How to Make Solar Panels - Can I Build a DIY Solar Panel at Home?

By Ferguson McHenry

Solar panels are readily available, and have been for some time. However the costs of purchase generally outweighed the cost savings. That's starting to change now with the introduction of DIY solar panel kits and blueprints. Now anyone can build these at home, with just a little know-how and guidance.

How To Make Solar Panels For your Own Home

How difficult is it to build solar panels?
You have two options if you want to build solar panels.
1.Buy a solar panel kit, readily available online.
2.Buy a guide on how to make solar panels. These are available on the internet, and include blueprints and instructions. You'll also need to buy parts from your local hardware store.

Below I've given a brief introduction of the process you will follow in creating a solar panel. This is a rough overview, that should give you an idea of whether you're ready to buy a guide or kit and take the project on yourself.

To get started, the first thing that you'll need are solar cells.

What are solar cells and how do I make solar cells?
Solar cells are made of metal and some other supplies that can be purchased easily. It's beyond the scope of this guide to show how to make them, pick up a guide/blueprint or just a kit if you don't want to build them yourself.

This is the hardest part of the process, and it's a good idea to have some kind of engineering expertise before attempting the project.

What you will need to do to make your solar panels:
First, assemble the photovoltaic (solar cells) that you've purchased. At that point it's simply a matter of assembling them. The first key is to find a good location. Here are some examples of commonly used solar cell locations:
1.Backyard
2.Roof
3.Patio

Pretty much anywhere with a lot of sunlight will work. The next trick is to put your cells together to make sure they're facing the light. Again, this is easier to explain with a diagram, refer to the links in the resource section for places to get those.

After that, you need to put the cells together, and connect them to your power source. For this you'll need some long lengths of wire.

So can I build a solar panel at home?
The answer is yes, and parts are becoming cheaper and plans are more widely available. As you can see above, the steps needed to build a solar panel at home are not terribly complicated. If you're confident with tools and do-it-yourself projects, this could be a fun thing to work on.

Solar Panels panels systems will provide you how to cut down your electricity bills and think about saving the earth. Learn How to Make Solar Panels for your home.