Build Your Own Solar Panels: How Hard Can It Be?
Your utility bills are getting higher every month, so you’ve been thinking about installing solar panels on your home. You know how to use a screwdriver and drill, and you’re wondering...how hard could it be to build your own solar panels? This article will give you an overview of the process so you can make a good decision.
To clarify, we're talking here about building solar panels that will deliver electricity to your home. (These are not the same as "solar energy" devices that will heat water, but won’t deliver electricity). The most widely used solar panel designs for generating electricity are photovoltaic arrays. They convert sunlight directly into electricity.
There are at least two popular ways to build do-it-yourself solar panels. First, there are solar panel kits. These are straightforward designs and can be built by anyone who has moderate handy-man skills. Second, there are built-from scratch-solar panels. These are a bit more complex, and are better projects for more adventurous people who don’t mind experimenting.
Solar Panel Kits:You can buy these from various local or online suppliers. Use the search engines to look for "solar cell kits". You’ll find hundreds of websites that offer books, online videos or DVDs of plans and instructions, along with the materials you’ll need.
The kits basically supply you with the photovoltaic cells, the wiring, the assembly hardware and the mounting devices. They're somewhat like putting together a computer desk kit from the hardware store. But you'll need to check your local building codes to determine whether or not you need permits and a licensed installer.
Build Your Cells From Scratch:This is an inexpensive, but labor-intensive way to build your solar cells from scratch. It uses raw copper sheeting, like the copper flashing available at hardware stores, and a heat source. You need to heat the copper for about a half hour, or long to cause the chemical reaction that produces copper oxide on the surface of the copper sheet.
After the copper panel is cooled properly, combine it with other similar-sized non-oxidized copper panel, add salt water solution and encase all of the components in a shatterproof glass panel. Add wiring and mounting components after the panel is assembled. This produces a low-voltage panel. You'll need to make a lot of them in order to have an array that produces enough electricity to power household devices.
Building your solar panels from scratch is relatively cheap, but takes a lot of time and space. Solar kits are a good solution if you like to work on projects around the house, but don't have the time for building solar panels from scratch. Either way, be sure to check your local building codes for installation requirements. And be sure you really have enough time to complete the project. You don't want to leave it half finished and leave yourself with no electricity during a hot summer or a cold winter.
How Solar Energy Works
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Passive Solar Ways to Light Your Home
When you think of solar lighting, do you automatically think of using solar panels to power your light bulbs? Most people do. But that's not the only way to use the sun's power to help light your home. Here are four more ways you can use solar lighting around the house.
Skylights are the most common passive lighting sources found in homes. They are a great source of natural light, especially for rooms that have small or no windows. Skylights can sometimes deliver more natural light to a room than windows, because their rooftop location exposes them to the sun throughout the day.
Solar light tubes are a really effective way to light dark hallways, closets, interior bathrooms and garages that have no windows of their own. Although this technology seems modern, it was actually used by the ancient Egyptians, so it has a long and proven history. Solar light tubes are usually smaller than skylights, sometimes only 9 to 12 inches in diameter. They are installed in the roof, and use reflective material in the tube to enhance the amount of light they deliver. The reflective material allows them to be effective even on cloudy days, since they don't require direct or bright sunlight to be useful. It is easiest to plan for them and build them into new construction. But they can be added to most existing roofs without too much difficulty.
Solar exterior lighting is extremely practical. It is powered by small solar cells that collect sunlight during the day, then store it for use at night. The solar cell can be mounted in a sunny place and wired to the lighting fixture it its location doesn’t receive enough direct sunlight during the day to power it.
Almost any type of exterior lighting is available in a solar-powered version. Porch lights, patio lights, spot lights and security lights that include motion detectors can all be powered by solar cells. This is an especially good feature for security lighting because it will work even during electrical blackouts or system-wide power outages.
Solar landscaping lights are both practical and attractive. They come is a variety of styles, sizes and uses. Spotlights can be used to light trees, garden sculpture or fountains. Low level lighting can be used to outline driveways and garden borders. Taller lighting fixtures will illuminate outdoor living areas like patios or gazebos. Mid-level lighting with non-glare screens are a good choice for lighting sidewalks or footpaths. Party lights can be used for special occasions or to create an atmosphere for outdoor living areas.
Passive solar lighting is one of the easiest ways to use solar energy. You can start with some inexpensive garden lights. When you buy your next house, or your next new roof, you can plan for the bigger-budget skylights.
Skylights are the most common passive lighting sources found in homes. They are a great source of natural light, especially for rooms that have small or no windows. Skylights can sometimes deliver more natural light to a room than windows, because their rooftop location exposes them to the sun throughout the day.
Solar light tubes are a really effective way to light dark hallways, closets, interior bathrooms and garages that have no windows of their own. Although this technology seems modern, it was actually used by the ancient Egyptians, so it has a long and proven history. Solar light tubes are usually smaller than skylights, sometimes only 9 to 12 inches in diameter. They are installed in the roof, and use reflective material in the tube to enhance the amount of light they deliver. The reflective material allows them to be effective even on cloudy days, since they don't require direct or bright sunlight to be useful. It is easiest to plan for them and build them into new construction. But they can be added to most existing roofs without too much difficulty.
