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DIY solar battery (step by step, photo). We calculate and manufacture solar panels with our own hands DIY solar battery from improvised means

Solar rays, as an alternative source of energy, are becoming increasingly popular among the population. This is especially true for residents of the private sector, who are gradually getting rid of energy dependence. However, such systems are still quite expensive and not everyone can buy them. In such situations, the best way out is a solar battery made by hand from improvised materials.

Choice of photocells

Any do-it-yourself solar battery for a home will in any case cost significantly less than a factory one. From well-known manufacturers, a careful selection of photocells is made, during which workpieces with reduced or unstable performance are screened out. The surface of the finished products is covered with a special glass that reduces the reflection of light, which is not available on the market. In production, many other methods for examining records are used, which are completely unsuitable for home conditions.

However, a do-it-yourself solar battery can well be made, and the resulting homemade products have good performance and are not so noticeably different from industrial products. On the other hand, the savings in money are almost doubled, and under certain conditions, making panels is not only expedient, but also profitable.

Therefore, the main goal in the preparation phase is to correctly select the most suitable photocells. For technical reasons, film or amorphous products can be immediately excluded and settled on the plates of their silicon crystals. In the very first home experiments, it is recommended to use cheaper elements made of polycrystals and only then proceed to work with single-crystal silicon materials.

It is possible to purchase photocells for a solar battery at well-known foreign trading platforms, such as Aliexpress, Amazon and others. They are available for free sale there in the form of separate plates with different performance and overall dimensions, which allows you to assemble a solar panel of the required power.

In addition, there are defective products belonging to the so-called class B, which have various damages in the form of small chips and cracks. This has almost no effect on performance, but their cost is much lower, so they are most often used in home-made solar systems.

Calculation and design

To calculate the solar battery assembled at home, you will definitely need a list of all electrical appliances and equipment available in the house. Immediately you need to find out the power consumption of each of them.

Power data is indicated in the label or in the technical data sheet of the device. Their values are quite approximate, so for a panel that is working, you need to enter an amendment, that is, the average power consumption is multiplied by a correction factor. The total power obtained in this way is additionally multiplied by 1.2, taking into account the losses during the operation of the inverter. Powerful devices at startup consume a current that is several times higher than the rated current. Because of this, the inverter must also withstand double or triple power for a short time.

If there are quite a lot of powerful consumers, but at the same time they practically do not turn on, then the inverter used in the system with a large output current will turn out to be too expensive. In the absence of significant loads, it is recommended to use less powerful inexpensive devices.

The solar battery at home is calculated according to the operating time of each electrical appliance during the day. Empirically calculated, the value is multiplied by the power, and the result is a daily energy consumption, measured in kilowatt-hours.

You will definitely need information from the local weather station about the amount of solar energy that can actually be obtained in this area. The calculation of this indicator is based on the readings of the average annual solar radiation and its average monthly values in the worst weather. The last figure allows you to determine the minimum amount of electricity sufficient to solve current problems.

Having received the initial data, you can begin to determine the power of one photocell. First, the solar radiation indicator must be divided by 1000, as a result, the so-called pico-hours are obtained. At this time, the intensity of solar luminescence is 1000 W/m 2 .

Formula for calculation

The amount of energy W generated by one module is determined by the following formula: W \u003d k * Pw * E / 1000, in which E is the value of solar insolation for a certain period of time, k is a coefficient that is 0.5 in summer, 0 in winter, 7, Pw - power of one module. The correction factor takes into account the power loss of photocells when heated by the sun's rays, as well as the change in the inclination of the rays relative to the surface during the day. In winter, the elements heat up less, so the value of the coefficient will be higher.

Taking into account the total power consumption and the data obtained using the formula, the total power of the photovoltaic cells is calculated. The result obtained is divided by the power of 1 element and as a result there will be the required number of modules.

There are various models with a range of power elements - from 50 to 150 W and above. By choosing components with the required performance, you can assemble a solar panel with a given power. For example, if the power demand is 90 W, then two modules of 50 W each are needed. According to this scheme, you can create any combination of the available photocells. In any case, calculations should be made with some margin.

The number of photocells affects the choice of capacity, since they are the ones that create the charging current. If the panel power is 100 W, then the minimum battery capacity should be 60 Ah. As the power of the panels increases, more powerful batteries will be required.

Selecting an installation site

The performance of solar panels largely depends on where they are installed. Therefore, before you make a solar battery with your own hands, you need to decide in advance where it will be located.

At the same time, the following factors should be taken into account:

The degree of shading. If there are buildings, thickets of trees and other dimensional objects around the panel that create a shadow, it will not be able to function normally and generate enough electricity. In addition, the panel can become unusable very quickly, not justifying the cost of its manufacture.
Orientation of panels relative to the sun. The luminous flux created by the sun's rays should capture the surface of the photocells as much as possible. Residents of the northern hemisphere direct the panel with the main side to the south, and in the southern hemisphere, the orientation is strictly to the north.
Tilt angle. Also selected based on position and local coordinates, and set according to latitude. To calculate the angle of installation of the panel on the Internet, there are online calculators that give the most suitable degree.
Availability of free access for cleaning, repair and maintenance. During operation, the front surface of the panel is gradually covered with dust, dirt, and in winter - with snow. As a result, its effectiveness is markedly reduced. In some cases, a complete replacement of solar panels is required. Since cleaning will be performed independently, it is advisable to install the battery in a convenient and accessible place.

Preparation of materials and tools

Before you start making solar panels with your own hands, you need to prepare all the required material resources and tools:

Plates of photocells.
Schottky diodes for shunting photovoltaic cells.
Special busbars or stranded copper wire for connecting modules to each other.
Good quality anti-reflective glass or plexiglass. Any obstacles in the path of sunlight lead to an increase in energy losses. Refraction of light should be minimal.
All materials needed for soldering.
Plywood, slats or aluminum corners for frame assembly.
Silicone sealant.
Hardware, fasteners.
Protective compound or paint to treat wood surfaces.
Common tools - screwdrivers, paint brushes, glass cutter, soldering iron, hacksaws for wood and metal and other devices for a specific situation.

The very first solar battery assembled with your own hands from improvised materials should be made from plates to which the leads are already soldered. This reduces the risk of damage during assembly. If there is, then it will be cheaper to buy ordinary photocells and solder the wires to them yourself. According to the results of calculations, it is known in advance which plates will be connected in series and which in parallel. It is best to draw up a preliminary wiring diagram or layout and do the installation on it.

The dimensions of the frame are determined in accordance with the dimensions of the cells. A thermal gap of 3-5 mm is left between each element, and the frame itself should not overlap the edges of the elements.

How to assemble a solar battery with your own hands

Assembling the solar panel housing

The assembly of solar panels, namely, the housing can be performed in different versions. In the first case, it can be made from plywood sheets and wooden slats, so this installation is not particularly difficult. The structures are cut to size, and then interconnected with self-tapping screws. All joints and seams are pre-coated with sealant. All wooden parts are covered with paint or special protective compounds. Further work is carried out only after the structure has completely dried.

It is a little more difficult to make a solar panel from an aluminum corner. In this case, the assembly of the frame occurs in the following order:

Assembly from a corner of a rectangular frame.
Mounting holes are drilled in each corner of the structure.
The inner part of the profile along the entire perimeter is covered with silicone sealant.
Inside the frame, textolite or plexiglass, cut to size, is placed on the treated places. They need to be pressed as tightly as possible to the corners.
Inside the case, a sheet of transparent material is fixed with mounting brackets installed at the corners.
Further work is carried out after the sealant has completely dried. Previously, all internal surfaces are wiped from dust and dirt.

Soldering wires and connecting photocells

All elements for solar panels are characterized by increased fragility and require careful handling. Before soldering, they are wiped so that the surface is perfectly clean. Elements with soldered conductors should still be checked and corrected.

Each photographic plate has contacts with different polarity. First, the conductors are soldered to them, and only then they are connected to each other.

When using tires instead of wires, the following features must be considered:

Tires are marked and cut into the required number of strips.
The contacts of the plates are wiped with alcohol, after which a thin layer of flux is applied to them, on one side.
The tire is applied along the entire length of the contact, after which it must be carried out with a heated soldering iron.
The plate is turned over and the same operation is repeated on the other side.

The soldering iron during installation can not be strongly pressed against the plate, otherwise it may burst. On the front side after soldering, there should be no irregularities. If they remain, you need to go through the seam again with a soldering iron.

In order not to be mistaken with the placement of the plates, before assembling them, it is recommended to mark the surface of the sheet, taking into account all sizes and gaps. After that, the photocells fit into place. Then the contacts of the panels are interconnected with the obligatory observance of polarity.

Applying a sealing layer

Before you seal the structure yourself, you need to test and check the solar panels for performance. It is taken out in the sun, after which the voltage is measured at the bus terminals. If it is within the normal range, you can start applying the sealant.

One of the most suitable options involves the following steps:

Silicone sealant is applied to homemade solar panels with droplets along the edges of the case and between the plates. After that, the edges of the photocells are gently pressed against the transparent base and should adhere to it as tightly as possible.
A small load is placed on each edge of the plates, after which the sealant dries completely, and the photocells are securely fixed.
At the very end, the edges of the frame and all joints between the plates are carefully smeared. At this stage, everything is covered with sealant, except for the plates themselves, it should not get on their reverse side.

Final solar panel assembly

After all the operations, it remains only to fully assemble the solar panel at home.

In this case, the procedure will be as follows:

A connector is installed in the side of the case, to which Schottky diodes are connected.
On the front side, the entire assembly of solar battery plates is closed with a transparent protective screen and sealed to prevent moisture from entering the structure.
To process the front side, it is recommended to use a special varnish, for example, PLASTIK-71.
After assembly, a final check is performed, after which the do-it-yourself solar battery can be installed in its place.

One way to cut down on utility bills is to use solar panels. Such a battery can be made and installed with your own hands.

What is a solar panel and what is it used for?

A solar battery is a device whose principle of operation is based on the ability of photovoltaic cells to convert solar energy into electricity. These converters are interconnected in a common system. The resulting electric current is stored in special devices - batteries.

The larger the panel area, the more electrical energy can be obtained

The power of the solar battery depends on the size of the field of photocells. But this does not mean that only large areas are able to reproduce the required amount of electricity. For example, well-known calculators can use portable solar panels that are built into their case.

Advantages and disadvantages

The benefits of a solar panel include:

ease of installation and maintenance;
no harm to the environment;
small mass of panels;
silent operation;
supplies of electric energy independent of the distribution network;
immobility of structural elements;
small cash costs for production;
long service life.

