Is It Possible To Make Your Own Solar Panels

Learn How To Make Your Own Solar Panels

Making your own solar panel is a time-consuming process and requires some electrical skills. However, it can also be very rewarding learning to build your own PV panel is a great way to understand how solar electricity is generated.

Before you can build your own solar panels, you first need to understand how solar cells generate electricity. The vast majority of solar panels in use today are made of crystalline silicon wafers, which typically measure six inches square. When the sun shines on those wafers, the electrons in them start to move. This flow of electrons is an electrical current.

A single full-sized solar panel, like the kind used in rooftop solar power systems, will have 60 silicon wafers. You can also make smaller panels if your electricity needs are low. Once youve bought individual solar cells , the basic process for building your own solar panel goes like this:

If You Need To Repair Your Solar Panels

Although solar panels are quite durable, they can occasionally suffer damage from falling tree limbs, hail, or an errant baseball. Faced with this scenario, it is important to determine whether or not the panels need to be removed in the first place.

First, check your output. If the panel is still producing power, then it might simply be a cosmetic issue that wont require cash to fix unless the appearance of your solar installation is important to you. In that case, a professional might be able to replace broken glass on a panel without removing it from the roof. This repair should cost about $572 on average depending on the scope of the work.

Remember:

Are You Skilled Enough To Build Your Own Solar Panels

Solar panels are relatively simple enough to build, but for them to remain functional for a long period of time, they need to be built with extreme precision. Solar panels need to be able to maintain their integrity in harsh weather conditions and from consistent exposure to heat and sunlight.

Safety is the biggest concern with homemade solar panels. Moisture can get inside and ruin them and there is the potential for improperly built panels to catch fire from the suns heat. Mastering the soldering and electrical wiring is a challenge that generally takes the knowledge of a skilled electrician or engineer.

Building a system requires a willingness to research, make mistakes, and gain experience in electrical wiring skills and soldering techniques. So if you are an experienced engineer or electrician, this can be a bit easier to master but it is definitely not a quick weekends worth of DIY-ing.

Recommended Reading: What Do Solar Panel Installers Get Paid

Why Do You Want The Panels Removed

This question is vital to ask because it will help to define exactly what we hope to achieve with the solar panel removal. Getting rid of a system completely versus just needing a few panels removed for a repair can mean huge differences in time and money spent on the project.

Whatever the reason, we should point out that it would be foolish in most cases not to consult your original installer or at least a third-party professional anytime you are looking to make modifications to your solar panel installation. These are electrical components, after all, and working on a rooftop environment is always cause for an extra level of care.

Specifics When Building Your Own Solar System

Commercially manufactured solar panels are quite costly, but they don’t have to be.

Solar cells are widely available from various suppliers worldwide and can be paired up into your own custom-built solar panel.

You might have even come across some broken or cracked cells for sale somewhere these will still work and allow you to build a panel for next to nothing.

Here are some of the specifications when building your own solar system:

Don’t Miss: How To Clean Solar Panels Diy

What Type Of Roof Was Ideal For Free Solar Panels

Companies were looking for the “right” roofs and if yours happened to fail at fitting the desired profile, you were turned down. So, your roof needed to have at least 30 square meters of free usable space. It had to be almost entirely south-facing and without anything casting shade over it, which meant that any nearby trees or different telegraph poles might have been a problem.

Some companies could make compromises if the conditions are decent enough but not quite perfect. For instance, you might have gotten the deal with a £500 charge or with a £5 monthly charge.

Get Quotes On Solar Panels

If you have decided to invest in solar panels, but you are not sure which type you would like, we are ready to help you. Fill out the form on this page with your personal preferences and information, and we will provide you with up to four different suppliers of solar panels. You are free to choose the offer that best suits your needs. The service is free, without obligation, and takes only a few minutes.

Also Check: Are Solar Panels Legal In Alabama

Is Diy Solar Worth It

We cant really answer that for you but we can say many people have done it successfully! For small, off-the-grid projects, it is more likely youll save money and do the job right. However, for bigger projects or projects that require you to have an electricity plan with it, then probably not.

In all cases, you should get a quote from a reputable solar installation company. Even if you are not going with them, its helpful to see what you would be saving and determining whether its worth it to you to risk installing it wrong or to spend a few extra dollars and get it right.

And theres always companies, like Chariot Energy, who supplies 100% grid solar without the panels and for those already with solar panels! If youre considering solar for your home or business, its worth it to check out our prices to see how they stack up. Who knows? You might like it better!

