Does your monthly electric bill keep going up? Are you struggling with your monthly budget due to high electricity? Many families have to make sacrifices in order to lower the cost of electricity.
You don't have to be one of those families anymore! You can get the information you need for building your own solar panels. You really don't have to know a lot about handiwork and crafting to build solar panels, either.
18 Volt Drill Battery
Building Solar Panels
Here is an overview of what you will need:
Backing, substrate, and border strips for the frame Solar cells Wire components Frame cover (most people use Plexiglas) 12-volt lead battery Battery box DC meter and inverter for AC power Various tools
Now, you can either buy a kit that includes all of these, or buy everything separately and build from scratch. The latter is the less expensive choice. If you know where to look, you can get all of the parts you need for less than 0!
You'll need to invest in the solar cells or build your own. Some companies sell solar cells separately from the other materials. A 30 pound, 130-watt cell should be enough for getting started. It should last for at least a decade.
Basic instruction is as follows:
You will need a handheld drill and wires to attach the DC input and meter to the battery box. Next, you need to attach the battery to the meter. Insulated wire should work. Follow the same procedure to connect the solar panel(s) and DC inlet to the battery. Be careful with the wires, and make sure everything is put into place. Once it's all set, you can close the lid and put the panel out into the sun!
Installing Solar Panels
After building your own solar panels, the next step is installing them. If you build them for your home, you should install them on your roof or in your backyard, facing toward the south. There shouldn't be anything blocking the sunlight from reaching the panel. Thus, you need to remove all obstacles, including those that cast shadows. This probably won't be a problem if you install the solar panels on your roof.
The panel's angle should be set to your latitude. In the winter, add an extra 15 degrees, and during the summer, subtract 15 degrees. For example, if your latitude is 35 degrees, your solar panel should be set at 50 degrees during winter, and 20 degrees during summer.
Maintaining Solar Panels
There isn't much work required for maintaining solar panels. Just as long as you build it out of quality materials, you won't have to worry about them tearing up. You just need to clean them every now and then with appropriate supplies. If you live in an area with a lot of dust or pollen, you may want to clean them thoroughly on a regular basis.
Calculating Wattage
How many panels will you need if you want to power your entire home? The answer depends on a number of factors, including electricity consumption, hours of sunlight, geography, etc. If you want to use standalone panels rather than connect them to the main grid, the capacity of your batteries plays a huge role in the amount of power your house will receive.
You also need to calculate wattage. In order to do this, you'll need to write down all of the appliances you use, their wattage, and the number of hours you use each appliance every day. Add the figures up to get a total, and divide the number by the peak sun hours. This will give you a rough estimate of the number of solar panels you'll need.
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