The disadvantages of solar panels include:

the complexity of the manufacturing process;
uselessness in the dark;
the need for a large area for installation;
susceptibility to pollution.

Although the manufacture of a solar panel is a laborious process, it can be assembled by hand.

Tools and materials

If it is not possible to purchase a ready-made solar battery for the home, you can make it yourself.

To make a solar battery you will need:

photocells (to create a solar panel);
a set of special conductors (for connecting photocells);
aluminum corners (for the body);
Schottke diodes;
fastening hardware;
screws for fasteners;
polycarbonate sheet (transparent);
silicone sealant;
soldering iron.

Choice of photocells

Today, manufacturers offer consumers a choice of two types of devices. Solar cells made of single-crystal silicon have an efficiency of up to 13%. They are less efficient in cloudy weather. Polycrystalline silicon photocells have an efficiency of up to 9%, but they are able to work not only on sunny, but also on cloudy days.

To provide a summer house or a small private house with electricity, it is enough to use polycrystals.

Important information: It is advisable to purchase solar cells from the same manufacturer, as cells of different brands can have significant differences, which affects the efficiency of work and the assembly process, and also leads to higher energy costs during operation.

When choosing photocells, pay attention to the following:

the larger the cell, the more energy it produces;
elements of the same type create the same voltage (this indicator does not depend on the size).

To determine the power of a solar battery, it is enough to multiply the generated current by the voltage.

It is quite simple to distinguish polycrystalline solar cells from monocrystalline ones. The first type is distinguished by a bright blue color and a square shape. Monocrystalline solar cells are darker, they are cut off at the edges.

Poly- and monocrystalline panels are easy to distinguish even at first glance

You should not give preference to products with a reduced price, as they may refuse rejection - these are parts that have not passed the test at the factory. It is better to use the services of trusted suppliers who, although they offer goods at a high price, are responsible for their quality. If there is no experience in assembling solar cells, it is recommended to purchase several test samples to practice, and only then buy products for the manufacture of the battery itself.

Some manufacturers seal the photocells in wax to prevent damage during shipping. However, it is quite difficult to get rid of it due to the high risk of damage to the plates, so it is recommended to buy photovoltaic cells without wax.

Manufacturing instructions

The process of manufacturing a solar battery consists of several stages:

Preparation of photocells and soldering of conductors.
Corpus creation.
Assembly of elements and sealing.

Preparing photocells and soldering conductors

A set of photocells is assembled on the table. Let's say the manufacturer indicates a power of 4 W and a voltage of 0.5 volts. In this case, you need to use 36 photovoltaic cells to create an 18 watt solar panel.

With the help of a soldering iron, the power of which is 25 W, contours are applied, forming soldered tin wires.

The quality of soldering is the main requirement for the efficient operation of a solar battery.

Important information: It is advisable to carry out the soldering process on a flat, hard surface.

Then all cells are interconnected in accordance with the electrical circuit. When connecting a solar panel, you can use one of two methods: parallel or serial connection. In the first case, the positive terminals are connected to the positive, negative to negative. Then the terminals with different charges are connected to the battery. Serial connection involves the connection of opposite charges by alternately fastening the cells together. After that, the remaining ends are led to the battery.

Important information: Regardless of which type of connection you choose, you must provide shunt diodes that are installed on the plus terminal. Schorke diodes are ideal. They prevent the device from discharging at night.

When the soldering is complete, you need to take the cells to the sun to check their performance. If the functionality is normal, you can start assembling the case.

The device is tested on the sunny side

How to assemble the body

Prepare aluminum corners with low sides.
Holes are pre-drilled for hardware.
Then silicone sealant is applied to the inside of the aluminum corner (it is desirable to make two layers). The tightness, as well as the service life of the solar battery, depends on how well it is applied. It is important to pay attention to the absence of unfilled places.
After that, a transparent sheet of polycarbonate is placed in the frame and tightly fixed.
When the sealant dries, hardware with screws is attached, which will provide a more reliable fastening.

Given the fragility of the structure, it is recommended to first create a frame, and then only install photocells

Important information: In addition to polycarbonate, plexiglass or anti-reflective glass can be used.

Assembly of elements and sealing

Clean the transparent material from contamination.
Place the photocells on the inside of the polycarbonate sheet at a distance of 5 mm between the cells. In order not to be mistaken, first make the markup.
Apply mounting silicone to each photocell.

To extend the life of the solar battery, it is recommended to apply mounting silicone to its elements and close it with the back panel

After that, the back panel is attached. After the silicone hardens, the entire structure must be sealed.

Sealing the structure will ensure a snug fit of the panels to each other

Video: Making a solar battery with your own hands at home

Installation rules

To be able to use the solar battery to the maximum, it is recommended to follow certain rules when installing the device:

You need to choose the right place. If you place the solar panel where there is always a shadow, the device will be ineffective. Based on this, it is not recommended to install the device near trees, it is advisable to choose an open place. Many people install solar panels on the roof of the house.
When installing, you must point the device towards the sun. It is necessary to achieve the maximum hit of its rays on the photocells. For example, being in the north, you should orient the front side of the solar battery to the south.
An important role is played by the determination of the slope of the device. It also depends on the geographical location. It is believed that the slope angle should be the latitude in which the battery is installed. When placed in the equator zone, you will have to adjust the angle of inclination according to the time of year. The correction will be 12 degrees, taking into account the increase and decrease in summer and winter, respectively.
It is recommended to install a solar panel in an accessible place. As the device is used, the front side accumulates dirt, and in winter it is covered with snow, and as a result, energy production is reduced. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically clean the battery, removing plaque from its front panel.

Making a device from improvised means

To date, craftsmen have developed ways to create solar panels from improvised materials, but is such savings justified?

Using old transistors

For the manufacture of a solar battery, you can use old transistors. To do this, cut off their covers, fixing the devices in a vice by the rim. Then the voltage is measured under the influence of light. It is necessary to determine it on all instrument outputs in order to detect maximum values. The voltage depends on the power of the transistor, as well as on the dimensions of the crystal.

You need to carefully cut off the transistor cover, otherwise you can damage the thin wires that are connected to the semiconductor crystal

After that, you can begin to manufacture a solar battery. Using five transistors and connecting them in series, you can get a device sufficient to power the power calculator. The frame is assembled from sheet plastic. It is necessary to drill holes in it that are needed to output the transistor. A calculator based on such a solar battery works stably, but it needs to be no further than 30 cm from the light source. For better results, it is advisable to use a second chain of transistors.

Application of diodes

To collect a solar battery, you will need a lot of diodes. In addition, a substrate board is used. A soldering iron is used in the manufacturing process.

First you need to open the inner crystal so that the rays of the sun fall on it. To do this, the top of the diode is cut off and removed. The lower part, where the crystal is located, must be heated over a gas stove for about 20 seconds. When the solder of the crystal melts, it can be easily removed with tweezers. A similar manipulation is carried out with each diode. Then the crystals are soldered to the board.

Elements of a solar battery made of diodes are interconnected using thin copper wires.

To obtain 2–4 V, 5 blocks are sufficient, consisting of five crystals soldered in series. Blocks are placed parallel to each other.

Device made of copper sheets

To make a solar panel from copper sheets, you will need:

the copper sheets themselves;
two crocodile clips;
high sensitivity microammeter;
electric stove (at least 1000 W);
plastic bottle with cut off top;
two tablespoons of table salt;
water;
sandpaper;
sheet metal shears.

Procedure:

First, cut off a piece of copper that is the same size as the heating element on the stove. Clean the surface of the sheet from grease and clean it with sandpaper, then place it on the stove and heat it at maximum temperature.
During the formation of the oxide, multi-colored patterns can be seen. It is necessary to wait for the black color, and then leave the copper sheet to heat up for about half an hour. After this period of time, the stove switches off. The sheet remains on it for slow cooling.
When the black oxide disappears, it is necessary to rinse the copper under running water.
Then cut a piece of the same size from the whole sheet. Place both parts in a plastic bottle. It is important that they do not touch each other.
Attach the copper plates to the walls of the bottle with clamps. Connect the wire from a blank sheet to the positive terminal of the measuring device, and from copper with oxide to the negative terminal.
Dissolve the salt in a small amount of water. Pour the salt water into the bottle carefully, being careful not to wet the contacts. There should be enough solution so that it does not completely cover the plates. The solar battery is ready, you can conduct experiments.

When placing the copper plates in the container, you need to carefully bend them so that they fit, but do not break.

Is there a benefit?

The efficiency of a device made of transistors is very low. The reason for this is the large area of the device itself and the small size of the solar cell (semiconductor). Thus, the transistor-based solar battery has not gained popularity, such devices are only suitable for entertainment.

Diodes tend to consume current and glow spontaneously. Therefore, when they are used to make a solar battery, some of the diodes will generate electricity, while the rest of the devices, on the contrary, will consume it. From this we can conclude that the efficiency of such a device is low.

To light a light bulb from a solar panel based on copper sheets, you will need to use a large amount of material. For example, to operate a 1000 W stove, 1,600,000 m² of copper is needed. To equip such a device on the roof of the house, it will be required that its area is 282 m². And all efforts would go to ensuring the operation of one furnace. In practice, it makes no sense to use such a solar battery.

Despite the relative high cost, solar panels pay off pretty quickly. Try this eco-friendly way to generate energy by building your own solar panel.

Organic living, such a popular idea in recent years, involves a harmonious "relationship" of man with the environment. The stumbling block of any ecological approach is the use of minerals for energy.

Emissions of toxic substances and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, released during the combustion of fossil fuels, are gradually killing the planet. Therefore, the concept of "green energy", which does not harm the environment, is the basic basis for many new energy technologies. One of such areas for obtaining environmentally friendly energy is the technology of converting sunlight into electric current. Yes, that's right, we will talk about solar panels and the possibility of installing autonomous power supply systems in a country house.

At the moment, industrial power plants based on solar panels, used for full energy and heat supply of a cottage, cost at least 15-20 thousand dollars with a guaranteed service life of about 25 years. The cost of any helium system in terms of the ratio of the guaranteed service life to the average annual cost of maintaining a country house is quite high: firstly, today the average cost of solar energy is commensurate with the purchase of energy resources from central energy networks, and secondly, one-time capital investments are required to install the system .

It is usually customary to separate solar systems designed for heat and power supply. In the first case, solar collector technology is used, in the second, the photovoltaic effect is used to generate electric current in solar panels. We want to talk about the possibility of self-manufacturing solar panels.

The technology of manual assembly of a solar energy system is quite simple and affordable. Almost every Russian can assemble individual energy systems with high efficiency at relatively low cost. It is profitable, affordable and even fashionable.