If You Are Getting Rid Of Your Own Solar Panels

There might come a time in which you simply dont want your solar panel installation on your roof. Maybe you are moving and want to take your panels with you, or perhaps you are replacing your panels with a newer version of the technology. Whatever the case, removing your own solar installation doesnt have to cost you an arm and a leg if your needs are relatively straightforward.

Solar panels are light, but their electronic components do require special care and it might also be necessary for your remover to be a certified electrician to ensure that your system is safely removed from the grid and there are no lingering issues that could violate building codes on your home.

You May Like: Is There A Government Scheme For Free Solar Panels

Efficiency Before Everything Else

If youâve read my guide to going solar, youâll know that the first step you should take is to make your house more energy efficient. There are some easy things you can do, after which the energy retrofits start to get more extensive, and expensive.

In my house thatâs more than 100 years old, weâve done all the easy and cost effective energy retrofits, and some more expensive ones, such as replacing some of the windows. If we wanted to completely eliminate our electricity bill in this old house, weâd either have to dial up the thermostat in the summer and suffer through the heat, or replace all of the old windows as well as rip off the vinyl siding so that we can add polyiso board around all of the exterior walls.

That would get pretty expensive for us, high enough that it would take a very long time for us to recoup the cost. But if you have a newer house, you probably have higher efficiency to start with and are in a better position.

Diy Solar Power Is It Possible To Build Your Own Solar Panels

A lot of people are now viewing solar power as a viable alternative to power their homes and move away from traditional energy sources and all the problems surrounding them. Due to the expense associated with installing a traditional solar power system, more and more of these solar savvy people are undertaking DIY Solar Panel projects.

The question remains then, is it really possible to build your own solar panels? and if it is possible to build your own solar panels how effective are they in supplying energy?

The answer to the first question is a resounding YES you can build your own solar panels and best of all its a pretty easy process. The first and possibly the most crucial step is to get a guide that will show you step by step how to build your own solar panels. We have put a review together of the leading guides that show you how to build your own solar panels, its well worth checking out before you buy a guide.

Once you have you how to build solar panels guide, usually in the form of a handbook and possibly video instruction, you will quickly see how easy it is to put your own DIY solar power system together. With materials readily available at most hardware stores, you can have your first solar panels up and running in no time at all.

Read Also: How Much To Add Solar Panels To Your House

Solar Panels Are Generally Low Maintenance

The Energy Saving Trust says little maintenance is required on a properly installed, well-designed solar PV system, though you’ll likely need to replace the inverter a gadget which is a key part of the mechanism within about 25 years .

Of course, though, things can go wrong. If so, check the installer warranty you get it can cover you for up to 20 yeas. If the panels are damaged by something unexpected, like a storm, you may also be covered by buildings insurance check with your insurer before you have them installed.

Charging Your Car Only With Solar Electricity

A lot of people who have an electric car and solar panels want to charge their cars using as much solar electricity as possible, rather than grid power. Itâs understandable: after all, anyone who has solar panels and an electric car probably cares a lot about the environmental benefits of renewable energy.

But, as youâll read next, it doesnât matter much either from an economic or environmental point of view whether your car is charged directly by your panels. Instead, your charging schedule should depend on whether you have net metering and a time-of-use plan with your utility.

Don’t Miss: How Much Tax Credit For Solar Panels In California

Testing Your Solar Panel

Now that you have used the free solar panel plans above to build a solar panel – you need to test it’s power readings to make sure it’s producing the right amount of watts, volts and amps.

If you make solar panels using the same size solar cells we used here, then the solar panel you just built should be producing about 18 volts and 3.5 amps in optimal sunlight.

Whenever you have these two values you can figure out the wattage by multiplying these two values together.

Volts x Amps = Watts

So… 18 Volts x 3.5 Amps = 63 Watts

In the following pages you are going to learn how you can join many of these 63 watt solar panels together and produce as much solar power as you want to, one step at a time.

Pwm Solar Power Controllers

This is the more traditional technology out of the two and it foregoes the use of mechanical relays to operate circuits that were present in older regulators.

