Make Your Own Solar Panels

So what exactly are solar panels? And how can you make your own?

Solar panels (the ones utilizing photovoltaic cells) are large panels used to convert the sun's rays to electricity. This is not only the cheapest way to obtain electricity, it's also the most eco-friendly way there is! There are two main types, namely the solar water heating panels and the solar electricity cells.

A) The solar water heating panels

The solar water heating panels are used to heat water that is used in the homesteads; it is also used to heat water for swimming pools or generally to heat water for other purposes. These panels don't require the photovoltaic cells, but they also cannot store energy for later use.

B) The solar panels (Photovoltaic)

Unlike the solar water heating panels, the photovoltaic solar panels are used to generate electricity. They sometimes have battery supplies attached to them and can be used to store energy, as well as power just about anything conventional electricity powers today. Solar power has previously been common in areas so desolate other forms of electricity weren't available, or the infrastructure simply wasn't there. With the new leaps forwards we've taken in technology in reference to solar energy, we're now able to make solar panels affordable for the average consumer.

First you need to prepare the provisions that'll be used. Below is a list of materials you will need:

Cotton cloth, Silicon caulk, Respirator, Caulk & Soldering gun, Gloves, Solder, Multimeter, UV protective paint, Flux pen & paste, Knife, Paint brush, Screwdriver, Saw, Thirty six solar cells, blocking diode, Wires, UV protective clear panel cover, Stainless steel screw, wood.

Steps in Making Solar Panels

1. First, test out the panels in order to determine how much voltage the cells can handle.

2. Use the calculations of the height and width of the solar panel to choose from either the 4 by 9/the by 12 form of layout. But be sure to leave some allowance for expansion.

3. Attach four side walls to the wood board for the solar cells to be placed.

4. Once the cells have been placed inside the wood, it is to be painted using the UV protective paint for durability of the panel.

5. After that, you now wire the solar cells using the solder. Apply it to the tab ribbon which will then be connected using the solder to the electrode that is at the back.

6. Last but not least, identify the location the solar panel is to be placed and using the back of the solar panel, attach it to the substrate. Place the substrate inside the wooden box then seal it by screwing. Attach two wires, used for the flowing out of power, that'll represent negative and positive and place a blocking diode at the rear of the positive wire to stop power from flowing back.

You can use the UV protective clear panel cover to prevent the panel from destruction. Also check for holes that might give water access to the panel and cover them using the silicone caulk.

Note: Put your solar cells on a surface that's soft if you ever want your solar cells facing south.

These are the basic steps to building your very own solar panel to start generating electricity! This is merely a quick guide, there are much more detailed video tutorials online that can get you up and going much quicker.

Click Here to visit the earth4energy website.

Earth4Energy Review

Earth4Energy is a complete training package for planning, constructing, and installing solar energy systems. Overall, the instruction provided is clear and comprehensive. If you follow the instructions, you will have a fully functional solar energy system for a fraction of the cost of a professionally installed system.

Earth4Energy is a top DIY solar training on the market. It was the first comprehensive DIY solar product and consists of a mature set of training materials well worth the $49 price tag.  The videos alone are worth the full price, as they clearly demonstrate the step-by-step building of the system.

The components of the training kit include:

• 8 How-to videos covering:
  • Electrical fundamentals
  • Solar power systems, comprehensive overview
  • Tools required for building the panel
  • How to build it
  • Sizing a solar power system
  • Connecting a solar panel system to the grid
• 1 manual to accompany the videos
• 1 US Dept of Energy Consumer’s Guide to Solar Energy
• 1 sample guidelines for residential/commercial solar energy system installation
• 1 compiled manual containing detailed electrical info relevant to solar power systems

Visit Earth4Energy.com for their video product overview.

Cons:

• Structural approach is less durable than GreenDIYEnergy’s.
• Videos are professionally produced, but with voiceover that comes off as artificial.
• No energy audit system is provided.
• No mention of limitations of the homemade system versus manufactured system.
• Manual is poorly illustrated.
• High stress environments are not addressed.

Pros:

• Video demonstrating each step is quite detailed and worth the full price alone.
• Manuals are clear, complete, and more than enough to help you properly size, install, and handle regulatory issues
• Instruction provides training that will enable the user to not only build the solar energy system, but also repair it should any part become damaged.

Click Here to visit the earth4energy website.

What is the Future of Solar Energy?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Daniel_P._Martin]Daniel P. Martin

Solar energy is an unparalleled source of electricity generation in a time of soaring demand and environmental sensitivity.

Thanks to government subsidies and advances in technology, the number and size of solar farms continues to soar. We have harnessed the power of the sun for years to warm our homes, provide light and most recently generate power. Still, solar power is but a small fraction of the U.S. energy mix.

Renewable fuels account for about 7% of energy supplies; of this, only 1% (0r 0.07% of total energy supply) is solar. Nonetheless, solar is getting a boost thanks to tax credits, new technologies and a desire to reduce our reliance on imported and domestic fossil fuels.

Still Solar Power is Pricey

Consider the newest solar plant to come on board in Arcadia, FL, a small community north of Fort Myers on Florida's southwest coast. The solar farm, boasting 90,000 solar panels, sits on 180 acres of land in DeSoto County. The farm is rated at providing power (about 25 megawatts / MW) to about 3,000 homes and businesses.

With a price tag of $152 million, this translates into a cost of around $50,000 per home/business.However, once built, other than maintenance and upgrades, the facility will keep producing about 25MW each year.

Thus, in 2 years, the cost per home/business is down to $25,000. In 10 years it is down to $5,000 per home/business, which could easily exceed total energy usage per customer for the ten-year period. And the farm keeps on producing thereafter.

Although initial start-up costs are steep, the benefits are enormous.

First, engineers, architects, construction crews and others have to plan and build the facility. Once built, at least a small group of people must operate it. So, it does help to create jobs.

Any energy it generates helps to offset the use of fossil fuels, a good thing for the environment, our overseas balance of payments and possibly even generating some political capital. When compared to wind power, however, solar is expensive and produces far less return on investment.

However, as solar sites grow in size (and each year begets bigger farms), the cost per kilowatt produced will surely decrease. Solar power can be harnessed across almost the entire U.S., large parts of southern and central Europe, Australia and even southern Canada.

As of this writing, the two largest operating solar farms overseas are in sunny Spain - Jumilla (20 MW with 120,000 photovoltaic panels) and Beneizama (20 MW with polycrystalline solar modules). Other large sites in operation include two in Germany (10 and 12 MW) and one in Portugal (11 MW). And a California company is preparing to install a massive solar installation near Sarnia, Ontario (across the river from Port Huron, Michigan) that will promises to be the largest photovoltaic solar installation in North America.

But, on the drawing board and/or under construction are even larger ventures - a 1 GW farm in China, a similar one for Australia and a 550MW farm in San Luis Obispo, CA. The push for solar (and also wind) is being driven by national and/or state requirements that a certain percentage of the energy used comes directly from renewable sources by around 2020.

While it is the larger solar projects make the news (often each news story heralding the "largest solar farm built in a certain area), many homeowners are installing solar hot water heaters, solar attic fans, and solar pool heaters. Some cities are even installing solar parking meters, while the San Diego Zoo sports a solar-powered trash compacter.

Since the sun shines daily, it really does make sense to harness its energy. The only question becomes, "at what cost?"

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-is-the-Future-of-Solar-Energy?&id=3289310] What is the Future of Solar Energy?