DIY Solar Panels

DIY solar panels can save you a lot of money by reducing your energy cost. Using the sun for powering your appliances and other things around the house is still free and will always remain so! If you want to build your own solar panels you’ll spend about a tenth of what you would on a commercially built panels. Technically speaking, we can go even cheaper, but in my experience, spending just a little bit on these DIY panels will ensure their sustainability for the long haul. In any case, a trip to the hardware store is just about all you will need. Let’s get started!

Let me mention something right from the start, the solar cells are typically take the most time to build. If you plan to make them yourself, count on spending an hour to build each solar cell. An hour?! Yes, making a solar cell from scratch is a time consuming process, but this is a necessary step so it is either you do it well, or you don’t do it at all. The cells that you can buy commercially are made from treated silicon and are therefore extremely durable and efficient; they are also fairly expensive. The cells that you can make in your kitchen are simpler; you’ll require copper, a hot electric stove (burning a lot of energy!) and patience. Depending on the amount of effort you put in, these DIY solar panels can come out looking great!

Since copper is expensive and will require you to allocate a serious amount of time, it will probably be more economical to just build your own solar panels using pre-constructed cells. You can get these from online auction sites at bargain prices. You can also check out your local recycling organization, the classified section of your newspaper and even ask your neighbors. By using manufactured solar cells when you build your own solar panels you’ll save a lot of time and frustration.

Once the solar cells are ready, you need to begin your next process; building DIY solar energy panels. For this, all you need to do is gather a few tools, some plywood, glass for the enclosure, some all-weather sealant and your soldering iron.

Don’t fret however, you don’t have to do all the work yourself. Haven’t your neighbors been griping about energy costs? Simply go and talk to them about helping you with your labor. Moreover, explain to them that the cost is minimal as you you will be using DIY kits. You see, in the old days people would get together to build a barn. By using mass labor, they built more barns in less time as everyone worked together, contributing tremendously to the cause. It won’t take long for a few people to get together and build simple, yet effective solar cells for everyone in the neighborhood to enjoy. The way we did this in our neighborhood was simple; we just allocated one afternoon and we assembled and mounted these solar kits on several homes! Did I mention that we had some beer to celebrate after?

If you are trying to minimize cost, remember, that it is always cheaper to simply go ahead and buy your own DIY solar kits. Who can dismiss the sheer feeling of satisfaction when you build your own solar panel and contribute positively to the environment, your neighborhood and your wallet?