Choosing solar cells for solar panel

When starting to manufacture a solar system, you need to pay attention that with individual assembly there is no need for a one-time installation of a fully functional system, it can be built up gradually. If the first experience turned out to be successful, then it makes sense to expand the functionality of the solar system.

At its core, a solar battery is a generator that works on the basis of the photovoltaic effect and converts solar energy into electrical energy. Light quanta hitting a silicon wafer knock an electron out of the silicon's last atomic orbit. This effect creates a sufficient number of free electrons that form a flow of electric current.

Before assembling the battery, you need to decide on the type of photoelectric converter, namely: single-crystal, polycrystalline and amorphous. For self-assembly of a solar battery, commercially available monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar modules are selected.

Top: Monocrystalline modules without soldered contacts. Bottom: Polycrystalline modules with soldered contacts

Panels based on polycrystalline silicon have a rather low efficiency (7-9%), but this disadvantage is offset by the fact that polycrystalline silicon practically does not reduce power in cloudy and cloudy weather, the warranty life of such elements is about 10 years. Panels based on monocrystalline silicon have an efficiency of about 13% with a service life of about 25 years, but these elements greatly reduce power in the absence of direct sunlight. The efficiency of silicon crystals from different manufacturers can vary significantly. According to the practice of solar power plants in the field, we can talk about the service life of single-crystal modules for more than 30 years, and for polycrystalline modules - more than 20 years. Moreover, over the entire period of operation, the power loss in silicon mono- and polycrystalline cells is no more than 10%, while in thin-film amorphous batteries, the power decreases by 10-40% in the first two years.

Solar cells Evergreen Solar Cells with contacts in a set of 300 pcs.

On the eBay auction, you can purchase a Solar Cells kit for assembling a solar array of 36 and 72 solar cells. Such sets are available for sale in Russia. As a rule, for self-assembly of solar panels, B-type solar modules are used, that is, modules rejected in industrial production. These modules do not lose their performance and are much cheaper. Some suppliers offer solar modules on a fiberglass board, which implies a high level of tightness of the elements, and, accordingly, reliability.

Name	Characteristics	Cost, $
Everbright Solar Cells (EBay) without contacts	polycrystalline, set - 36 pcs., 81x150 mm, 1.75 W (0.5 V), 3A, efficiency (%) - 13 in a set with diodes and soldering acid in a pencil	$46.00 $8.95shipping
Solar Cells (US new)	monocrystalline, 156x156 mm, 81x150 mm, 4W (0.5 V), 8A, efficiency (%) - 16.7-17.9	$7.50
	monocrystalline, 153x138 mm, U cold stroke - 21.6V, I short. deputy - 94 mA, P - 1.53W, efficiency (%) - 13	$15.50
Solar Cells on fiberglass board	polycrystalline, 116x116 mm, U cold stroke - 7.2V, I short. deputy - 275 mA., P - 1.5W, efficiency (%) - 10	$14.50
		$87.12 $9.25 shipping
Solar Cells (EBay) without contacts	polycrystalline, set - 72 pcs., 81x150 mm 1.8W	$56.11 $9.25 shipping
Solar Cells (EBay) with contacts	monocrystalline, set - 40 pcs., 152x152 mm	$87.25 $14.99 shipping

Development of a project for a helium energy system

The design of a future solar system largely depends on the method of its installation and installation. Solar panels should be installed at an angle to ensure direct sunlight hits at right angles. The performance of a solar panel largely depends on the intensity of light energy, as well as the angle of incidence of the sun's rays. The placement of the solar battery relative to the sun and the angle of inclination depends on the geographic location of the helium system and the time of year.

From top to bottom: Monocrystalline solar panels (80 watts each) in the country house are installed almost vertically (winter). Monocrystalline solar panels in the country have a smaller angle (spring) Mechanical system for controlling the angle of the solar battery.

Industrial solar systems are often equipped with sensors that ensure the rotational movement of the solar panel in the direction of the movement of the sun's rays, as well as mirrors concentrating sunlight. In individual systems, such elements significantly complicate and increase the cost of the system, and therefore are not used. The simplest mechanical tilt angle control system can be used. In winter, solar panels should be installed almost vertically, this also protects the panel from snow and icing on the structure.

Scheme for calculating the angle of inclination of the solar panel depending on the time of year

Solar panels are installed on the sunny side of the building to provide the maximum amount of solar energy available during daylight hours. Depending on the geographic location and the level of the solstice, the angle of the battery is calculated, which is most suitable for your location.

With the complexity of the design, it is possible to create a system for controlling the angle of inclination of the solar battery depending on the season and the angle of rotation of the panel depending on the time of day. The energy efficiency of such a system will be higher.

When designing a solar system that will be installed on the roof of a house, it is imperative to find out whether the roof structure can withstand the required mass. Self-development of the project involves the calculation of the roof load, taking into account the weight of the snow cover in winter.

Selecting the optimal static tilt angle for a rooftop solar system of a single crystal type

For the manufacture of solar panels, you can choose different materials according to specific gravity and other characteristics. When choosing construction materials, it is necessary to take into account the maximum allowable heating temperature of the solar cell, since the temperature of the solar module operating at full capacity should not exceed 250C. When the peak temperature is exceeded, the solar module dramatically loses its ability to convert sunlight into electrical current. Ready-made solar systems for individual use, as a rule, do not require cooling of solar cells. Do-it-yourself manufacturing may involve cooling the solar system or controlling the angle of the solar panel to ensure the module's functional temperature, as well as the selection of an appropriate transparent material that absorbs IR radiation.

Competent design of the solar system allows you to provide the required power of the solar battery, which will be close to the nominal. When calculating the structure, it must be taken into account that elements of the same type give the same stress, regardless of the size of the elements. Moreover, the current strength of large-sized cells will be greater, but the battery will also be much heavier. For the manufacture of a solar system, solar modules of the same size are always taken, since the maximum current will be limited by the maximum current of the small element.

Calculations show that on average, on a clear sunny day, no more than 120 W of power can be obtained from 1 m of a solar panel. Such power will not even ensure the operation of a computer. A 10 m system gives more than 1 kW of energy and can provide electricity to the main household appliances: lamps, TV, computer. For a family of 3-4 people, about 200-300 kW per month is needed, so a solar system installed on the south side with a size of 20 m can fully meet the family's energy needs.

If we consider the average statistical data on the power supply of an individual residential building, then: daily energy consumption is 3 kWh, solar radiation from spring to autumn - 4 kWh / m per day, peak power consumption - 3 kW (when the washing machine, refrigerator, iron and electric kettle are turned on ). In order to optimize energy consumption for lighting inside the home, it is important to use low-energy AC lamps - LED and fluorescent.

Making a solar battery frame

An aluminum corner is used as the frame of the solar battery. On ebay, you can buy ready-made frames for solar panels. The transparent coating is selected as desired, based on the characteristics that are required for this design.

Solar glass frame kit starting at $33

When choosing a transparent protective material, you can also focus on the following characteristics of the material:

Material	Refractive index	Light transmission, %	Specific gravity g / cm 3	Sheet size, mm	Thickness, mm	Cost, rub./m 2
Air	1,0002926	—	—	—	—	—
Glass	1,43-2,17	92-99	3,168	—	—	—
plexiglass	1,51	92-93	1,19	3040x2040	3	960.00
Polycarbonate	1,59	up to 92	0,198	3050 x2050	2	600.00
Plexiglass	1,491	92	1,19	2050x1500	11	640.00
mineral glass	1,52-1,9	98	1,40	—	—	—

If we consider the refractive index of light as a criterion for choosing a material. Plexiglas has the lowest refractive index, domestic plexiglass is a cheaper option for a transparent material, and polycarbonate is less suitable. Polycarbonate with an anti-condensation coating is available for sale, and this material also provides a high level of thermal protection. When choosing transparent materials in terms of specific gravity and ability to absorb the IR spectrum, polycarbonate will be the best. The best transparent materials for solar panels are materials with high light transmission.

When manufacturing a solar cell, it is important to choose transparent materials that do not transmit the IR spectrum and thus reduce the heating of silicon cells that lose their power at temperatures above 250C. In industry, special glasses with an oxide-metal coating are used. The ideal glass for solar panels is considered to be the material that transmits the entire spectrum except for the IR range.

Scheme of absorption of UV and IR radiation by various glasses.
a) normal glass, b) IR glass, c) duplex with heat-absorbing and normal glass.

The maximum absorption of the IR spectrum will provide protective silicate glass with iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3), but it has a greenish tint. The IR spectrum absorbs well any mineral glass, with the exception of quartz, plexiglass and plexiglass belong to the class of organic glasses. Mineral glass is more resistant to surface damage, but is very expensive and unavailable. For solar panels, a special anti-reflective ultra-clear glass is also used, which transmits up to 98% of the spectrum. Also, this glass assumes the absorption of most of the IR spectrum.

The optimal choice of optical and spectral characteristics of the glass significantly increases the photoconversion efficiency of the solar panel.

Solar panel in plexiglass case

Many solar panel workshops recommend using plexiglass for the front and back panels. This allows contact inspection. However, the plexiglass structure can hardly be called completely hermetic, capable of ensuring uninterrupted operation of the panel for 20 years of operation.

Mounting the solar panel housing

The master class shows the manufacture of a solar panel from 36 polycrystalline solar cells measuring 81x150 mm. Based on these dimensions, you can calculate the dimensions of the future solar battery. When calculating the dimensions, it is important to make a small distance between the elements, which will take into account the change in the dimensions of the base under atmospheric influence, that is, there should be 3-5 mm between the elements. The resulting size of the workpiece should be 835x690 mm with a corner width of 35 mm.

	A homemade solar panel made using an aluminum profile is most similar to a factory-made solar panel. This ensures a high degree of tightness and structural strength.
	For manufacturing, an aluminum corner is taken, and frame blanks 835x690 mm are made. In order to be able to fasten the hardware, holes should be made in the frame.
	Silicone sealant is applied twice to the inside of the corner.
	Make sure there are no empty spaces. The tightness and durability of the battery depends on the quality of the sealant application.
	Next, a transparent sheet of the selected material is placed in the frame: polycarbonate, plexiglass, plexiglass, anti-reflective glass. It is important to let the silicone dry in the open air, otherwise the fumes will create a film on the elements.
	Glass must be carefully pressed and fixed.
	For reliable fastening of the protective glass, you will need hardware. It is necessary to fix 4 corners of the frame and place two hardware on the long side of the frame and one hardware on the short side along the perimeter.
	Hardware is fixed with screws.

