The solar panel itself, its manufacture and assembly

The sun is an inexhaustible source of energy. People have long learned how to use it effectively. We will not go into the physics of the process, but let's see how this free energy resource can be used. Help us in this homemade solar panel.

Operating principle

What is a solar cell? This is a special module, which consists of series-parallel connections of a huge number of the most elementary photodiodes. These semiconductor elements were grown using special technologies in plant conditions on silicon wafers.

Unfortunately, such devices are by no means cheap. Most people can not buy them, but for this case, there are many ways to make solar panels yourself. And this battery will be able to create competition for commercial models. And the price of it will not be at all comparable to what the stores offer.

Building a battery of silicon wafers

The kit for an alternative energy source includes 36 silicon wafers. They are offered with dimensions of 8 * 15 centimeters. The total power indicators will be about 76 W. Also, wires will be needed to connect the elements together, and a diode that will perform the function of blocking.

One silicon wafer produces 2.1 W and 0.53 V at current up to 4 A. Connect the plates only in series. Only in this way our source of energy will be able to issue 76 watts. On the front side there are two tracks. This is a "minus", and "plus" is located on the back side. Each of the panels must be placed with a gap. There should be nine plates in four rows. In this case, the second and fourth rows must be reversed relative to the first. This is required in order for everything to be conveniently connected to one circuit. Be sure to consider the diode. It helps to prevent the discharge of the storage battery at night or on a cloudy day. The "minus" of the diode must be connected with the "plus" of the battery. To charge the battery you will need a special controller. With the help of an inverter, you can get the usual domestic voltage of 220 V.

Assembling solar panels with your own hands

The smallest refractive index of light is in Plexiglas. It will be used as a hull. This is a fairly inexpensive material. And if you need even cheaper, then you can buy plexiglass. In the worst case, you can use polycarbonate. But it is not suitable for the case in its characteristics. In shops it is possible to find a special polycarbonate with a coating, which is protected from condensation. It also allows the battery to provide a high level of protection against heat. But these are not all the elements of which the solar panel will consist. With their hands, glass with good transparency is easy to pick up, this is one of the main components of the design. By the way, even ordinary glass will do.

Making a frame

During installation, silicon crystals must be fastened at a short distance. After all, it is necessary to take into account the various atmospheric influences that can affect the changes in the basis. So, it is desirable that the distance is about 5 mm. As a result, the size of the finished structure will be somewhere around 835 * 690 mm.

A solar panel is manufactured by hand using an aluminum profile. It has the closest resemblance to branded products. At the same time, the homemade battery is more airtight and durable.

For assembly, you need an aluminum corner. From it is made for the future framework. Dimensions - 835 * 690 mm. In order to secure the profiles together, it is necessary to make technological holes in advance.

The inside of the profile should be lubricated with a silicone-based sealant. Apply it carefully, so that all places are smeared. The efficiency and reliability that the solar panel will have depends on how well it is applied.

With your own hands, you now need to put a sheet of pre-selected transparent material into the profile frame. It can be polycarbonate, glass or anything else. The important point: the silicone layer must dry out. This must be taken into account, otherwise the film will appear on the silicon elements.

At the next stage, the transparent material must be well pressed and fixed. To secure it to the maximum reliability, you should use hardware. We fix the glass around the perimeter and from four corners. Now the solar panel, produced by hand, is almost ready. It remains only to connect the silicon elements to each other.

Soldering Crystals

Now you need to lay the conductor on a silicon plate as carefully as possible. Next, we apply flux and solder. To make it more convenient to work, you can fix the conductor from one side with something.

In this position, carefully solder the conductor to the contact pad. Do not press on the crystal with a soldering iron. He is very fragile, you can break it.

The latest assembly operations

If for you the manufacture of solar panels with your own hands for the first time, it is better to use a special marking substrate. It will help to arrange the necessary elements as accurately as possible at the required distance. In order to properly cut the wires of the required length, connecting the individual elements, it should be noted that the conductor should be soldered to the contact pad. It is slightly moved beyond the edge of the crystal. If to make preliminary calculations, it will be found out, that wires should be on 155 mm.

When you collect all this in a single design, it is better to take a sheet of plywood or plexiglass. For convenience, it is better to pre-arrange the crystals horizontally and fix them. This is easily done with the help of crosses for laying tiles.

After you connect all the elements together, on each crystal from the back side, stick a double-sided building adhesive tape. It is necessary only to squeeze the rear panel a little, and all the crystals will be easily transferred to the base.

This type of fastening can not be sealed in any way. Crystals can expand at high temperatures, but it's not scary. Sealing requires only separate parts.

Now with the help of the mounting tape it is necessary to fix all tires and the glass itself. Before you glue and completely collect the battery, it is advisable to test it.

Sealing

If you have a regular silicone sealant, you do not need to completely fill them with crystals. So you can eliminate the risk of damage. To fill this structure you need not epoxy resin, but silicone.

That's so simple and at ease you can get electricity almost free. Now let's look at how you can make solar panels yourself.

Experimental battery

Effective systems for converting solar energy require the presence of factories of enormous size, special care for them and a serious amount of money.

Let's try to make something ourselves. All that is needed for the experiment, you can easily buy at a hardware store or found in your kitchen.

Solar panel with own hands made of foil

For assembly, copper foil is needed. It can easily be found in a garage or in the extreme case is easily purchased at any hardware store. To build the battery you need 45 square centimeters of foil. Also, you should buy two "crocodiles" and a small multimeter.

To get a working solar cell, it is desirable to have an electric stove. You need at least 1100 watts of power. It should heat up to a bright red color. Also prepare an ordinary plastic bottle without a neck and a couple tablespoons of salt. Get out of the garage a drill with an abrasive nozzle and a sheet of metal.

Getting Started

In the first cases, we cut off a piece of copper foil of this size so that it completely falls on the hot plate. You will need to wash your hands, so that the copper does not leave greasy stains from your fingers. Copper is also desirable to wash. To remove the coating from the copper sheet, use the emery.

"Hot dish" made of copper foil

Next, we put the cleaned sheet on the tile and turn it on to the maximum of possibilities. When the tile starts to warm, you can observe the appearance on the copper sheet of beautiful orange spots. Then the color changes to black. It is necessary to hold copper of the order of half an hour on a red-hot tile. This is a very important point. Thus, a thick layer of oxide easily peels off, and the thin layer will stick. After half an hour, remove the copper from the plate and allow it to cool. You can watch the pieces fall off the foil.

When it cools down, the oxide film disappears. You can easily clean with water most of the black oxide. If something does not come off, do not try. The main thing is not to deform the foil. As a result of deformation, a thin layer of oxide can be damaged, it is very necessary for the experiment. If it does not exist, the solar panel, made by hand, will not work.

Assembly

The second piece of foil cut to the same size as the first. Next, very carefully, you need to bend the two pieces so that they enter the plastic bottle, but do not touch each other.

Then grab the crocodiles on the plates. Wire from the "non-fried" foil - to the "plus", wire from the "fried" - to the "minus". Now take the salt and hot water. Stir the salt until completely dissolved. Pour the solution into our bottle. And now you can observe the fruits of the labors. This self-made solar panel, made by myself, can be further improved in the future.

Other ways of using solar energy

Solar energy is no longer used. In space, it feeds spacecraft, on Mars from the Sun feeds the famous rover. And in the United States of America the Sun is operated by Google data centers. In those places of our country where there is no electricity, people can watch the news on TV. All this thanks to the Sun.

And this energy allows you to heat houses. The air-solar panel with its own hands is very simply made from beer cans. They accumulate heat and give it to a dwelling. It is effective, free and affordable.