Locating Solar Cells

The quantity of solar cells you require is going to depend on what output you want from your solar panel. If you don't want to pay full price for your solar cells you can try a local company who repairs solar equipment or try eBay. Like road signs, these get damaged and chipped and get thrown away. These companies don't repair the actual cells, they just replace them. So you can salvage them and use them in your panel.

 

12mm Thick Plywood

The plywood forms the backing board which the cells sit on and is an integral piece of the panel. Get a good sheet of flat plywood and cut it to size. The plywood will be painted with a UV protector ensuring the elements do not destroy your panel for many years.

 

Soft or Preferably Hard Wood

If you get a piece of 2"x1" and cut a rebate this will make a good frame to keep the flexible-glass in place. Hardwood is best but whatever wood you get , we will protect it with UV paint.

 

Flexi-Glass

Flexi- glass is used to protect the solar cells and all the electrical wiring. Some people like to use special glass that has the ability to collect infrared light. This is expensive but it will make your solar panel more efficient as the infrared feature will allow you to convert the suns energy in cloudy conditions.

 

Soldering Wire - Tabbing Wire

Tabbing wire is great for connecting the different solar cells together and so making a complete solar panel assembly. The wire is made from tin and is known as tabbing wire.

 

Silicone Sealant

Silicon is used to make the solar panel water tight by filling the gap between the flexi glass and the wooden frame. It is also used to hold the solar cells in place.

 

Wiring Solder

You use solder to connect the copper wires together. When the current leaves the solar panel, it does so by connecting to copper wiring. You connect to the copper wiring by soldering the tabbing wire to the copper wire. It is also used to hold the tabbing wire in place should it lift in certain places.

 

Soldering Flux

A flux pen is used to assist the tabbing wire to stick to the solar cells. You run the pen over the area where you want the wire to be assembled and then with the aid of a soldering iron, the tabbing wire is secured in position. UV Plywood Protector Both the plywood and the wooden frame should be treated with a UV protector. This will protect your solar panel from the sun's UV light which has a tendency to rot wood very quickly.

 

Volt Meter

You want to know what the output of your solar panel is, so you connect the volt meter to the output and then angle your solar panel so that it is direct sunlight. The output increases as you add more solar cells.

 

If you require a more detailed explanation on how to build a solar panel, visit How to Build a Solar Panel on a Tight Budget.