	The screws are tightened tightly with a screwdriver.
	The frame of the solar battery is ready. Before fixing the solar cells, it is necessary to clean the glass from dust.

Selection and soldering of solar cells

At the moment, the Ebay auction presents a huge range of products for self-manufacturing solar panels.

Solar Cells kit includes a set of 36 polysilicon cells, cell conductors and busbars, Schottke diodes, and a soldering acid stick

Since a do-it-yourself solar battery is almost 4 times cheaper than a finished one, self-manufacturing is a significant cost savings. You can buy defective solar cells on eBay, but they do not lose their functionality, so the cost of a solar panel can be significantly reduced if you can further sacrifice the appearance of the battery.

Damaged photocells do not lose their functionality

At the first experience, it is better to purchase kits for the manufacture of solar panels; solar cells with soldered conductors are commercially available. Soldering contacts is a rather complicated process, the complexity is exacerbated by the fragility of solar cells.

If you purchased silicon cells without conductors, then you must first solder the contacts.

	This is what a polycrystalline silicon element looks like without conductors.
	The conductors are cut using a cardboard blank.
	It is necessary to carefully place the conductor on the photocell.
	Apply soldering acid and solder to the place of soldering. For convenience, the conductor is fixed on one side with a heavy object.
	In this position, carefully solder the conductor to the photocell. During soldering, do not press on the crystal, because it is very fragile.

Soldering elements is quite painstaking work. If you cannot get a normal connection, then you need to repeat the work. According to the standards, the silver coating on the conductor must withstand 3 soldering cycles under permissible thermal conditions; in practice, you encounter the fact that the coating is destroyed. The destruction of silver plating occurs due to the use of soldering irons with unregulated power (65W), this can be avoided by lowering the power as follows - you need to turn on the cartridge with a 100W light bulb in series with the soldering iron. The power rating of a non-adjustable soldering iron is too high for soldering silicon contacts.

Even if the sellers of the conductors claim that there is solder on the connector, it is better to apply it additionally. During soldering, try to handle the elements carefully, with minimal effort they burst; do not stack the elements in a pack, the weight of the lower elements may crack.

Assembly and soldering of the solar battery

When assembling a solar battery for the first time, it is better to use a marking substrate that will help you position the elements evenly at a certain distance from each other (5 mm).

Marking substrate for solar cells

The base is made of plywood with corner markings. After soldering, a piece of mounting tape is attached to each element on the reverse side, it is enough to press the back panel against the adhesive tape, and all elements are transferred.

Mounting tape used for mounting, on the back of the solar cell

With this type of fastening, the elements themselves are not additionally sealed, they can freely expand under the influence of temperature, this will not damage the solar battery and break the contacts and elements. Only the connecting parts of the structure can be sealed. This type of mounting is more suitable for prototypes, but can hardly guarantee long-term operation in the field.

A sequential battery assembly plan looks like this:

	We lay out the elements on the glass surface. There must be a distance between the elements, which implies a free change in size without compromising the structure. Elements need to be pressed with weights.
	We solder according to the wiring diagram below. "Plus" current-carrying tracks are located on the front side of the elements, "minus" - on the reverse side. Before soldering, you need to apply flux and solder, then carefully solder the silver contacts.
	All solar cells are connected according to this principle.
	The contacts of the extreme elements are output to the bus, respectively, to the "plus" and "minus". The bus uses a wider silver conductor, which is available in the Solar Cells kit. We also recommend that you bring out the “middle” point; with its help, two additional shunt diodes are placed.
	The terminal is also installed on the outside of the frame.
	This is how the connection diagram of elements without a derived midpoint looks like.
	This is what the terminal strip looks like with the “middle” point drawn out. The “middle” point allows you to put a shunt diode on each half of the battery, which will prevent the battery from discharging when the lighting decreases or one half is darkened.
	The photo shows a shunt diode on the "positive" output, it resists the discharge of batteries through the battery at night and the discharge of other batteries during partial blackout. More often, Schottke diodes are used as shunt diodes. They give less loss on the total power of the electrical circuit. An acoustic cable in silicone insulation can be used as current-carrying wires. For isolation, you can use tubes from under the dropper. All wires must be firmly fixed with silicone.
	The elements can be connected in series (see photo), and not through a common bus, then the 2nd and 4th row must be rotated 1800 relative to the 1st row.

The main problems of assembling a solar panel are related to the quality of soldering contacts, so experts suggest testing it before sealing the panel.

Panel testing before sealing, mains voltage 14 volts, peak power 65 W

Testing can be done after soldering each group of elements. If you pay attention to the photos in the master class, then the part of the table under the solar elements is cut out. This is done intentionally to determine the performance of the electrical network after soldering the contacts.

Solar Panel Sealing

Sealing solar panels in self-manufacturing is the most controversial issue among experts. On the one hand, sealing the panels is necessary to improve durability, it is always used in industrial production. For sealing, foreign experts recommend using the Sylgard 184 epoxy compound, which gives a transparent, polymerized, highly elastic surface. The cost of "Sylgard 184" on Ebay is about $40.

Sealant with a high degree of elasticity "Sylgard 184"

On the other hand, if you do not want to incur additional costs, it is quite possible to use silicone sealant. However, in this case, it is not necessary to completely fill the elements in order to avoid their possible damage during operation. In this case, the elements can be attached to the back panel with silicone and only the edges of the structure can be sealed. It is difficult to say how effective such sealing is, but we do not recommend using non-recommended waterproofing mastics, the probability of breaking contacts and elements is very high.

	Before starting sealing, it is necessary to prepare a mixture of "Sylgard 184".
	First, the joints of the elements are poured. The mixture should set to secure the elements to the glass.
	After fixing the elements, a continuous polymerizing layer of elastic sealant is made, it can be distributed with a brush.
	This is what the surface looks like after applying the sealant. The sealing layer must dry. After complete drying, you can close the solar panel with the back panel.
	This is what the front side of a homemade solar panel looks like after sealing.

House power supply scheme

Power supply systems for houses using solar panels are commonly called photovoltaic systems, that is, systems that provide energy generation using the photovoltaic effect. Three photovoltaic systems are considered for individual residential buildings: an autonomous power supply system, a hybrid battery-grid photovoltaic system, a batteryless photovoltaic system connected to a central power supply system.

Each of the systems has its own purpose and advantages, but most often in residential buildings, photovoltaic systems are used with backup batteries and connection to a centralized power grid. The power grid is powered by solar panels, in the dark from batteries, and when they are discharged from the central power grid. In hard-to-reach areas where there is no central network, liquid fuel generators are used as a backup source of power supply.

A more economical alternative to a hybrid battery-grid power system would be a batteryless solar system connected to a central power grid. Electricity is supplied from solar panels, and at night the network is powered by the central network. Such a network is more applicable for institutions, because in residential buildings most of the energy is consumed in the evening.

Diagrams of three types of photovoltaic systems

Let's consider a typical installation of a battery-grid photovoltaic system. The solar panels act as a generator of electricity, which are connected through a junction box. Next, a solar charge controller is installed in the network to avoid short circuits at peak load. Electricity is stored in backup batteries, and is also supplied through an inverter to consumers: lighting, household appliances, an electric stove and, possibly, is used to heat water. To install a heating system, it is more efficient to use solar collectors, which belong to alternative solar technology.

Hybrid battery-grid photovoltaic system with alternating current

There are two types of power grids that are used in photovoltaic systems: DC and AC. The use of an alternating current network allows placing electrical consumers at a distance exceeding 10-15 m, as well as providing a conditionally unlimited network load.

For a private residential building, the following components of a photovoltaic system are usually used:

the total power of solar panels should be 1000 W, they will provide the production of about 5 kWh;
batteries with a total capacity of 800 A / h at a voltage of 12 V;
the inverter must have a rated power of 3 kW with a peak load of up to 6 kW, input voltage 24-48 V;
solar discharge controller 40-50 A at 24 V;
uninterruptible power supply to provide a short-term charge with a current of up to 150 A.

Thus, for a photovoltaic power supply system, you will need 15 panels with 36 elements, an assembly example of which is given in the master class. Each panel gives a total power of 65 watts. More powerful will be solar panels on monocrystals. For example, a solar panel of 40 monocrystals has a peak power of 160 W, but such panels are sensitive to overcast and cloudy weather. In this case, solar panels based on polycrystalline modules are optimal for use in the northern part of Russia.

Mankind, in order to care for the environment and save money, began to use alternative energy sources, which, in particular, include solar panels. Buying such a pleasure will be quite expensive, but it is not difficult to make this device with your own hands. Therefore, it does not hurt you to learn how to make a solar battery yourself. This will be discussed in our article.

Solar panels are devices that generate electricity using photovoltaic cells.

Before talking about how to make a solar battery with your own hands, you need to understand the device and the principles of its operation. The solar battery includes photocells connected in series and in parallel, a battery that stores electricity, an inverter that converts direct current into alternating current, and a controller that monitors the charging and discharging of the battery.

As a rule, photocells are made of silicon, but its purification is expensive, so elements such as indium, copper, and selenium have recently begun to be used.

Each photocell is a separate cell that generates electricity. The cells are linked to each other and form a single field, the area of which determines the power of the battery. That is, the more solar cells, the more electricity is generated.

In order to make a solar panel with your own hands at home, you need to understand the essence of such a phenomenon as the photoelectric effect. A photocell is a silicon plate, when light hits it, an electron is knocked out from the last energy level of silicon atoms. The movement of the flow of such electrons generates a direct current, which is subsequently converted into alternating current. This is the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect.

Advantages

Solar panels have the following advantages:

harmlessness to the environment;
durability;
silent operation;
ease of manufacture and installation;
independence of electricity supply from the distribution network;
immobility of parts of the device;
insignificant financial costs;
light weight;
operation without mechanical transducers.

Varieties

Solar panels are divided into the following types.

Silicon

Silicon is the most popular battery material.

Silicon batteries are also divided into:

Monocrystalline: These batteries use very pure silicon.
Polycrystalline (cheaper than monocrystalline): Polycrystals are obtained by gradual cooling of silicon.

Film

Such batteries are divided into the following types:

Based on cadmium telluride (efficiency 10%): cadmium has a high light absorption coefficient, which makes it possible to use it in the production of batteries.
Based on copper selenide - indium: the efficiency is higher than that of the previous ones.
Polymer.

