From the operators of www.GreenLivingRocks.com — providing education regarding how to make a home made solar panel, solar panel cost, and solar panel systems.

One of the reasons that constructing your own pv (photovoltaic panels has become so popular is that there are really very few components involved. A regular solar panel consists of just a few basic parts, namely an enclosure, photovoltaic (pv), a substrate and wiring. Here’s an outline of what’s involved.


Solar panel case or enclosure
This is what most people see when they think of a solar panel. It’s the clear glass top, the frame and the backing that the solar cells are mounted on. The case can be big enough to need a custom built metal rack for mounting on a rooftop, or small enough to be a plastic box that can be placed almost invisibly near an outdoor floodlight. It needs to be resistant to ultra violet (UV) rays so that it doesn’t weaken with constant exposure to sunlight. And the glass (usually Plexiglas) needs to be durable enough to withstand harsh weather, including hail and wind storms that could crash tree branches and other debris into it.

Substrate
This is the piece of wood, peg board or other material that the solar cells are mounted on contained by of the enclosure. It too needs to be UV-resistant to endure prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Pv (photovoltaic) cells
The solar cells are comparable to the silicon chips that power nearly all computers. They combine the silicon, metals and other materials in a way that captures direct sunlight and converts it into electricity. The electricity can either be instantly used by direct current devices (DC) like LED lights, or stored in DC batteries and converted into alternating current (AC) to power conventional appliances like refrigerators, TVs and other electrical equipment in homes and businesses.

Tabbed and untabbed pv (photovoltaic cells
When constructing your own solar panels, you can save money by buying untabbed solar cells and soldering the tabs on top of the cells yourself. This can be a good option if you have more time than money, but it’s a tedious job. You can save time by buying tabbed solar cells which will cut your soldering time by one-half to two-thirds.

Photovoltaic cell wiring
As soon as the solar cells are mounted on the substrate, they are wired to each other in a series so that they can produce electricity. Copper wire is added to connect the solar cells to storage batteries for using the electricity later, or to connect directly to the device that the solar panel is powering like an attic fan or a solar powered toy.

Blocking diode

The blocking diode is a small component that prevents electricity that is stored in a battery from draining backward into the pv (photovoltaic) panel. Bigger photovoltaic systems use a charge controller for the same effect.

Related posts:

1. The Many Uses of Solar Energy & How it Really Works
2. Solar Energy 101

Before diving into the vast number of uses for solar energy, it is important to have a solid understanding of solar energy itself. Solar energy is electricity generated by the Sun’s radiation that is absorbed through square material known as “solar cells”.

To put it simply: the Sun’s rays heat up solar cells, and the heat’s energy is converted into electricity to power anything from small devices such as laptop bags to entire buildings.

Four Classes of Solar Energy

There are four major styles of solar energy: direct, indirect, active and passive.

1.1kW Grid-Tied Solar Electric System

Direct solar energy systems convert the thermal energy once, while indirect systems convert the energy multiple times. Active solar means there are mechanical and electrical parts. Passive systems do not use any mechanical parts to convert the energy to electricity.

“So how does solar energy actually work?”

There are many methods for capturing the power of the Sun’s energy, but the most common devices are “Photovoltaic cells”. These are commonly known as solar cell semiconductors that produce electricity whenever the external material is exposed to heat. The cells also naturally store thermal (heat) energy so the device the cells are powering can work when it is dark as well.

Heat from the Sun is absorbed by the silicon cells and the energy is stored and converted for use by the semiconductor inside the cells.

“How can solar energy help me?”

When solar energy cells were first introduced in 1941 by Russell Ohl, people hardly realized how this simple invention could change the World. The biggest problem with the energy technique has been the initial cost. However, while silicon is expensive, people have been recently turning to powering their entire house with solar cells!

Yes, there is a large initial investment, but by eliminating your electric bill for the rest of your life, there is a good chance you’ll recoup the loss. Many people use solar energy to heat their water (tap, showers, swimming pools, etc.) without powering their entire home. This is much cheaper, but it can still have a positive impact on utility bills and the environment.

There have been many other smaller uses, too. In 2006, a small electronics company invented a solar cell laptop bag that could not only carry your laptop, but constantly charge it on the go!

There practically an infinite number of possibilities for small devices being charged with solar energy and eliminating the need for charging every night for hours just to get a few hours of use.

As solar cell production costs decrease, more companies will be able to produce solar-powered devices and accessories the public can afford. Either way, solar energy is a reliable, natural source of energy that can be used to power practically anything, and it won’t run out until the Sun does!

Related posts:

1. Solar Energy 101
2. Key Pv (photovoltaic) Panel Parts
3. Easy Ways to Make your Home More Eco-Friendly