Go Solar with Homemade Solar Panels
Due to the modular nature of solar cells, building solar panels is real simple. The cells are very easy to handle because they are relatively small. They easily fit in your hands.
You place the cells in their panel and connect them in series. After each panel is completed check it for connectivity and then connect the panels to one another. Once the panels are connected and in place, connect the entire array to your battery pack and then to your inverter before connecting to your house. As you know, solar (photovoltaic) cells convert solar energy into electricity. That should be plainly obvious, but this basic understanding is necessary when you dive into how electricity is actually made with these cells.
The light photons land on the semiconductor (the silicon) and when they do, they bump an electron loose. They type of silicon and what it is mixed with varies depending on what polarity you want the silicon to have. Phosphorous creates a negatively charged semiconductor, boron, a positively charged one. By varying positive and negative layers, the photons can more easily knock an electron loose. This newly freed electron is looking for a new home.
Each cell is designed to push their electrons in the same direction as all the other cells. With enough cells and enough solar energy striking them, you have an electrical current you can work with.
Building solar panels is a breeze if you are meticulous about getting each cell in series with the next, checking your solder and any other connections. There’s a channel down each cell where the electrons travel into a tab. The tabs are how one cell is connected to another. Once they are all connected, they are covered with a layer of glass or laminate to protect the cells from the elements. Any residual moisture is eliminated and the panels are placed into position and hooked up together.
Now, from here on out, all you need to do is hook up your new solar panel system to your house’s electrical system. Personally, my recommendation is to hire a professional to do this for two reasons. One: I’m not about to be wandering around on the roof where a loose shingle could send me flying. Two: I sleep so much better knowing that a certified electrician was responsible for the hook up. If anything goes wrong, it’s not my fault. Making any improvements to your home’s electrical system requires in most places, that you stayup to code and that will keep your insurance policy in effect.
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