Solar batteries from polymers have begun to be manufactured relatively recently, usually furellenes, polyphenylene, etc. are used for this. Polymer films are very thin, about 100 nm. Despite the efficiency of 5%, polymer batteries have their advantages: cheap material, environmental friendliness, elasticity.

amorphous

The efficiency of amorphous batteries is 5%. Such panels are made of silane (silicon hydrogen) on the principle of film batteries, so they can be attributed to both silicon and film batteries. Amorphous batteries are elastic, generate electricity even in bad weather, absorb light better than other panels.

materials

To make a solar battery, you will need the following materials:

photocells;
aluminum corners;
Schottky diodes;
silicone sealants;
conductors;
fixing screws and hardware;
polycarbonate sheet/plexiglass;
soldering equipment.

These materials are required in order to make a solar battery with your own hands.

Choice of photocells

To make a solar battery for your home with your own hands, you should choose the right solar cells. The latter are subdivided into monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous.

The efficiency of the first is 13%, but such photocells are ineffective in bad weather, outwardly they are bright blue squares. Polycrystalline solar cells are capable of generating electricity even in bad weather, although their efficiency is only 9%, they are darker in appearance than monocrystalline ones and cut off at the edges. Amorphous photocells are made of flexible silicon, their efficiency is 10%, their performance does not depend on weather conditions, but the production of such cells is too expensive, so they are rarely used.

If you plan to use the electricity generated by photovoltaic cells in the country, then we advise you to assemble a solar battery with your own hands from polycrystalline cells, since their efficiency is sufficient for your purposes.

You should buy photocells of the same brand, since photocells of several brands can vary greatly - this can cause problems with battery assembly and its functioning. It should be remembered that the amount of energy produced by a cell is directly proportional to its size, that is, the larger the photocell, the more electricity it produces; cell voltage depends on its type, and not on size.

The amount of current produced is determined by the dimensions of the smallest photocell, so you should buy photocells of the same size. Of course, you should not buy cheap products, because this means that they have not passed the test. Also, you should not buy photocells coated with wax (many manufacturers cover photocells with wax to preserve products during transportation): removing it can damage the photocell.

Calculations and project

Building a solar panel with your own hands is a simple task, the main thing is to approach its implementation responsibly. To make a solar panel with your own hands, you should calculate the daily electricity consumption, then find out the average daily solar time in your area and calculate the required power. Thus, it will become clear how many cells and what size you need to purchase. After all, as mentioned above, the current generated by the cell depends on its dimensions.

Knowing the required size of the cells and their number, it is necessary to calculate the dimensions and weight of the panel, after which it is necessary to find out whether the roof or other place where the solar battery is planned to be installed will withstand the intended design.

When installing the panel, you should not only choose the sunniest place, but also try to fix it at a right angle to the sun's rays.

Stages of work

Frame

Before you start making a solar panel with your own hands, you need to build a frame for it. It protects the battery from damage, moisture and dust.

The body is assembled from a moisture-resistant material: plywood coated with a moisture-repellent agent, or aluminum corners, to which plexiglass or polycarbonate is glued with silicone sealant.

In this case, it is necessary to observe the indents between the elements (3-4 mm), since it is necessary to take into account the expansion of the material with increasing temperature.

Soldering elements

The photocells are laid out on the front side of the transparent surface, so that the distance between them on all sides is 5 mm: in this way, the possible expansion of the photocells with increasing temperature is taken into account.

Converters having two poles are fixed: positive and negative. If you want to increase the voltage, connect the elements in series, if the current - in parallel.

To avoid discharging the battery at night, a Schottky diode is included in a single circuit consisting of all the necessary parts, connecting it to the positive conductor. Then all the elements are soldered together.

Assembly

Soldered transducers are placed in the finished frame, silicone is applied to the photocells - all this is covered with a layer of fiberboard, closed with a lid, and the joints of the parts are treated with sealant.

Even a city dweller can make and place a solar battery on the balcony with their own hands. It is desirable that the balcony be glazed and insulated.
So we figured out how to make a solar battery at home, it turned out that it was not difficult at all.

Ideas from improvised materials

You can make a solar battery with your own hands from improvised materials. Consider the most popular options.

Many will be surprised to learn that foil can be used to make a solar battery with your own hands. In fact, this is not surprising, because the foil increases the reflectivity of materials. For example, to reduce overheating of the panels, they are placed on foil.

How to make a foil solar panel?

We will need:

2 "crocodiles";
copper foil;
multimeter;
salt;
empty plastic bottle without a neck;
electric oven;
drill.

After cleaning the copper sheet and washing our hands, we cut off a piece of foil, put it on a hot electric stove, heat it for half an hour, observing blackening, then remove the foil from the stove, let it cool and see how the pieces peel off from the sheet. After heating, the oxide film disappears, so the black oxide can be gently removed with water.

Then a second piece of foil is cut out the same size as the first, the two parts are bent, lowered into the bottle so that they do not have the opportunity to touch.

Foil can also be used for heating. To do this, it must be pulled onto the frame, to which you then need to connect hoses connected, for example, to a watering can.

So we learned how to make a solar panel for the home from foil.

Many houses have old transistors lying around, but not everyone knows that they are quite suitable for making a solar battery for a summer cottage with their own hands. In this case, the photocell is a semiconductor wafer located inside the transistor. How to make a solar battery from transistors with your own hands? First you need to open the transistor, for which it is enough to cut off the cover, so we can see the plate: it is small in size, which explains the low efficiency of solar panels from transistors.

Next, you need to check the transistor. To do this, we use a multimeter: we connect the device to a transistor with a well-lit p-n junction and measure the current, the multimeter should record the current from a few fractions of a milliamp to 1 or a little more; then we switch the device to the voltage measurement mode, the multimeter should give out tenths of a volt.

We place the tested transistors inside the case, for example, sheet plastic and solder it. You can make such a solar battery with your own hands at home and use it to charge batteries and low power radios.

Old diodes are also suitable for assembling batteries. Making a solar battery with your own hands from diodes is not difficult at all. It is necessary to open the diode, exposing the crystal, which is a photocell, then heat the diode for 20 seconds on a gas stove, and when the solder melts, remove the crystal. It remains to solder the pulled out crystals to the case.

The power of such batteries is small, but it is enough to power small LEDs.

This option of making a solar battery with your own hands from improvised means will seem very strange to most, but making a solar battery with your own hands from beer cans is simple and cheap.

We will make the case from plywood, on which we will place polycarbonate or plexiglass, on the back surface of the plywood we will fix foam or glass wool for insulation. Aluminum cans will serve as photocells. It is important to choose exactly aluminum cans, since aluminum is less susceptible to corrosion than, for example, iron and has better heat transfer.

Further, holes are made in the bottom of the cans, the lid is cut off, and unnecessary elements are bent to ensure better air circulation. Then it is necessary to clean the jars of grease and dirt with the help of special products that do not contain acids. Next, you need to hermetically fasten the cans together: with silicone gel that can withstand high temperatures, or with a soldering iron. Be sure to dry the glued cans very well in a stationary position.

Having attached the cans to the body, we paint them black and close the structure with plexiglass or polycarbonate. Such a battery is capable of heating water or air with subsequent supply to the room.

We looked at options for how to make a solar panel with your own hands. We hope that now you will not have a question about how to make a solar battery.

Video

How to make solar panels with your own hands - video tutorial.

Mankind, in order to care for the environment and save money, began to use alternative energy sources, which, in particular, include solar panels.

Buying such a pleasure will be quite expensive, but it is not difficult to make this device with your own hands. Therefore, it does not hurt you to learn how to make a solar battery yourself.

This will be discussed in our article.

Solar panels are devices that generate electricity using photovoltaic cells.

As a rule, photocells are made of silicon, but its purification is expensive, so elements such as indium, copper, and selenium have recently begun to be used.

In order to make a solar panel with your own hands at home, you need to understand the essence of such a phenomenon as the photoelectric effect.

A photocell is a silicon plate, when light hits it, an electron is knocked out from the last energy level of silicon atoms.

The movement of the flow of such electrons generates a direct current, which is subsequently converted into alternating current. This is the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect.

Advantages

Solar panels have the following advantages:

harmlessness to the environment;
durability;
silent operation;
ease of manufacture and installation;
independence of electricity supply from the distribution network;
immobility of parts of the device;
insignificant financial costs;
light weight;
operation without mechanical transducers.

Varieties

Solar panels are divided into the following types.

Silicon

Silicon is the most popular battery material.

Silicon batteries are also divided into:

Monocrystalline: These batteries use very pure silicon.
Polycrystalline (cheaper than monocrystalline): Polycrystals are obtained by gradual cooling of silicon.

Film

Such batteries are divided into the following types:

Based on cadmium telluride (efficiency 10%): cadmium has a high light absorption coefficient, which makes it possible to use it in the production of batteries.
Based on copper selenide - indium: the efficiency is higher than that of the previous ones.
Polymer.

amorphous

materials

To make a solar battery, you will need the following materials:

photocells;
aluminum corners;
Schottky diodes;
silicone sealants;
conductors;
fixing screws and hardware;
polycarbonate sheet/plexiglass;
soldering equipment.

These materials are required in order to make a solar battery with your own hands.

Choice of photocells

To make a solar battery for your home with your own hands, you should choose the right solar cells. The latter are subdivided into monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous.

The efficiency of the first is 13%, but such photocells are ineffective in bad weather, outwardly they are bright blue squares.

Polycrystalline solar cells are capable of generating electricity even in bad weather, although their efficiency is only 9%, they are darker in appearance than monocrystalline ones and cut off at the edges.

Amorphous photocells are made of flexible silicon, their efficiency is 10%, their performance does not depend on weather conditions, but the production of such cells is too expensive, so they are rarely used.

You should buy photocells of the same brand, since photocells of several brands can differ greatly - this can cause problems with battery assembly and its functioning.

It should be remembered that the amount of energy produced by a cell is directly proportional to its size, that is, the larger the photocell, the more electricity it produces; cell voltage depends on its type, and not on size.

The amount of current produced is determined by the dimensions of the smallest photocell, so you should buy photocells of the same size.

Of course, you should not buy cheap products, because this means that they have not passed the test.

Also, you should not buy photocells coated with wax (many manufacturers cover photocells with wax to preserve products during transportation): removing it can damage the photocell.

Calculations and project

Building a solar panel with your own hands is a simple task, the main thing is to approach its implementation responsibly.

To make a solar panel with your own hands, you should calculate the daily electricity consumption, then find out the average daily solar time in your area and calculate the required power.

Thus, it will become clear how many cells and what size you need to purchase. After all, as mentioned above, the current generated by the cell depends on its dimensions.

Knowing the required size of the cells and their number, it is necessary to calculate the dimensions and weight of the panel, after which it is necessary to find out whether the roof or other place where the solar battery is planned to be installed will withstand the intended design.

When installing the panel, you should not only choose the sunniest place, but also try to fix it at a right angle to the sun's rays.

