Building your own solar panels can save a lot of money for you. I do not know if you are a person who likes to do things by yourself and whether you have done your own projects before, but why not give it a try?

I have listed out the things that you will need to build solar panels on your own and my suggestion is that start with one panel. You can then decide on how many number of PV panels you actually require and just repeat the process.

Before you begin, you need to have Photovoltaic or solar cells. There are many manufacturers of solar cells in the market and you can buy any of them. You can even buy them on eBay and have it delivered to your doorstep.

But before that, you will have to determine as to how many number of PV cells you will need prior to placing an order. It is recommended that you go only for the A-grade solar cells. It is better to build solar panels with better grades of cells because you’ll get a better energy output.

The next item that you need is the frame to mount the solar cells. I suggest that you use 1/8th inch thick aluminum angles to make the frame. Of course, you can use 1/16th inch angles, but if you want it to last for many years, it is better to use thicker grade angles. I have built my solar frame with 1/8th inch thick angles and it works just fine.

Tempered glasses are also required for making solar panels. My suggestion is go with 1/4th inch thick glasses for your panels as it provides strength thus the panels that you build will last longer. You can easily buy tempered glasses online from any of the many listed glass suppliers.

In order to mount the solar cells to the substrate, you will need encapsulating epoxy. It can be bought online in varied quantities or for each panel. This is normally what I do.

Make sure you layout all the solar cells after ensuring that connections have been properly soldered and testing with a 300 watt light bulb to determine the DC voltage that it is generating. It is important to test each stringer of cells to avoid problems later.

Allow a setting time of 4 days for the finished encapsulated panel. If you need more instruction, check out all the DIY home solar guide in the market for step-by-step instructions on making solar panels.

I would, recommend that you buy a step-by-step guide before you attempt to build solar panels on your own. The book will tell you all that you need to do from start to finish.

Are excited about started your own homemade solar panel project? My first experience was pretty interesting. I was a bit hesitant in the beginning and did break some solar cells. However, after a few trial and errors, I did managed to solder a string of solar cells. Keep repeating the process and before you know it, you have enough PV cells soldered to make your solar panel.

Are you planning to go green by utilizing solar energy? Here are a few key aspects that are worth considering when choosing a home solar panel for maximum power output. It is not advisable to base your decision on price alone.

The cost of installing a solar panel is decided by wattage rating that you are looking at, the brand that you are considering, the warranty period offered by the supplier, the size of the panel, and the certifications that the solar panel might have.

You should also consider as to how it will fit in the place where you are planning to install the panel, whether the certifications that the panel has would enable you to avail discounts from the government, and whether the warranty period covers the payback period also.

The life term of a solar panel is very important. Reputed companies offer a 25-year warranty. If the manufacturer offers only a 10-year warranty and it is connected to a grid system, the panel would have to generate sufficient power to complete the payback within 10 years. Furthermore, only robust solar panel systems should be used for critical applications.

The cost of the solar panel is directly proportional to its power rating in Watts. The price is specified in dollars per Watt. As the power output rating doubles, the cost also becomes twice.

The price of a panel that has a rating of 200 Watts per hour will be twice that of a 100-Watts per hour panel. The output rating of a panel also impacts its physical size.

Another factor that impacts the size is the type of solar cells used in the panel. The output rating should be decided on the basis of the appliances that are required to be run and space available to install the solar panel.

The efficiency of the solar panel in converting sunlight to electricity is a frequently discussed topic and a matter of hot debate. As far as our discussion is concerned, it suffices to know that a 100 watt solar panel will produce 100 watts, irrespective of its efficiency ratings.

The 3 main types of solar cells are:

• Mono-crystalline silicon
• Poly-crystalline or multi-crystalline silicon
• Amorphous or thin-film silicon

Mono-crystalline silicon is the most efficient and the smallest solar cell. The panels made with these cells would, therefore, be the smallest panels.

