Do-it-yourself solar panel for home: general information, self-production at home

A solar battery is a device that generates electricity using special photovoltaic cells. It helps to significantly reduce the cost of electricity and get an inexhaustible source of it. You can not only buy such an installation ready-made, but also do it yourself. A solar panel for a home in the private sector will be the ideal solution to help avoid frequent interruptions in light.

General information

Before making a solar battery at home, you need to study in detail its structure, principle of operation, advantages and disadvantages. With this information, you can choose the right components that will work for a long time and be useful.

Device and principle of operation

Designs of all types work by converting energy emitted from the nearest star into electrical energy. This happens thanks to special photocells, which are combined into an array and form a common structure. Semiconductor elements made of silicon are used as energy converters.

Solar panel operating principle:

1. The light coming from the sun hits the photocells.
2. It knocks out free electrons from the last orbits of all silicon atoms.
3. Because of this, a large number of free electrons appear, which begin to move rapidly and chaotically between the electrodes.
4. The result of this process is the generation of direct current.
5. It then quickly converts to a variable and enters the receiving device.
6. It distributes the received electricity throughout the house.

Advantages and disadvantages

DIY solar panels have a number of advantages over factory designs and other energy sources. Thanks to this, devices are rapidly gaining popularity and are used all over the world.

Among the positive aspects of solar panels the following should be highlighted:

1. Easy to install. It is achieved through the use of a minimum number of components.
2. Environmental friendliness. This method of generating electricity does not have a negative impact on the environment.
3. No moving parts.
4. Electricity is supplied independently of the distribution network.
5. Ease of maintenance. The design does not require frequent preventive measures, which significantly reduces the time and money spent.
6. Light weight. All batteries are quite lightweight, so you can install them yourself and do not use lifting equipment.
7. Silence. During operation, the installation does not emit any unpleasant and loud sounds. This reduces the negative impact and makes people more comfortable in the home.
8. Long service life. Batteries powered by solar energy very rarely break down and can serve their owner for decades.

Despite the many advantages, solar panels also have disadvantages. They must be taken into account before starting the manufacture of the structure and its installation.

The disadvantages include the following:

1. Large expenditures of time and effort for manufacturing.
2. Increased sensitivity to dirt. Because of this, the structure often needs to be cleaned from dust. Otherwise, the battery will not perform at its maximum efficiency.
3. Dependence on weather conditions. On cloudy days, the process of generating electricity will be much less intense than on clear days.
4. Large dimensions. In order to provide electricity to a small house, it is necessary to make a fairly large installation. You can place it on the roof of a building or in specially designated areas.
5. Lack of performance at night.

Making at home

In order for the finished structure to perform its functions efficiently and provide people with a sufficient amount of electricity, it is necessary to make it correctly. To do this, you need to take into account many factors and choose only high quality materials.

Primary requirements

Before you make a solar battery with your own hands, you need to complete a number of preparatory measures and carefully study all the requirements for the device. This will help to get the unit working and simplify the installation process.

To make the solar panel work at its maximum capacity, it is necessary to comply with the following requirements:

1. The finished product is characterized by increased fragility, so it must be protected with a special frame.
2. The size of the structure depends on the amount of electricity required. It should be borne in mind that an increase in the number of conductors will lead to an increase in the mass of the battery.
3. The device body should be provided with small side bumpers. All this is necessary in order for the shadow they cast to cover the minimum working space of the battery.
4. The structure is installed outdoors, therefore it will be constantly exposed to atmospheric conditions. Because of this, the inside and outside of the case must be covered with high-quality moisture-resistant paint.
5. In the frame, it is necessary to provide a place for the manufacture of the substrate.
6. At the bottom of the panel, you need to make small holes for ventilation. With their help, the gas that is formed during the operation of the battery will be removed.

Materials and tools

The most important parts of the device are the photocells. Manufacturers offer customers only 2 of their varieties: from monocrystalline (efficiency up to 13%) and polycrystalline silicon (efficiency up to 9%).

The first option is only suitable for work in sunny weather, and the second - in any. Conductors are other important design elements. They are used to connect photocells to each other.

For the manufacture of the panel you will need such materials and tools:

• a set of photocells;
• fasteners (hardware);
• silicone vacuum coasters;
• copper wires capable of operating at high power;
• aluminum corners;
• Schottky diodes;
• soldering equipment;
• set of screws;
• transparent plexiglass or polycarbonate sheet.

