Recently, I bought a new home green energy program, the Green DIY Energy to see what it has to offer. I have a couple of similar residential homemade energy guides in my hard drive. What makes this one different?

High Definition (HD) Instructional Videos

I would say the Unique Selling Proposition (USP) for the Green DIY Energy program is the “Build your own solar panel for less than $100” video series.

To be honest, I am quite impressed with the quality of the videos. There are a total of 6 videos in the series. All of the videos were shot in High Definition (HD) using a professional film crew. Nice background, good music, good editing and a host that knows what he is talking about.

All of the videos were shot in the backdrop of Boulder, Colorado. The host is Byran Clark.

Building an Inexpensive Solar Panel

Is it really possible to make your own solar panel for under $100? Apparently you can get it done with such a low budget. Now, we are talking about 1 single panel, not the whole home solar power system.

A complete system will involve more capital investment because you have to purchase components such as disconnect switch, charge controller, switch box, power inverter etc.

After watching the videos, building a solar panel with a budget of about $100 is definitely possible. 1 solar panel will consist of only 36 Photovoltaic cells. You want to be able to get approximately 18 volts, 3 amps and a total power output of about 75 watts. That is enough to charge a deep cycle battery.

Step-by-step Building Process

The first step you want to take to make the solar panel at low cost is to buy some Photovoltaic (PV) cells from eBay. I actually did a blog post on how to find cheap solar cells a couple of weeks ago.

When you’ve gotten all the cells, your next step is to check each and every cell to see if it’s in good working condition. To do this, you will need a multi-meter. If you have never use a multi-meter before, luckily there is a video in Green DIY Energy what will show you how.

If the cells are working fine, your next step is to solder all of them together in series. The recommended arrangement is 4 cells across and 9 cells down. All the cells are to be placed in a box made from plywood and wood strips.

After the box is coated with UV protective paint, fix the PV cells on with some silicon glue and then cover it with a piece of UV proof Plexiglas. And that is how you make your own solar panel for less than $100.

If you want to know more about Green DIY Energy, check out the comprehensive Green DIY Energy review at www.greendiyenergyreviews.com.

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

Related web site: 1) Magnets 4 Energy Review – A comprehensive review of Magnets4Energy: Generate energy at home with magnet powered electric generator.

The solar panel is one of the key components of a residential solar power system. This part will have direct exposure to sun light which is the primary energy source. How to do you select the right solar panel for your home improvement project? The following is a list of 7 tips you can use as the criteria when choosing the right solar panel.

1) Strong Panel Box.

As you may already guessed, the home solar panel will be left on the roof. It will be exposed to the hot sun, strong wind, rain, snow fall, dust etc.

The most important step you have to take is to make sure the solar panel comes with a strong box. The strength of the box will determine its life span.

2) Light Panel Box.

When choosing a solar panel, look for one that comes with a light panel box. A light box will reduce the weight stress on the roof tiles and trusses.

Here’s a tip, look for panel box made from a single sheet of aluminum manganese alloy. For added strength, look for one that has been anodized for corrosion protection.

The best box is made without any seam. If you see any rivets, that can act as weak points in the structure.

3) Strong, low reflection, high absorption and low emissivity glazing.

Look for a solar panel box with strong and clear glass cover. Something within the range of 4 mm would be fine.

You want the glass to be thick enough so it would not break it case it is struck by hail. You also want the glazing to be clear so a higher percentage of sun light will reach the Photovoltaic (PV) cells.

4) Water tight design.

When choosing a solar panel, look for one with a water tight design. This is crucial as the panel will be subjected to rain and show.

The problem is when moisture seeps into the PV cells area. The problem caused by this effect is either fogging or condensation. Look for a box with a good seal around the area where cables are coming out.

5) Guarantee from the manufacturer.

You want to look for solar panel with a good manufacturer guarantee coverage. If the manufacturer is confident on their product, they will provide guarantee ranging from 5 to 10 years or more.

6) Minimum maintenance.

The best solar panel needs only minimum maintenance. Unfortunately, you would not be able to find a system with maintenance free. You need to periodically clean the glazing to keep it clear.

The key here is “minimum” maintenance. Once or twice a year should be sufficient.

7) Strong and easy to fit fittings.

Look for solar panel with strong fittings. Preferably, the fittings should be made from anodized aluminum which is strong, light and corrosion proof.

Also, find a panel with multiple types of fittings so it can be attached to tiles, slates, pan tiles, bitumen and flat roofs easily.

There it is, the 7 tips on choosing the right residential solar panel. To find the perfect solar array will take some time. There are a lot of solar manufacturers with thousand of models to choose from. Not all panels will be able to fulfill the entire requirement above. In a time like this, you may have to compromise.

For more information on how to build your own home solar power system, be sure to check out Michael Harvey’s Earth 4 Energy e-book.

The manual has many more tips and tricks on how to find cheap parts for your DIY solar energy system. Be sure to check out the Earth 4 energy review on this blog.

Related web pages: 1) Magniwork Reviews – Is Magniwork Generator System A Scam?

2) Green DIY Energy Reviews – Is Green DIY Energy Another Scam?

3) Earth4Energy Scam – Is Michael Harvey’s Earth4Energy A Fraud?

Last week, I did a blog post on where to find cheap solar cells on the internet. There are a lot of inexpensive PV cells available on eBay. You should check it out.

Now, assuming you’ve gotten your hands on the solar cells, what’s next?

Individual solar cell would not be able to generate sufficient power for your home use. You have to connect them in series to produce sufficient power on a solar array.

How do you connect all the PV cells together? This is where you have to acquire some soldering skill.

Soldering is really not that difficult. All you need is the right set of tools and good hand, fingers and eye coordination. Easier said than done…honestly it is not that difficult.

Here’s what you need to solder all the solar cells together: 1) Soldering iron 2) Silver solder 3) 2mm think tabbing ribbon 4) Solder Flux Paste / Pen

Step one, set your solder iron temperature controller to around 450 degrees. This is a pretty low setting but it is sufficient so you won’t burn the silver solder. The video below shows you all the tools you need for PV cells soldering.

Next step is thinning the tab wire. Melt a littler silver solder with the hot solder iron and place the liquid solder on the tab wire. Be careful, it’s hot!

You are basically sliding the solder across the tab wire and it should flow very smoothly. Thin the tab wire one side and then the back of the opposite side. Watch the video below and you’ll understand.

Now, place a solar cell on its back. Again, you have to be careful because PV cells are very fragile. Begin by cleaning the contacts with the flux pen.

A flux pen gives off a special acid that will dissolve any dirt on the contacts. It’s a very handy tool. Make sure you get one.

Next, take the tabbing ribbon and align with the solar cell contacts. Use some lead and solder it on with the iron solder. This is a tricky process but it gets easier after some practice.

Do it for the whole length of the solar cells. Now this is the tedious part, repeat the above process for ALL the solar cells. When it is done, you can start to connect the solar cells together in series.

Making your own DIY solar panels is not really difficult. It is a lot of work but it can be done. If you are planning to make your own home solar power system, check out the Green DIY Energy web site.

I learned where to find cheap solar cells and soldering process from the Green DIY Energy. For a comprehensive review of Green DIY Energy, go to www.greendiyenergyreviews.com ==> Click here to read more about Green DIY Energy now!

Related web pages: 1) Michael Harvey Earth 4 Energy Review

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

3) Magniwork Review – Is Magniwork Generator System A Scam?