Solar exterior lighting is extremely practical. It is powered by small solar cells that collect sunlight during the day, then store it for use at night. The solar cell can be mounted in a sunny place and wired to the lighting fixture it its location doesn’t receive enough direct sunlight during the day to power it.
Almost any type of exterior lighting is available in a solar-powered version. Porch lights, patio lights, spot lights and security lights that include motion detectors can all be powered by solar cells. This is an especially good feature for security lighting because it will work even during electrical blackouts or system-wide power outages.
Solar landscaping lights are both practical and attractive. They come is a variety of styles, sizes and uses. Spotlights can be used to light trees, garden sculpture or fountains. Low level lighting can be used to outline driveways and garden borders. Taller lighting fixtures will illuminate outdoor living areas like patios or gazebos. Mid-level lighting with non-glare screens are a good choice for lighting sidewalks or footpaths. Party lights can be used for special occasions or to create an atmosphere for outdoor living areas.
Passive solar lighting is one of the easiest ways to use solar energy. You can start with some inexpensive garden lights. When you buy your next house, or your next new roof, you can plan for the bigger-budget skylights.
Solar Panels: How Do They Work?
There are two basic types of solar panels. One kind makes electricity, the other kind generates heat. It's important to know which kind you need for the job you have in mind, because they are not interchangeable. But both kinds can save you money and help you live a greener lifestyle.
Solar thermal collectors use the sun's energy to heat water and other fluids, like oil. They typically use plastic tubing, hoses or coils in the panel. The liquid runs through the coils and is heated by the sun. These types of panels are ideal for heating swimming pools, spas, hot tubs and hot water for homes and businesses. They can also heat building interiors by using baseboard heating units and hot water flooring systems. Once they are installed, there is usually no need for additional heating fuels. But the systems usually require some kind of motorized pump to circulate the fluids.
Solar photovoltaic cells create DC (direct current) electricity. Most typically, they use semi-conductor material (silicon) in the panel, which interacts with sunlight to create electricity. The electricity then can be used to power computers and appliances, or the entire house, if you build the system big enough. The electricity is only generated from the panels during the day when they are interacting with direct sunlight.
In order to use a photovoltaic system at night or during cloudy days, the electricity must be stored in a battery storage system. You can use inexpensive lead-acid batteries (like you car uses), but you will need to make sure they are filled with distilled water in order to maintain their charge. You can also use more expensive batteries. Sealed AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries don’t require maintenance to retain their charge. Gel batteries are good choices for cold climates because of their freeze-resistance.
Both the thermal collector and the photovoltaic systems typically use glass panels to encase their collection systems, and both require access to direct sunlight. The panels are ideally situated in a location that faces south and allows maximum exposure to sunlight during the entire day. They can be used anywhere to harness the sun's energy, but they are less effective in regions that typically have a lot of cloudy days throughout the year.
Even in mostly sunny regions, it’s always a good idea to add a backup generator to both kinds of solar panel system. Backup generators can be fueled with biodiesel to maintain your green lifestyle. And the generators can be used if your battery storage fails, or whenever there is an unexpected stretch of cloudy days.
Solar thermal collectors use the sun's energy to heat water and other fluids, like oil. They typically use plastic tubing, hoses or coils in the panel. The liquid runs through the coils and is heated by the sun. These types of panels are ideal for heating swimming pools, spas, hot tubs and hot water for homes and businesses. They can also heat building interiors by using baseboard heating units and hot water flooring systems. Once they are installed, there is usually no need for additional heating fuels. But the systems usually require some kind of motorized pump to circulate the fluids.
Solar photovoltaic cells create DC (direct current) electricity. Most typically, they use semi-conductor material (silicon) in the panel, which interacts with sunlight to create electricity. The electricity then can be used to power computers and appliances, or the entire house, if you build the system big enough. The electricity is only generated from the panels during the day when they are interacting with direct sunlight.
In order to use a photovoltaic system at night or during cloudy days, the electricity must be stored in a battery storage system. You can use inexpensive lead-acid batteries (like you car uses), but you will need to make sure they are filled with distilled water in order to maintain their charge. You can also use more expensive batteries. Sealed AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries don’t require maintenance to retain their charge. Gel batteries are good choices for cold climates because of their freeze-resistance.
Both the thermal collector and the photovoltaic systems typically use glass panels to encase their collection systems, and both require access to direct sunlight. The panels are ideally situated in a location that faces south and allows maximum exposure to sunlight during the entire day. They can be used anywhere to harness the sun's energy, but they are less effective in regions that typically have a lot of cloudy days throughout the year.
Even in mostly sunny regions, it’s always a good idea to add a backup generator to both kinds of solar panel system. Backup generators can be fueled with biodiesel to maintain your green lifestyle. And the generators can be used if your battery storage fails, or whenever there is an unexpected stretch of cloudy days.
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