Solar panels are basically a collection of photovoltaic (photo = light, voltaic = electricity) cells. These cells are able to capture renewable energy from the sun. These photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of semiconductors like silicon. When sunlight hits these semiconductors, a certain amount of energy is stored in the cell. Electrons are let loose by the energy and are allowed to flow freely. PV cells have a few electric fields which can force the flow of electrons in a certain direction. Metal contacts on the top and bottom of these cells and draw the current (flowing electrons) to be used elsewhere. The current and the built-in electric field (voltage) adds up to the wattage of that particular cell.
Are people really building solar panels themselves?
There are a growing number of people who are building solar panels themselves. I’ve done some research on the cost of having them installed professionally and many estimates were over $25,000! The cost of do-it-yourself installation is a very small fraction of that from what I’ve found. Some can be constructed for just a few hundred dollars.
I’ve visited some forums on the topic of solar use. It seems that those who attempt to go it alone are facing problems. I think guidance is necessary. Constructing them doesn’t appear difficult but I think a blueprint is necessary. This is one resource that I’ve found that seems straightforward. www.newdiysolarpanels.info.
Please share your thoughts and comments below. If you’ve constructed solar panels yourself, I’d really like to hear from you.
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