Building solar panels
 

Has anyone actually built efficient panels and please share the procedure if so. Thanks.

Re: Building solar panels
 

I have not.....but I'd be REAL surprised if you could build panels anywhere near what you can buy them for, and actually have them last.

Re: Building solar panels
 

I kind of thought that but see quite a few advertisments for the info, figured I'd check around before buying it, thanks Andy

Re: Building solar panels
 

Yeah.....I've seen info floating around ( some of it simply a scam to sell a book for 50 FRNs ), and seen some You-tube stuff......but I have yet to see anybody show how to actually seal a panel with the glazing commercial makers use....

For some experimentation or some project use, building your own would likely be fine......but if you dead serious about power, there's way too much already to figure out without adding "re-invention of the wheel".....


Panels are getting down in the mid 3 buck range, less if you buy in bulk, or take blemished panels ( when you can find them ).....I just doubt anyone could assemble enough QUALITY panels to make it worth while doing it yourself.

But I'm open to be proven wrong.... :biggrin:

Re: Building solar panels
 

what brand and supplier would you suggest, thanks.

Re: Building solar panels
 

The problem with trying to build your own solar panels is always humidity getting in and corroding things; it's almost impossible to seal them as well as the factories can. If you live in an arid desert maybe it could work a decent amount of time.

Other than that, the only advantage that home-made panels might have would be that they would be less susceptible to theft. Most people who steal solar panels do so to resell them, and they know nobody will buy home-made stuff, even if it does work.

If you're in the US, Sun Electric sells B-grades/non-UL panels for good prices. Some of these approach $2/watt, but note that these panels may not qualify for government rebate programs (you need to use all-UL-listed stuff for most of the govt programs).
http://sunelec.com/

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