Stages of work:

Frame

Before you start making a solar panel with your own hands, you need to build a frame for it. It protects the battery from damage, moisture and dust.

The body is assembled from a moisture-resistant material: plywood coated with a moisture-repellent agent, or aluminum corners, to which plexiglass or polycarbonate is glued with silicone sealant.

In this case, it is necessary to observe the indents between the elements (3-4 mm), since it is necessary to take into account the expansion of the material with increasing temperature.

Soldering elements

Converters having two poles are fixed: positive and negative. If you want to increase the voltage, connect the elements in series, if the current - in parallel.

Assembly

Even a city dweller can make and place a solar battery on the balcony with their own hands. It is desirable that the balcony be glazed and insulated.

So we figured out how to make a solar battery at home, it turned out that it was not difficult at all.

Ideas from improvised materials

You can make a solar battery with your own hands from improvised materials. Consider the most popular options.

foil solar cell

How to make a foil solar panel?

We will need:

2 "crocodiles";
copper foil;
multimeter;
salt;
empty plastic bottle without a neck;
electric oven;
drill.

Then a second piece of foil is cut out the same size as the first, the two parts are bent, lowered into the bottle so that they do not have the opportunity to touch.

Foil can also be used for heating. To do this, it must be pulled onto the frame, to which you then need to connect hoses connected, for example, to a watering can.

So we learned how to make a solar panel for the home from foil.

Solar battery from transistors

How to make a solar battery from transistors with your own hands? First you need to open the transistor, for which it is enough to cut off the cover, so we can see the plate: it is small in size, which explains the low efficiency of solar panels from transistors.

Diode solar cell

The power of such batteries is small, but it is enough to power small LEDs.

Solar battery from beer cans

This option of making a solar battery with your own hands from improvised means will seem very strange to most, but making a solar battery with your own hands from beer cans is simple and cheap.

Then it is necessary to clean the jars of grease and dirt with the help of special products that do not contain acids. Next, you need to hermetically fasten the cans together: with silicone gel that can withstand high temperatures, or with a soldering iron.

Be sure to dry the glued cans very well in a stationary position.

We looked at options for how to make a solar panel with your own hands. We hope that now you will not have a question about how to make a solar battery.

Solar battery from improvised means

In our 21st century, things are constantly changing. They are especially sharply seen in the technological aspect. Cheaper sources of energy are being invented, various devices are spreading everywhere, which should make life easier for people.

Today we will talk about such a thing as a solar battery - a device that is not a breakthrough, but, nevertheless, which every year more and more enters people's lives. We will talk about what this device is, what advantages and disadvantages it has.

We will also pay attention to how the solar battery is assembled with our own hands.

Solar battery: what is it and how does it work?

A solar battery is a device that consists of a certain set of solar cells (photocells) that convert solar energy into electricity. The panels of most solar cells are made of silicon, as this material has a good efficiency in "processing" the incoming sunlight.

Solar panels work like this:

Photovoltaic silicon cells, which are packed in a common frame (framework), receive sunlight. They heat up and partially absorb the incoming energy.

This energy immediately releases electrons inside silicon, which through specialized channels enter a special capacitor, in which electricity is accumulated and processed from DC to AC goes to devices in an apartment / residential building.

Advantages and disadvantages of this type of energy

Among the advantages are the following:

Our Sun is an environmentally friendly source of energy that does not contribute to environmental pollution. Solar batteries do not emit various harmful wastes into the environment.

Solar energy is inexhaustible (naturally, while the Sun is alive, but this is still billions of years ahead). It follows from this that solar energy would definitely be enough for you for a lifetime.

After you carry out a competent installation of solar panels in the future, you will not need to service them often. All you need to do is to carry out a preventive examination once or twice a year.

Impressive lifetime of solar panels. This period starts at 25 years of age. It is also worth noting that even after this time they will not lose in performance.

The installation of solar panels can be subsidized by the state. For example, this is actively happening in Australia, France, Israel. In France, 60% of the cost of solar panels is returned at all.

Among the shortcomings, the following can be distinguished:

So far, solar panels cannot compete, for example, if you need to generate a large amount of electricity. This is more successful in the oil and nuclear industries.

Electricity production is directly dependent on weather conditions. Naturally, when it's sunny outside, your solar panels will work at 100% power. When there is a cloudy day, this figure will drop significantly.

To produce a large amount of energy, solar panels require a large area.

As you can see, this energy source still has more pluses than minuses, and the minuses are not as terrible as it would seem.

DIY solar battery from improvised means and materials at home

Despite the fact that we live in a modern and rapidly developing world, the purchase and installation of solar panels remains the lot of wealthy people. The cost of one panel, which will produce only 100 watts, varies from 6 to 8 thousand rubles.

This is not counting the fact that it will be necessary to buy capacitors, batteries, a charge controller, a network inverter, a converter and other things separately.

But if you do not have a lot of funds, but want to switch to an environmentally friendly source of energy, then we have good news for you - a solar battery can be assembled at home.

And if you follow all the recommendations, its efficiency will be no worse than that of the commercially assembled version. In this part, we will consider a step-by-step assembly. We will also pay attention to the materials from which solar panels can be assembled.

From diodes

This is one of the most budgetary materials.

If you are going to make a solar battery for your home from diodes, then remember that with the help of these components only small solar panels are assembled that can power any minor gadgets.

Diodes D223B are best suited. These are Soviet-style diodes, which are good because they have a glass case, due to their size they have a high mounting density and have a nice price.

After buying the diodes, clean them of paint - for this it is enough to place them in acetone for a couple of hours. After this time, it can be easily removed from them.

Then we prepare the surface for the future placement of the diodes. It can be a wooden plank or any other surface. It is required to make holes in it throughout its entire area. Between the holes it will be necessary to observe a distance of 2 to 4 mm.

After we take our diodes and insert them with aluminum tails into these holes. After that, the tails need to be bent in relation to each other and soldered so that when they receive solar energy, they distribute electricity into one “system”.

Our primitive glass diode solar cell is ready. At the output, it can provide energy of a couple of volts, which is a good indicator for a handicraft assembly.

From transistors

This option will already be more serious than the diode one, but it is still an example of a harsh manual assembly.

In order to make a solar battery from transistors, you will first need the transistors themselves. Fortunately, they can be bought in almost any market or in electronics stores.

After purchase, you will need to cut off the cover of the transistor. Under the lid hides the most important and necessary element for us - a semiconductor crystal.

Then we insert them into the frame and solder them between each other, observing the norms of “input-output”.

At the output, such a battery can provide enough power to carry out work, for example, a calculator or a small diode light bulb. Again, such a solar panel is assembled purely for fun and does not represent a serious “power supply” element.

From aluminum cans

This option is already more serious than the first two. This is also an incredibly cheap and efficient way to get energy.

The only thing is that at the output it will be much more than in the variants of diodes and transistors, and it will not be electrical, but thermal. All you need is a large number of aluminum cans and a case. Wood body works well.

In the case, the front part must be covered with plexiglass. Without it, the battery will not work effectively.

Before starting the assembly, it is necessary to paint the aluminum cans with black paint. This will allow them to attract sunlight well.

Then, using tools, three holes are punched in the bottom of each jar. At the top, in turn, a star-shaped cut is made. The free ends are bent outward, which is necessary in order for improved turbulence of the heated air to occur.

After these manipulations, the banks are folded into longitudinal lines (pipes) into the body of our battery.

Then a layer of insulation (mineral wool) is laid between the pipes and the walls/rear wall. Then the collector is closed with transparent cellular polycarbonate.

This completes the build process. The last step is to install an air fan as a motor for the energy carrier. Such a battery, although it does not generate electricity, can effectively warm up a living space.

Of course, this will not be a full-fledged radiator, but such a battery can warm up a small room - for example, it is an excellent option for giving.

We talked about full-fledged bimetallic heating radiators in the article - which bimetallic heating radiators are better and stronger, in which we examined in detail the structure of such radiators, their technical characteristics and compared manufacturers. I advise you to take a look.

DIY solar battery - how to make, assemble and manufacture?

Moving away from home-made options, we will pay attention to more serious things. Now we will talk about how to properly assemble and make a real solar battery with your own hands. Yes - this is also possible. And I want to assure you - it will be no worse than purchased analogues.

For starters, it's worth saying that you probably won't be able to find real silicon panels on the free market, which are used in full-fledged solar cells. And yes, they will be expensive.

We will assemble our solar battery from monocrystalline panels - a cheaper option, but excellent in terms of generating electrical energy. Moreover, monocrystalline panels are easy to find and they are quite inexpensive.

They come in different sizes. The most popular and running option is 3x6 inches, which produces 0.5V equivalent. These will be enough for us.

Depending on your finances, you can buy at least 100-200 of them, but today we will collect an option that is enough to power small batteries, light bulbs and other small electronic components.

Choice of photocells

As we stated above, we chose a single-crystal base. You can find it anywhere. The most popular place where it is sold in gigantic quantities is the Amazon or Ebay marketplaces.

The main thing to remember is that it is very easy to run into unscrupulous sellers there, so buy only from those people who have a fairly high rating. If the seller has a good rating, then you will be sure that your panels will reach you well packed, not broken, and in the quantity you ordered.

Site selection (orientation system), design and materials

After you have received your package with the main solar cells, you should choose a good place to install your solar array.

After all, you will need it to work at 100% power, right? Professionals in this business advise to carry out the installation in the place where the solar battery will be directed just below the celestial zenith and look towards the West-East. This will allow you to “catch” sunlight almost all day.

Making a solar battery frame

First you need to make the base of the solar battery. It can be wood, plastic or aluminum. Wood and plastic show themselves best. It should be large enough to fit all your photocells in a row, but at the same time they should not hang around inside the whole structure.
After you have assembled the base of the solar battery, you will need to drill a lot of holes on its surface in order to bring the conductors into a single system in the future.

By the way, do not forget that the entire base must be covered with plexiglass on top to protect your elements from the weather.

Soldering elements and connection

After your base is ready, you can place your elements on its surface. You place the photocells along the entire structure with the conductors down (put them into our drilled holes).

Then they need to be soldered together. There are many schemes on the Internet according to which solar cells are soldered. The main thing is to connect them into a kind of single system so that they can all collect the received energy and send it to the capacitor.

The last step is to solder the “output” wire, which will be connected to the capacitor and output the received energy into it.

Mounting

This is the final step. After you make sure that all the elements are assembled correctly, they sit tightly and do not hang out, they are well covered with plexiglass - you can proceed with the installation.

In terms of installation, it is better to mount the solar panel on a solid foundation. A metal frame reinforced with construction screws is perfect.