Procedure

In order to make solar panels with your own hands at home, you must follow the sequence of actions. Only in this case it is possible to avoid mistakes and achieve the desired result.

The panel making process is simple and consists of the following stages:

1. A set of poly- or monocrystalline solar cells is taken and the parts are assembled into a common structure. Their number is determined based on the requirements of the home owners.
2. On the photocells, contours are applied, formed from tin, soldered conductors. This operation is performed on a flat glass surface using a soldering iron.
3. All cells are connected to each other according to a previously prepared electrical circuit. In this case, it is imperative to connect shunt diodes. The ideal option for a solar panel would be to use Schottky diodes to prevent the panel from discharging at night.
4. The cell structure is moved to an open space and tested for functionality. If there are no problems, you can start assembling the frame.
5. For these purposes, special corners made of aluminum are used, which are attached to the elements of the body with hardware.
6. A thin layer of silicone sealant is applied to the interior of the battens and spread evenly.
7. On top of it, a sheet of plexiglass or polycarbonate is placed and tightly pressed against the frame contour.
8. The structure is left for several hours for the silicone sealant to dry completely.
9. Once this process is completed, the transparent sheet is additionally attached to the body with hardware.
10. Selected photocells with conductors are placed along the entire inner part of the resulting surface. In this case, it is important to leave a small distance (about 5 millimeters) between adjacent cells. To simplify this procedure, you can apply the necessary markings in advance.
11. The installed cells are securely fixed to the frame using mounting silicone, and the panel is completely sealed. All this will help to increase the life of the solar battery.
12. The product is left to dry the applied mixture and takes on its final appearance.

Products from scrap materials

A solar battery can be assembled not only from expensive materials, but also from improvised materials. The finished design, although it will be less efficient, will save a little on electricity.

Low voltage diodes

This is one of the easiest and most affordable options for making a homemade solar panel. The device will be based on low voltage diodes, which are made in a glass case.

A battery is made in compliance with the following sequence of actions:

1. The required number of diodes is placed in a glass container, filled with acetone and left for several hours.
2. After this period of time, the paint covering the body of the parts will get wet and can be easily removed.
3. Then a non-metallic plate is taken and the necessary markings are applied to it.
4. Diodes are soldered into the designated places. They need to be placed vertically, since more electricity is generated in this position.
5. The finished device is tested and installed in any convenient place where direct sunlight is available.

Copper foil

If you need to get a small amount of electricity, you can make a solar panel from ordinary foil.

The finished structure will have low power, so it can only be used to feed small devices.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Take a sheet of copper foil with an area of ​​at least 50 square centimeters and wipe it with soapy water. This will help clean the surface of grease and dirt.
2. The oxide film is removed with sandpaper.
3. After that, the foil is placed on the electric stove and heated until reddish spots appear. This indicates that the formed oxides become copper oxide.
4. Then the heating is extended for another half hour.
5. After this time, the stove turns off and the foil sheet slowly cools down at room temperature.
6. At the next stage, the sheet is placed under a stream of water and the remaining oxide is washed off from it.
7. Another sheet is cut from the same material.
8. After that, a large plastic bottle is taken and the top is cut off.
9. Two pieces of foil are dropped into the resulting container and securely fixed.
10. The negative terminal is connected to the first sheet, and the positive terminal to the second.
11. The bottle is filled with saline solution.

Beer cans

This simple method of manufacturing a battery does not require large financial costs. With its help, you can get a small amount of electricity, which will slightly reduce costs.

Procedure:

1. The body of the device is made of ordinary plywood.
2. Plexiglass is installed on the front surface, and glass wool or foam plastic on the back.
3. Then the aluminum beer cans are taken, and a small hole is made in their lower part.
4. The lid of the containers is cut off, and the excess elements are bent inward.
5. The surface of the cans is cleaned of dirt and grease using special acid-based cleaning agents.
6. After that, the cans are sealed to each other and processed with silicone gel.
7. The structure is dried and attached to the body.
8. Beer containers are painted dark and covered with plexiglass.

A self-made solar panel is a wonderful device that can help you reduce your energy costs. With its correct manufacture and adherence to all recommendations, you can make a quality product that will work for many years.