| As solar technology continues to improve and energy | | | | become trash. Many companies will be glad to give |
| prices continue to rise, many homeowners are | | | | them to you for free and save themselves the |
| beginning to look for affordable alternative energy | | | | hassle of dealing with them. It is not a sure thing, but |
| sources. A good place to start is with Do-It-Yourself | | | | a quick call to local companies could save you a lot of |
| solar panels to take advantage of abundant and | | | | money. Some people also choose to buy used, |
| renewable solar energy. Cheap solar arrays can be | | | | chipped or damaged solar cells. It takes a little more |
| easily built at home with readily available materials. | | | | looking to find, but these PV cells can be highly |
| The following paragraphs will outline what materials | | | | discounted and work well. |
| are needed, where they can be acquired and a few | | | | When shopping for solar photovoltaics, be sure to |
| other things to consider as you begin to build your | | | | order extra solar cells in the event that some are |
| own cheap solar panels. | | | | broken during shipping or assembly. Further, it is very |
| To construct your own residential solar panel array, | | | | important that all of the solar photovoltaics are the |
| you will need the materials to build the solar panels, | | | | same size. Different sized solar cells produce different |
| as well as the box to house everything. Cheap solar | | | | amounts of Current (Amps). As a result, mixing |
| cells can be found on Ebay for far less than you | | | | different sizes disrupts the efficiency and energy |
| would pay at a commercial source. In addition to the | | | | production of the solar panel. |
| photovoltaic (PV) cells, you will need to purchase | | | | Before you begin building your own PV panels you |
| wire, a diode, and a Jones plug to wire everything. | | | | should consider how much power you want to |
| Diodes can be found on Ebay and a Jones plug can | | | | produce and how large you want your system to be. |
| be found at electronics suppliers. To construct the | | | | Each solar cell produces about one half Volt. A series |
| solar panel box you can find lumber, silicone caulk, | | | | of 36 solar cells wired together will produce just over |
| screws and hardware, paint and plexiglass at your | | | | 18 Volts. Watts of power is calculated by multiplying |
| local hardware store. A few tools will also be | | | | the Amps by the Volts. If the solar cells produce 3 |
| necessary to assemble your cheap PV panel. A | | | | Amps, the system will deliver about 60 Watts of |
| cordless drill or similar tool will be very useful when | | | | power. Larger solar cells produce more Amps, and |
| making the solar panel box. A soldering iron will also | | | | therefore can help to increase the wattage of your |
| be necessary to assemble the solar cells, wires and | | | | system. However, large solar cells will make for a |
| diodes. | | | | larger and heavier panel. It may be a good idea to |
| Another source for cheap PV cells are commercial | | | | start with a smaller solar panel to get some |
| solar companies. When these companies install a new | | | | experience and then move to larger solar panels. |
| system in a home or office, all of the old solar cells | | | | Good luck and have fun! |