is it possible to constuct/buy/assemble your own solar panel?

Question

I live in Texas, where the sun is usually shining. Is there a cheap way to build a solar panel, or somewhere where you can buy/assemble a freestanding solar panel?

Answer 1

Very good question! Since most solar panels being sold are made in China, it is a great idea to make your own. Despite all the unsubstantiated claims to the negative.(Do some research before you Answer people!) you can build a solar panel.

Complete instructions are here: http://www.thesolarplan.com/articles/your-own-solar-panel-collector.html
http://www.goodideacreative.com/spcontents.html
http://www.instructables.com/id/EAFZ1MZC2FEUT8V87P/

Answer 2

To construct one, no. That requires very sophisticated equipment. But--if you want to tackle the project, you could buy the basic solar panel and do the rest--installation, wiring, etc., yourself.

That could be a big moneysaver as well--a lot of the cost ofa solar panel system is the installation. If you tackle it, though, make sure you understand the way the electrical system works--you don't want to burn your house down! And-unless you are a certified electrician, getone to check your work before you put the system into use.

Also, there are other ways of using solar energy. A solar water heater can be built using less complex components (the military was doing this even back in the 1940's on some Pacific atolls to provide hot water; it's not a method that requires any solid-state components, as do solar panels. More complex solar/water heating systems can be built for home heating (these have the virtue that the water, once heated, can act as a "storage medium" so the hot water can be sued--or heat a home--even at night.

The latter sort of systems would be too expensive for most people if they had a contractor do the work--but depending on your individual situation, can be economically feasible if you can dothe work yourself--in fact, if you do the job right,it would pay for itself in time.

Answer 3

Assuming you'e talking about a panel that converts sunlight to electricity.

Manufacturing the basic solar cells is a process much like making a transistor. Very high tech, lots of equipment, great precision. No way could you do it yourself.

Assembling solar cells into a panel is possible. But by the time you've bought the cells and done that, it would be substantially cheaper to buy a manufactured panel.

You could mount manufactured solar panels to your house instead of hiring a contractor. But you need tools and expertise in construction. You'd probably have to get a permit.

And part of the economic benefit comes from connecting the system to the grid and selling excess power to the power company. That's dangerous work, and the power company would be unlikely to approve an amateur doing that.

All in all this is really not a deal where you can do it yourself to save money.

Answer 4

Electric panels are not feasible for most people. They are two super thin layers of polarized material. When the sun hits them electrons move from the first to the second layer with an amount of force. You can't duplicate that at home. What you could do is setup solar heating panels and run them against a Stirling engine. This technique is typically more efficient than normal electric panels anyway in industry. They have heat on one side and cold on the other to generate force. Hook that to any generator to produce electricity. If you are successful building a home system, blog about it, others will want to know precisely how you did it.

Answer 5

You can assemble a panel from individual solar cells, but the solar cells themselves are not cheap and cannot be made at home. It takes millions of dollars of specialized equipment and ultra pure raw materials to make solar cells, which are basically very simple integrated circuits. They are like computer chips but much simpler in function, although not easier to make.

Answer 6

if your looking to just heat water that can be done with simple black plastic pipe on your rooftop ran back and forth then piped back in to your house if your looking for electric solar porwer theres a 100 sites and distributors for the DIY'er from whole systems to just pieces to build your own system....another option ive seen lately that would save alot is just basic lamps that by a window will give you lighting at night without having to do a whole system.......your gonna need a pretty big system to run your major appliances......the hot water and lighting can be done pretty simple and not to expensive also consider motion sensors in rooms you dont use all the time to save money.......check out motherearthnews.com

Answer 7

I doubt you could make your own PV cells, but you could easily set up a solar hot water heater very cheaply.

Answer 8

Guide To Solar Power : http://Solar.eudko.com/?WXr

Answer 9

Did you ever tested out Earth 4 Energy DIY process? Look on this website : http://createhomesolar.com/ . This may completely guide everyone!

Answer 10

yes.