On it, the solar panels will sit firmly, not stagger and not succumb to any weather conditions.

That's all! What do we end up with? If you made a solar battery consisting of 30-50 photocells, then this will be quite enough to quickly charge your mobile phone or light a small household light bulb, i.e. you ended up with a full-fledged home-made charger for charging the battery of a phone, a street lamp, or a small garden lantern.

If you made a solar panel, for example, with 100-200 photocells, then we can already talk about “powering” some household appliances, for example, a boiler for heating water. In any case, such a panel will be cheaper than purchased counterparts and save you money.

What is better - to buy or make a solar battery?

Let's summarize everything we learned in this article in this part. First, we figured out how to assemble a solar panel at home.

As you can see, a do-it-yourself solar battery, following the instructions, is assembled very quickly.
If you follow the various manuals step by step, then you can put together great options for providing you with clean electricity (well, or options designed to power small elements).
But still, what is better - to buy or make a solar battery? Naturally, it is better to buy it. The fact is that those options that are manufactured on an industrial scale are designed to work the way they should work.

When manually assembling solar panels, it is often possible to make various mistakes that will lead to the fact that they simply will not work properly.

Naturally, industrial options cost a lot of money, but you get quality and durability.

But if you are confident in your abilities, then with the right approach, you will assemble a solar panel that will be no worse than industrial counterparts. In any case, the future is near and soon solar panels will be able to afford all the layers. And there, perhaps, there will be a complete transition to the use of solar energy. Good luck!

Making a solar battery at home

DIY solar battery (step by step, photo)

It all started with a walk on the eBay site - I saw solar panels and got sick.

Arguing with friends about payback was ridiculous. When buying a car, no one thinks about payback. Auto as a mistress, prepare the amount for pleasure in advance.

And here it is quite the opposite, I spent money so they are also trying to pay off. In addition, I connected an incubator to the solar panels, so they still justify their purpose, protecting your future economy from death.

In general, having an incubator, you depend on many factors, here it’s either pan or layman. When I have time, I will write about a homemade incubator. Well, what to argue, everyone has the right to choose!

After a long wait, the cherished box with thin fragile plates finally warms the hands and heart.

Well, in the photo there are soldered elements, in the second row there is a jamb, one conclusion is not soldered, but I noticed and corrected nothing important.

The edging of the glass is made with double-sided tape, then a plastic film will be glued to this tape. The adhesive tapes that I used. After soldering, sealing begins (adhesive tape will help you). Well, glued plates with adhesive tape and a fixed jamb.

Next, remove the protective layer of double-sided tape from the panel edging and glue a plastic film on it with a margin for the edges. (I forgot to take a picture) Oh, yes, we make slots in the adhesive tape for outgoing wires. Well, not stupid, you will understand what and when ...
Along the edge of the glass, as well as wire leads, corners, we coat with silicone sealants. And we bend the film to the outside.
The frame was made of plastic. When I installed plastic windows in the house, a plastic profile for the window sill is attached to the window with screws.
I thought this part was too thin. Therefore, he removed and made the window sill in his own way. Therefore, plastic profiles remained from 12 windows. That is to say, the material is in abundance. I glued the frame with an ordinary, old, Soviet iron.

It’s a pity I didn’t film the process, but I think there’s nothing beyond incomprehensible here. I cut off 2 sides at 45 degrees, heated it on the sole of the iron and glued it after setting it at an even angle.

In the photo there is a frame for the second panel. We install glass with elements and a protective film in the frame. We cut off the excess film, and glue the edges with silicone sealants. We get just such a panel.

Yes, I forgot to write that, in addition to the film, I glued guides to the frame, which prevent the elements from falling if the adhesive tape comes off. The space between the elements and guides is filled with mounting foam. This made it possible to press the elements closer to the glass. Well, let's start testing. Since I made one panel in advance, the result of one is known to me. The voltage is 21 Volts.

Short circuit current 3.4 Amps. The current of the battery charge is 40A. h 2.1 Amperes. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture. It must be said that the current strength depends sharply on the illumination.

Now 2 batteries connected in parallel. The weather at the time of manufacture was cloudy, it was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. At first it upset me, and then even cheered.

After all, these are the most average conditions for a battery, which means the result is more plausible than in bright sunshine.
The sun shone through the clouds not so brightly. I must say that the sun was shining a little from the side. With such lighting, the short-circuit current was 7.12 Amperes. What I consider to be an excellent result. Voltage without load 20.6 volts. Well, it's stable around 21 volts.
The battery charge current is 2.78 Amps. That under such lighting guarantees a battery charge. Measurements showed that with a good sunny day, the result will be better.
By that time, the weather was getting worse, the clouds were closed, the sun was full and I was wondering what it would show in this situation. It's almost evening twilight ... The sky looked like this, I specially shot the horizon line.

Yes, by the way, on the glass of the battery you can see the sky as in a mirror. The voltage in this scenario is 20.2 volts. As already mentioned, the 21st century it's practically a constant. Short circuit current 2.48A. In general, then, for such lighting is wonderful! Almost equal to one battery in good sun. The battery charge current is 1.85 Amperes. What can I say ... Even at dusk, the battery will be charged.

Conclusion A solar battery has been built that is not inferior in performance to industrial designs. Well, durability ... .., we'll see, time will tell. Oh yes, the battery is charged through 40 A Schottky diodes. Well, what was found. I want to say the same about controllers. All this looks nice, but not worth the money spent on the controller.

If you are friends with a soldering iron, the circuits are very simple. Do it and enjoy making it. Well, the wind came up and the remaining spare 5 elements fell into an uncontrolled flight ... .. the result was fragments. Well, what to do, carelessness should be punished. And on the other hand…. Where are they? We decided to make another socket out of the fragments, 5 volts.

It took 2 hours to make. The rest of the materials just came at the right time. Here's what happened. The measurements were taken in the evening. I must say that with good lighting, the short circuit current is more than 1 ampere. The pieces are soldered in parallel and in series. The goal is to provide approximately the same area. After all, the current strength is equal to the smallest element.

Therefore, in the manufacture, select the elements according to the area of illumination. It is time to talk about the practical application of the solar panels I made. In the spring, he installed two manufactured panels on the roof, 8 meters high at an angle of 35 degrees, oriented to the southeast.

Such an orientation was not chosen by chance, because it was noticed that in this latitude, in summer, the sun rises at 4 am and by 6-7 o'clock quite tolerably charges the batteries with a current of 5-6 amperes, and also applies to the evening. Each panel must have its own diode. In order to exclude burnout of elements with different power panels.

And as a result, an unjustified decrease in the power of the panels. The descent from a height was made with a stranded wire with a cross section of 6mm2 each core. Thus, it was possible to achieve minimal losses in the wires. Old barely-living batteries 150A.h, 75A.h, 55A.h, 60A.h. were used as energy storage devices.

All batteries are connected in parallel and taking into account the loss of capacity, the total amount is about 100 Ah. There is no battery charge controller. Although I think the installation of the controller is necessary. I am currently working on the controller circuit. Since during the day the batteries begin to boil. Therefore, you have to dump excess energy daily by turning on an unnecessary load.

In my case, I turn on the lighting of the bath. 100 W. Also, during the day, an LCD TV of about 105W, a 40W fan, and an energy-saving light bulb of 20W are added in the evening. I will say to those who like to carry out calculations: THEORY AND PRACTICE are not the same thing. Since such a “sandwich” works quite well for more than 12 hours. at the same time sometimes we charge phones from it.

How to make a solar panel for your home with your own hands?

Currently, alternative energy sources are very fashionable and popular, especially among owners of country cottages or private houses.

But often such a device costs a lot of money and not everyone can afford to buy solar panels for their home. Therefore, the manufacture of solar panels with their own hands has become very relevant.

So how do you make solar panels yourself?

Solar panel feature

A solar battery is a semiconductor structure that is capable of converting solar radiation into electricity.

This allows you to provide the house with an economical, reliable and, most importantly, uninterrupted power supply.

Especially this is true for hard-to-reach areas of residence, as well as where there are frequent power outages from the main source.

Such an alternative energy source is quite practical, because, unlike a traditional energy source, it costs much less. Making solar panels with your own hands allows not only to optimize energy consumption, but also saves finances.

Advantages

Solar panels have the following advantages:

simple installation due to the fact that there is no need to lay a cable to the supports;
electricity generation does not harm the environment at all;
no moving parts;
electricity is supplied independently of the distribution network;
minimal time spent on system maintenance;
small weight of batteries;
silent operation;
long service life at minimum cost.

disadvantages

Despite the rather significant advantages, solar panels also have their disadvantages, such as:

the complexity of the manufacturing process;
sensitivity to pollution;
the effective operation of solar panels is affected by weather conditions (sunny or cloudy days);
for such a design, a lot of space is needed;
Batteries don't work at night.

Requirements for a solar battery

Everyone can install solar panels in a private house. But in order for such a do-it-yourself design to benefit to the maximum, its features should be taken into account. The following requirements are imposed on the solar battery:

since the product is quite fragile, the first step is to mount the frame, and only after that set all other elements;
the size of the batteries depends on the functional load, however, one should take into account the fact that a large box weighs quite a lot and more energy conductors are required to fill it;
the solar panel housing should have small side walls so that their shadow does not create an obstacle to the sun's rays on the elements;
outside and inside the body must be treated with moisture resistant paint, because the structure is exposed to atmospheric influences around the clock;
in the case itself, a substrate is necessarily made;
at the bottom of the panel there should be small holes for ventilation, this will maintain the required temperature in the radiator and remove the gas that is formed as a result of the operation of the panel.

Materials needed for making a solar battery with your own hands

If it is not possible to purchase solar panels, you can make them yourself. at first need to decide on the material from which they will be made.

To create panels, high-quality photocells will be needed. Manufacturers today offer the following types of devices:

single-crystal silicon elements have an efficiency of up to 13%, but in cloudy weather they are not efficient enough;
solar cells made of polycrystalline silicon have an efficiency of up to 9%, they can work both on sunny and cloudy days.

For the energy supply of the house, it is best to use polycrystals, which are available in sets.

It is important to know that everything needed for assembly cells are best purchased from one manufacturer, since products of different brands have significant differences in the effectiveness of products. This can create additional difficulties during assembly, incur costs as a result of operation, while the solar battery will have a low power.

To make a solar panel from improvised means, you will need special conductors designed to connect photocells.

The body of the future design is best made from aluminum corners with low weight. You can also use a material such as wood. But due to the fact that the structure will be exposed to atmospheric influence all the time, its service life will decrease.

The dimensions of the panel body depend on the number of photocells.

