Developing A Good Plan To Make Solar Panels

Before you begin your solar energy project you need to develop a plan and collect all of your parts and tools. I know that it goes without saying, but for the sake of clarity I'm gonna say it, make a plan. Let me say it again, make a plan. You can make solar panels for just about anything, however, the better you plan out your project the quicker it will come together and the better it will look. I've decided that my starter project is going to be a portable solar panel system that I could take with me camping. More than once, I've needed to power up something and I always have to use my truck's power adaptor. I don't mind using the truck, but it places undue strain on the battery and the last I need is a dead battery in the middle of nowhere.

Start Small & Work Big

A few years ago I was sick and tired of having to tear apart the whole garage to find all of the assorted camping equipment. So I started to organize everything into grab and go boxes. Actually they are plastic containers that are about 26 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 12 inches deep. They are perfect for the tents, stoves, dry foods, and other accessories. I mention my grab and go boxes because I want to make my solar panel system fit into one of these boxes. The idea is that I can set up camp, set up the solar panel system and have a ready source of electricity for the radio, ipods, griddle, and most importantly, the coffee pot. Do I have to do it this way? No, but I can, so why not? The plan starts with a piece of grid paper and several sketches of my panel. I've determined that I can make a solar panel that is 25.25 inches long and 15.25 inches wide.

I'm going to use plywood for the frame and plexiglas for the cover. I should be able to have a 4 x 4 solar cell layout. This will allow me to run the cells in series and the panels in parallel for maximum efficiency. Part of developing the plan was figuring out how much energy I was going to need. I had to balance out how much energy I need, and how much I can store. Luckily, I have a spreadsheet, provided by the guys at Green DIY Energy, that will help me compute all of these factors.

Take Your Time & Do It Right

Now that I have the plan and I have collected my materials I only have to wait for my solar cells to arrive. While I wait, I'm going to prep all of my materials, so all I have to do is tab the cells and solder everything together. Even though, I've written out my plan and sketched out my design I am sure that I will have to modify something along the way. I am also positive that I will have to go back to the hardware store at least once. It would not be a DIY project if you did not have to go back to the hardware store at least twice for some mundane piece of something. At any rate, stay tuned as I learn to make solar panels from scratch.

Related topics about Making Solar Panels

Green DIY Energy Guide - Make Solar Panels

Green DIY Energy is an outstanding resource for the beginning solar enthusiast. The guides are well written with great diagrams and images. The video tutorials are professional, highly detailed, and easy to follow. Each of the guide books walks you through the process of building a solar panel and connecting it to an off grid solar array. Read our full review before you buy.

What You Need To Know Before you Make Solar Panels

The Do-It-Yourself electricity movement has quickly become one of the fastest and best ways to save money and help the environment. Making solar panels is easier than you might think, cost effective, and fun. You need to develop a plan and do some research, but it's easier and cheaper than you might think.

A solid plan will help you make better solar panels

You would be surprised by the number of people who start a DIY project without so much as a simple plan. Working without a plan will cost you both time and money. If you want to make solar panels then you need to have a plan. Save yourself a lot of time, money, and aggravation by developing a plan and getting it right the first time.