Pros of Pulse Width Modulation solar regulators

• Being a proven technology makes them more affordable
• Durable design only requiring passive cooling
• A wide range of sizes, amperage ranges and applications

Cons of Pulse Width Modulation solar regulators

• Smaller PWM controllers arent UL certified
• Solar panel nominal voltage cannot exceed the batterys stated voltage rating
• PWM regulators cannot adapt to a growing solar installation

Recommended Reading: How Much For Sole Proprietorship

Make Your Own Solar Panels Any Size You Want

Special Note About The Size of Your Solar CellsThe solar cells we use to build solar panels are rated: 1.75 watts each. This is just one size you can use to make your own solar panels but you don’t have to settle with this. If you want to, you can use bigger solar cells and make way more powerful solar panels.

If you really want to build solar panels that are much bigger with the materials available today, I would suggest substituting the solar cells used in the examples on this page with mono crystalline solar cells rated at 41 Volts and 5.49 Amps. If you use 72 of these solar cells to make one panel, your one finished panel will be able to deliver 225 Watts of power maximum in optimal sunlight.

So keep in mind that you can buy any sized solar cell you want and substitute the new cell’s volts, amps and watt ratings in the examples below to create a more powerful solar panel.

Create A Frame To Support The Solar Cells

Step one is creating a solar panel frame. It serves to protect the solar systems inner components from mechanical and thermal tensions. The use of a frame protects solar cells because of how fragile they are. The mountiNg attachment points within the frame come in handy when installing the panel on your roof.

The frame must not have sharp edges. It must be mechanically and electrically conductive, not forgetting earthing it too. Wood, plywood, glass, and plastic may be used when making the frame.

Read Also: Can An Llc Be Considered A Sole Proprietorship

How Do You Build Your Own Solar Panel System With A Kit

While building solar panels from scratch and then retrofitting an entire solar system is possible, most people usually want to build a solar system from pre-made equipment and then install the system.

The main advantage of buying a packaged solar kit, like one from Grape Solar versus buying all of the material separately, is that the equipment within the kit is guaranteed to work together. That is not necessarily the case if you buy each item ad hoc. For example, certain solar panels and inverters can only work with each other within defined electrical specifications.

Solar panel kits come with most of the parts you will need to complete your small-scale solar project. Image source:

Unless you’re determined to build a system from the ground up, a solar panel kit is a better option and will be less expensive and confusing.

Can I Install My Own Pv System A Diyers Checklist

Its time for the litmus test that tells you whether to proceed boldly as an amateur solar installer or to hand over the reins to a professional. For most of you, the decision will come down to the rules of the local building authority or your utility provider, either of which may require that solar installations be done by a licensed professional. This is also the best time to confirm that your project wont be nixed by your zoning department, historical district standards, or your homeowners association.

WARNING: PV systems are inherently dangerous and potentially deadly. As a DIY system installer and owner, you must understand, respect, and mitigate the risks involved with all installation and maintenance tasks. Pay special attention to safety warnings as well as all requirements in the local building and electrical codes and equipment instruction manuals.

Text excerpted from Install Your Own Solar Panels © 2017 by Joseph Burdick and Philip Schmidt. All rights reserved.

Don’t Miss: Does California Require Solar Panels On New Homes

Install The Racking For Your Solar Panels

When purchasing racking, choosing which option to buy depends on where your panels will go. For instance, will they be ground mounted, or on your RV? This will determine the type of racking you need to buy. Once you pick your racking, you need to map out where you will drill the holes to secure the racking to your structure.

Solar Panel Cabling And Connection Options

Just like with batteries, solar panels can either be set up in parallel or in series. What does this mean in terms of setting up solar panels?

Solar panels that are set up in parallel have all their positive cables going to the same connection on the controller. The negative cables do the same, all going to a common interconnector before being hooked up to the corresponding negative terminal on the controller box.

Cable thickness will largely depend on the length of cable required as well as the voltage and amperage dictated by your electricity needs.

In the following table, you can check what kind of cable you will need to hook up a 12V solar set up.

Also Check: Where Are Sunpower Solar Panels Made

I’ve Got Solar Thermal Panels Can I Get The Smart Export Guarantee

Unfortunately, no. The smart export guarantee is only available on what’s known as solar PV, which catch the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that can be used to power household goods and lighting.

Solar thermal, which allows you to heat water and can cut down heating bills, isn’t covered. However, help is available for these types of solar panels under what’s known as the domestic renewable heat incentive scheme.

This guide shines a light on solar PV, as that’s where you can earn money by selling the electricity you don’t use back to suppliers, as well as save on your electricity bills. According to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, well over half a million British homes have panels installed.