DIY Solar Panel Kits

Learn how to build your own solar panel in 6 easy steps.

Every passing day it seems that we have more information on our hands about the concerns of the environment.

Learning how to create your own energy source will not only benefit you now but also far into the future. Imagine being given the ability to build your own solar panel in your very own backyard.

It is possible and here are some simple steps on how you can build your very own energy producing solar panel.

Read more: How to Build your Own Solar Panel | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4857970_build-own-solar-panel.html#ixzz0u7NjcQLX

Looking to build my own solar panels… Any sites anyone know of?

for sure, this site is great

(Double - glazed window)

Thanks

You might want to ground it just in case. Connect a copper wire from the panel to a grounding rod stuck in the ground.

I have a resistor kit but I’m having trouble using it. My voltage appears to always be 7 whether I use a 1 Ohm resistor or a 100 Ohm resistor. When I try to read the Amperage it is always 0. What am I doing wrong?

Best way is to read the specs.

Are you measuring the amperage across the resistor? That’s why you’re getting zero. You need to hook the meter in series with the resistor. (Panel to meter, meter to resistor, resistor to panel.)

Keep reducing the resistance until the voltage drops below about 5 volts. That’s when you’re trying to draw more than the maximum amps.

Be careful. Unless this is a tiny panel, you’re going to be creating an extreme amount of heat in that resistor. Your resistor probably won’t be able to handle it, and you’ll have a scalding hot component even if it can.

1 ohm at 7 volts is 7 amps. (V=IR)
7 amps at 7 volts is 49 watts. (P=IV).

You can start putting 1 ohm resistors in parallel, effectively lowering the resistance of the load until the voltage drops, but don’t be surprised if one of them fractures from the heat.

(double - glazed window)

Thanks

No. Not anymore danger than that of the entire house.

Hi, We have a cabin which is approx. 1,000 sq ft with approx. 500 sq ft of workable roof space (according to astrum) The system we could able to get would produce approx. 5-6 kw of energy for our home. Does this estimate sound accurate? I don’t really have an issue because i realize it is just an estimate - But i can’t afford this amount of money for a solar system. Does anyone have information about companies the will lease solar panel systems in Pennsylvania? Or maybe some information on DIY solar panel kits? Actually any information on how a may be able to afford solar power would be very helpful. Thank you in advance!

Cool question!

First, I am assuming you are off the grid, in other words the cabin has no connection to the power grid. A grid connected system is going to require the technical assistance of this company and you will be prey to any costs that they want to charge.

The good news is that you can tell Atrum Solar that you only want 100 watts of solar power on the roof and federal regulations allow you to expand its capacity at your own pace. Make sure you tell them that you want the system to have the ability to handle at least 2000 watts of solar power in the future so you can expand as much as you want without buying more equipment.

Second, I encourage you to build your own solar system in the interim. Total cost will be less than $1,000 and you can power a television along with some lights with no problem at all. The solar panels you buy can be connected to the system that you eventually purchase.

The biggest gain from building your own solar system or DIY is that you will understand the costs of the technology and can fight back against over priced estimates. Here are some of my articles on this subject:
Increasing Inverter Capacity with the Black & Decker PI750AB: Solar Project Part 4
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5547078/increasing_inverter_capacity_with_the.html?cat=6

What Do Polycrystalline Solar Panels Have to Offer Over Monocrystalline Solar Panels? Solar Project Part 5
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5566608/what_do_polycrystalline_solar_panels.html?cat=57

I am not paid by any solar company or electric utility for my advice. I am doing this to advance the knowledge of solar power.

I have 2 small (2"x4") solar panels and I need to find the simplest way to use them to charge an ipod without using any batteries. I thought about just connecting them to a female usb connector but I remembered ipods dont work with generic chargers. any ideas?

You need to find out what is the needed charging voltage for your ipod….
and then you need to find out if you can get the sort of voltage out of the small solar panels that you have. If you can get the voltage from your solar panels, that is good but then another requirement is the current, if the panels will not supply enough current to charge your ipod, that will be a problem.
Do you have any output rating info on those panels?

I’m looking to solar power my home and don’t want to spend a lot of money, I want to do everything myself and need a good guide.

Of all the sites that I have come across on the internet about solar power and it’s home application the most accurate and helpful has been…

http://www.solar-power-information-site.com/

It covers all the aspects that any homeowner would need to know and that would take looking in a few other sites just to get all the different information. PLUS it has books you can get that will detail the exact process of putting together a heating or energy system. I am in the process of making a heating system from it now. (takes about a week to do by yourself). Hope that helps!