The outer coating of photocells can be made of plexiglass or transparent polycarbonate. Also used tempered glass that does not transmit infrared rays.

Thus, to make a solar battery with your own hands, you will need the following materials:

photocells in the set;
fasteners;
copper electrical wires of high power;
silicone vacuum stands;
soldering equipment;
aluminum corners;
Schottke diodes;
transparent sheet of polycarbonate or plexiglass;
set of fixing screws.

Such materials are purchased at a building materials store or in an online store.

How to make solar panels with your own hands?

In order to make panels with your own hands, you need to collect the required materials. A solar battery is assembled for the house in the following sequence.

First, it is necessary to assemble a set of polycrystalline photocells into a single whole.
Since the power declared by the manufacturer is 4 W, and the voltage is 0.5 volts, 36 cells are needed for a battery whose power will be 18 W.
Using a soldering iron, it is necessary to apply contours to the photocells, forming soldered conductors from tin. For convenience, soldering can be done on a flat glass surface.
Then all cells are interconnected in accordance with the electrical circuit. Regardless of the type of connection, be sure to shunt diodes must be provided, which are used for installation on the "positive" terminal. In this case, Schottke diodes are the best option, which correctly calculate the solar panels for the house and prevent the battery from discharging at night.
It is necessary to take the soldered cells to a place lit by the sun and check their performance. If they function normally, proceed to assemble the case.
To assemble the frame, aluminum corners with low sides and hardware will be needed. Then silicone sealant is applied to the inner edges of the rails.
Above a prepared polycarbonate sheet is laid on this layer or any other transparent material. For fixing, the sheet must be pressed tightly against the adhesive contour.
After the final drying of the sealant, the transparent surface and the frame are fastened with the help of hardware.
Then, photocells with conductors are placed along the inner transparent surface, the distance between each cell should be 5 mm. It's best to mark up first.
The cells must be fixed, and the panel sealed, only in this case the solar panels will last a very long time. For this mounting silicone is applied to each element and close the structure with a back panel.
After the final drying of the silicone, the structure is completely sealed for a snug fit of the panels to each other.

To properly make solar panels with your own hands, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

the conductor that connects the solar cells into a single system should be made according to the exact size of the elements. In this case take into account the size of each fragment, the length of the conductor on the reverse side of the surface and the distance between the plates. This is required to accurately connect all elements and prevent cutting of the soldered conductor so as not to break the cell;
a small amount of tin should be applied to the place of soldering, because it does not heat up well and the plate can be damaged due to strong pressure on it with a soldering iron;
it is best to first prepare the case for the battery, and then place the solar cells with conductors in it. This will help to avoid damage when moving elements.

Every person dreams of getting free electricity in their home, and this dream is feasible. By making solar panels with your own hands, you can enjoy an additional source of electricity. Wherein this design does not cause any harm to the environment besides it is very reliable and inexpensive.

How to make a solar battery from improvised means?

Providing comfortable living conditions in modern apartments and private houses cannot do without electric energy, the need for which is constantly increasing. However, the prices for this energy source also increase with sufficient regularity.

Accordingly, the total cost of maintaining housing also increases. Therefore, a do-it-yourself solar battery for a private house, along with other alternative sources of electricity, is becoming increasingly relevant.

This method makes it possible to make the object non-volatile in the face of constant price increases and power outages.

Solar Panel Efficiency

The problem of autonomous power supply of appliances and equipment in private homes has been considered for a long time.

One of the options for alternative nutrition has become solar energy, which in modern conditions has found wide application in practice.

The only factor that raises doubts and disputes is the efficiency of solar panels, which does not always meet the expectations.

The operation of solar panels directly depends on the amount of solar energy. Thus, the batteries will be most efficient in regions where sunny days prevail.

Even in the most ideal scenario, the efficiency of batteries is only 40%, and in real conditions this figure is much lower. Another condition for normal operation is the availability of significant areas for the installation of autonomous solar systems.

If this is not a serious problem for a country house, then apartment owners have to solve many additional technical problems.

Device and principle of operation

Solar cells are based on the ability of solar cells to convert solar energy into electrical energy. All together they are assembled in the form of a multi-cell field, united in a common system.

The action of solar energy turns each cell into a source of electric current, which is collected and stored in batteries. The dimensions of the total area of such a field directly affect the power of the entire device.

That is, with an increase in the number of photocells, the amount of electricity generated increases accordingly.

This does not mean that the required amount of electricity can be generated only in very large areas. There are many small household appliances that use solar energy - calculators, flashlights and other devices.

In modern country houses, solar-powered lighting devices are becoming increasingly popular. Garden paths, terraces and other necessary places are illuminated with these simple and economical devices.

At night, the electricity stored during the day when the sun is shining is used. The use of economical lamps allows you to spend the accumulated electricity for a long time.

The solution of the main problems of energy supply is carried out with the help of other, more powerful systems that allow generating a sufficient amount of electricity.

The main types of solar panels

Before you start making your own solar panels, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with their main types in order to choose the most suitable option for yourself.

All solar energy converters are divided into film and silicon, in accordance with their device and design features.

The first option is represented by thin-film batteries, where the converters are made in the form of a film made using a special technology. These structures are also known as polymeric.

They can be installed in any available places, however, they require a lot of space and have a low efficiency. Even medium cloudiness can reduce the efficiency of film devices by 20% at once.

Silicon batteries are represented by three types:

Monocrystalline. The design consists of numerous cells with built-in silicon transducers. They are joined together and filled with silicone. Easy to use, lightweight, flexible, waterproof. But in order to ensure the effective operation of such batteries, exposure to direct sunlight is required. Despite the relatively high efficiency - up to 22%, with the onset of cloudiness, electricity generation can significantly decrease or stop completely.
Polycrystalline. Compared to monocrystalline, they have more converters placed in the cells. Their installation is made in different directions, which significantly increases the efficiency of work even in low light. These batteries are the most widely used, especially in urban areas.
Amorphous. They have low efficiency - only 6%. However, they are considered very promising, due to the ability to absorb light flux many times more than the first two types.

All considered types of solar cells are manufactured in the factory, so their price is still very high. In this regard, you can try to make a solar battery yourself, using inexpensive materials.

The choice of materials and parts for the manufacture of a solar battery

Since the high cost of autonomous solar energy sources makes them inaccessible for widespread use, home craftsmen can try to organize the manufacture of solar panels with their own hands from improvised materials. It should be remembered that in the manufacture of the battery it is impossible to do with only improvised materials. You will definitely have to buy factory parts, even if not new ones.

The structure of the converter of solar energy includes several basic elements. First of all, this is the battery of a certain type, which has already been discussed above.

Next comes the battery controller, which controls the charge level of the batteries by the received electric current. The next element is batteries that store electricity. Without fail, you will need an inverter that converts direct current to alternating current.

Thus, all household appliances rated for 220 volts will be able to work normally.

Each of these elements can be freely purchased on the electronics market. If there are certain theoretical knowledge and practical skills, then most of them can be assembled independently according to standard schemes, including the solar battery controller.

In this regard, materials and components will be selected.
When making a solar battery with your own hands, you need to decide not only on the power, but also on the operating voltage of the network. The fact is that solar-powered networks can operate on direct or alternating current.
The latter option is considered more preferable, as it allows distributing electricity to consumers over a distance of more than 15 meters.
When using polycrystalline batteries, from one square meter you can get, on average, about 120 watts in one hour.
That is, to obtain 300 kW per month, solar panels with a total area of 20 m2 will be required. This is how much an ordinary family of 3-4 people spends.

Solar panels are used in private houses and summer cottages, each of which includes 36 elements. The power of one panel is about 65W.

In a small private house or country house, 15 panels are enough, capable of generating electrical power up to 5 kW per hour. After performing preliminary calculations, you can purchase converting plates.

It is acceptable to purchase damaged cells with minor defects that only affect the appearance of the battery. In working condition, each element is capable of delivering about 19 V.

Manufacturing of solar panels

After all the materials and parts are prepared, you can start assembling the converters. When soldering the elements, it is necessary to provide for an expansion gap between them within 5 mm.

Soldering should be very careful and careful. For example, if the plates are not wired, they will need to be soldered manually.

To work, you need a 60-watt soldering iron, to which a conventional 100-watt incandescent lamp is connected in series.

All plates are soldered sequentially to each other. The plates are characterized by increased fragility, so it is recommended to solder them using a frame.
During desoldering, diodes are inserted into the circuit together with photographic plates, which protect the photocells from discharge when the light level decreases or complete darkness sets in.
To this end, the halves of the panel are combined in a common bus, which, in turn, is output to the terminal block, due to which the midpoint is created. The same diodes protect the batteries from being discharged at night.

One of the main conditions for the efficient operation of batteries is high-quality soldering of all points and nodes. Before installing the substrate, these places must be tested.

To output current, it is recommended to use conductors with a small cross section, for example, a speaker cable in silicone insulation. All wires are secured with sealant. After that, the material for the surface to which the plates will be attached is selected.

The most suitable characteristics are glass, which transmits light much better than carbonate or plexiglass.

When making a solar battery from improvised means, you need to take care of the box. Usually the box is made of a wooden beam or an aluminum corner, after which glass is placed on the sealant. The sealant should fill all the bumps and then dry completely. Due to this, dust will not get inside, and photographic plates will not become contaminated during operation.

Next, a sheet with soldered photocells is installed on the glass. It can be fixed in many ways, however, transparent epoxy or sealant are considered the best options. Epoxy resin evenly covers the entire surface of the glass, then transducers are installed on it.

When using sealant, fastening is carried out with points in the center of each element. At the end of the assembly, a sealed case should be obtained, inside which the solar battery is placed. The finished device will produce approximately 18-19 volts, which is quite enough to charge the battery at 12 volts.

Possibility of home heating

After the homemade solar battery is assembled, every owner will surely want to test it in action. The most important problem is the heating of the house, therefore, first of all, the possibilities of heating with solar energy are checked.

Solar collectors are used for heating. With the help of a vacuum collector, sunlight is converted into heat. Thin glass tubes are filled with a liquid that is heated by the sun and transfers heat to the water placed in the storage tank. In our case, this method is not suitable, since we are talking exclusively about converting solar energy into electrical energy.

It all depends on the power of the device used. In any case, most of the energy received will be spent on heating the water in the boiler. If 100 liters of water is heated to 70-80 degrees, it will take about 4 hours.

Electricity consumption by a water boiler with heating elements of 2 kW will be 8 kW. When generating electricity of 5 kW per hour, there will be no problems.

However, with a battery area of \u200b\u200bless than 10 m2, heating a private house with their help becomes impossible.

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