Poly-crystalline silicon cells come second in efficiency rating and hence, the panels produced with these cells would be larger compared to that made with mono-crystalline cells.

Amorphous silicon cells are the least efficient, as they use least amount of silicon. As a result, the thin film system would occupy more space compared to the panels made with the other two types.

However, the thin film system could offer flexible panels that can be used on curved or irregular surfaces. This aspect has to be kept in mind at the time of selecting the panel for your requirement.

The selection of the solar panel should also be done on the basis of the climatic conditions of the place where it is to be installed. While mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline cells work well in bright cool conditions, amorphous silicon cells perform better at higher temperatures.

Mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline cells are recommended for large roofs without any shade, whereas panels made of amorphous cells are recommended for roofs with partial shading.

A solar panel kept in shade would not produce energy to its rated capacity. Hence, be wary of the feature – shade tolerant – that advertisers most often include their advertisements.

Home DIY Solar Panel Guide

Are you planning to make your own solar panel for your home solar power system? If you are, be sure to check out the Green DIY Energy program.

The program was specially created to teach you step by step how to construct a solar array on a shoestring budget. The instructions are in PDF files and also High Definition (HD) video recordings. Click on the link below and visit Green DIY Energy right now.

==> Click here to visit Green DIY Energy now!

A solar panel must be kept well maintained and clean to run at its maximum efficiency. Any dirt particles on the panel will block the sun light from reaching that portion of the panel and reduce its efficiency. Proper and regular cleaning and maintenance of the solar panel will increase the energy output efficiency of the panel by almost 30% or even more.

Below are listed some useful tips to manually keep your solar panel clean and well maintained in order to get the most power out from the array. The materials required are water, cleaning solution, soft sponge or towel and a squidgy or other window-cleaning tool.

For cleaning your solar panel first of all you must ensure that the access to the panel is clear and safe. If your solar panel is located on the terrace, be sure that when you are there to clean it, you are not at any risk to injure yourself. The solar panels are water proof and the cleaning method is somewhat like that of glasses.

First you have to wet the surface of the panel with water and cleaning solution. This will soak the dirt and any other stain of filth that have settled on the panel and loosen them. The electric components of the panel are secured under the surface so you do not run the risk of damaging the electric components by wetting them.

After the entire panel completely soaked, use your sponge or the soft towel to rub off the dirt and the cleaning solution from the panel surface. Take caution not to scratch your panel else it will show up in the cleaned up panel.

Environmental friendly cleaning solutions are also available and are preferred by many. These are great as long as they can remove the dirt effectively. Best is to try your cleaning solution on a transparent glass window. This way it will be much easier to ascertain its efficiency rather than by trying directly on the solar panel which are darker.

Solar panels are kept in open to receive the solar energy. Hence it can only natural that debris like leaves, sticks etc. will fall and settle on them and many of them could damage your panel. Check your panel periodically and remove those debris to protect it from any kind of damage and maintain its efficiency.

While you are cleaning the panel with water, make sure that you remove all the debris before you put water and cleaning solutions. There are automatic cleaning systems available for the solar panels. Depending on the location where your solar panel is placed you may want to go for an automatic cleaning system. They are particularly useful if your solar panels are located in an area which is not easily accessible.

The automatic cleaning system works on the similar principle as that of the windshield wipers of a car. It has a spray hose and a mechanical arm which is used for cleaning the panel.

Another very simple yet very useful tip to clean and maintain the efficiency of your solar panel: install the solar in a tilted manner – at a little angle. Whenever it is raining the rain water will wash away all dirt from your solar panel cleaning them naturally without any effort from your end.

Home DIY Solar Panel Guide

Are you planning to make your own solar panel for your home solar power system? If you are, be sure to check out the Green DIY Energy program.

The program was specially created to teach you step by step how to construct a solar array on a shoestring budget. The instructions are in PDF files and also High Definition (HD) video recordings. Click on the link below and visit Green DIY Energy right now.

==> Click here to visit Green DIY Energy now!