile. Car battery has a high energy spike and releases all the stored power very fast. A solar system will destroy a car battery in less than 6 months due to constant low level discharge.

3) Get cheap solar cells from Ebay.

If you are looking for cheap Photovoltaic (PV) cells, the best place to do your shopping is at Ebay.

Look for solar cells with a dimension of 3” x 6” if possible. To cut down on your work, look for cells with tabbing ribbons still attached.

Those without tabbing ribbon can be used but it will take some time to solder the tab on the cells.

4) Use UV proof Plexiglas.

When you are making your own solar panel, you will need a piece of clear material to cover over the PV cells. The best material is Plexiglas.

Make sure you use Plexiglas with UV proof. Non UV proof plastic will turn yellow after being exposed to the sun.

A yellowish cover will reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the solar cells therefore reducing its efficiency.

5) Check on waterproofing.

Make sure your homemade solar panel is water tight. Use a silicone sealant on every joint, wire and screw holes.

Since the panel is left in the open, moisture from rain or snow may get into the solar cells area and create condensation.

Condensation will block the sunlight from reaching the cells therefore reducing the power output.

6) Use a low wattage electrical appliance on the solar system.

If possible, start by using only low wattage electrical appliances on your home solar energy system. You can use a TV, radio, Ipod, electric shaver, electric tooth brush etc with the system.

Equipment with high wattage such as a toaster, heater or hair dryer will deplete the battery very fast.

Build a DIY Solar Panel For Less Than $200

Do you know you can make a DIY solar panel for less than $200? Yes it is possible and John Russel of Power 4 Home will show you how.

John Russel is a 46 year old home energy expert from Minnesota. He has written the Power 4 Home e-book to teach people step by step how to make an inexpensive solar panel. The key is knowing how and where to locate cheap building material.

For more information about Power 4 Home, click on the link below.

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Can you build a Do It Yourself solar panels for less than $100? Yes it can be done but it will take some work. Remember, this is making the solar panel, not the whole residential solar power system. Realistically, you will need more capital for that.

Nonetheless, the solar module will take up a large part of the whole budget. More than 50 percent of the total cost actually. So, here are 10 easy steps how you go about constructing a solar panel for under $100.

1) Get hold of the Photovoltaic (PV) cells.

The PV cells are the key components of the solar panel. A typical solar module should be able to produce about 18 volts and 75 watts of power under the sun.

To find cheap solar cells, go to eBay and make a few bids. You will need to acquire 36 pieces of 3” x 6” cells.

2) Check the PV cells.

When you received the PV cells, the next step is to check its working condition. To do this, you will need to use a multi-meter.

Check the voltage and current produced by each individual cell. Check the cells under direct sunlight to get a good reading. You may need to use a testing block for this task.

3) Determine the panel dimension.

Now you have to decide the dimension of the solar panel. Basically, you need to figure out how to arrange the cells.

There are 2 popular options. You can opt for the 4 cells across x 9 cells down or 3 cells across x 12 cells down arrangement.

4) Building the frame.

Now that you have the dimension, you can start making the frame. The type of building material you should use to save cost is plywood and wooden strips.

5) Wire the PV cells together.

Bring out your soldering iron, solder and flux. It’s time to solder all the solar cells together.

All 36 PV cells have to be connected in series. Solder 9 cells together to make 1 roll. Now solder 3 more rolls of PV cells.

The electrodes from the negative side (bluish surface) should be soldered to the contact points at the back of the next solar cell (positive side).

6) Securing solar cells to the substrate.

Take out the silicone and put a dab on the back of the solar cells. Stick it on the substrate (plywood).

7) Complete wiring of the cells.

Now all the cells have to be connected to the positive and negative homerun wires. Next, secure the substrate in the solar panel frame.

8) Attach clear cover.

Use a piece clear Plexiglas as the cover for the solar panel. Make sure the Plexiglas is UV proof. You don’t want it to turn yellow after prolong exposure to the sun.

9) Seal with silicone caulk.

Use a liquid silicone to seal all the joints. You want to prevent any moisture from rain or snow from getting into the interior of the solar panel.

Trapped moisture will create fog which will reduce the efficiency of the PV cells.

10) Panel testing.

Finally, test the solar panel under the sun. Again, use the multi-meter. The voltage produced from the combined solar cells should be about 18 volt. Current readings should be around 2.5 – 3 amps.

If you are looking for instructions on how to make a Do It Yourself (DIY) solar panel for under $100, check out the Power 4 Home program.

It has a series of High Definition (HD) instructional videos that will show you step by step the procedures to construct your own solar module. For more information, read the Power 4 Home reviews on this blog.

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