DIY Solar Panels

[daylen]

I've been wanting to get a solar panel setup for some time and have finally got round to buying a load of pv cells to make my own panels.

I bought them from this place, via eBay actually http://shop.knowyourplanet.com/solar_ce ... its?cPath= and got 100 cells plus tabbing wire etc for £40. The pack was only supposed to include 72 cells but I'm not complaining! 72 cells will give me 18 volts and up to 3.5 amps.

Apart from cost, one of the main reasons for getting the cells to do it myself was to be able to put pv panels on places that wouldn't take a normal size panel. We have a really long, narrow shed that wouldn't support a normal panel, but I plan to make a long thin panel (very thin and long at 20cm x 4m) to fit on the shed.

Buying the cells also gives me chance to experiment. Something I wouldn't want to do too much of with an expensive panel! I've been experimenting with how much energy they can produce indoors. I was surprised today to find that a cell I was messing with was producing 0.4v / 30mA on the desk in my dark, north facing office. I plan to make a panel to hang on the wall in the office to trickle charge my AA batteries for my keyboard!

I'm also going to keep some cells as part of my kit. Obviously a huge solar panel wouldn't be possible to carry easily if you needed to move out of your home quickly, but I can pack a showbox with all the tabbing wire, solder, around 300 cells and all the tools needed to create new solar panels.

[tigs]

good luck daylen hope you dont have any problems , having paid several tens of thousands on a 100% of grid pvp system ( and is thinking of spending more on a hydro turbine system or wind generator) for the farm i would love to hear how you go

[nickdutch]

I have made two panels so far. One more successful then the other. Dont be surprised if its a learning curve and just improve your art as you go forward creating more panels.

[jimmyd76]

I have made two panels so far. One more successful then the other. Dont be surprised if its a learning curve and just improve your art as you go forward creating more panels.

knowyourplanet.com/learning-zone for instructions how to do it good luck keep us updated thanks

[Arzosah]

I'll be following this too, I'd love to do something like this. Must learn to solder.

[pietka]

I have made 4 one failure and 3 that don't measure up to nearly as good as they should be! Its a good learning curve for say repairing them in the future! But when there's 80W panels on ebay for £80 then I'd buy them! 25 year warrenty and defect free for 5 years! I cannot be sure my job will last as long!