Locating Solar Cells
How many cells you need will depend on the size of solar panel you are going to build. 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. There are many companies who use solar cells to power road signs, their signs suffer from wear and tear and are chucked in the skip. The good news is that the solar cells work fine and just need a bit of TLC.
Plywood - 15mm Thickness
The plywood forms the backing board which the cells sit on and is an integral piece of the panel. Choose your plywood with care, you want a quality piece which is nice and flat. The plywood will be painted with a UV protector ensuring the elements do not destroy your panel for many years.
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.
Tabbing or Soldering Wire
Tabbing wire is great for connecting the different solar cells together and so making a complete solar panel assembly. The tabbing or soldering wire is manufactured from tin and has a very melting point.
Silicone Sealant
Silicon is used to make the solar panel water tight by filling the gap between the flexi glass and the wooden frame. The great thing about the silicone sealant is that you can also use to fix the solar cells to the plywood backing.
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. Should the tin tabbing wire not stay in place, the solder can be applied to stick it back down again.
Soldering Flux
You use flux in conjunction with the tabbing wire, it ensures the tabbing wire sticks to the cells. The flux is applied to the zone where the tabbing wire is to be positioned, the tabbing wire is then assembled with the aid of a soldering iron which melts it in place.
UV Protector
Paint the UV protector on to the plywood and the wooden frame to increase the life of the solar panel while it is left out in the sun.
Volt Meter
The volt meter is used to test each cells output as it is assembled to the board. The output increases as you add more solar cells.
Learn more about how to build a solar panel or visit here to understand how to Build a Solar Panel if money is in short supply.
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