The sun is the primary source of energy on Earth, and sunlight can be converted directly into electricity by solar panels. Electricity has become indispensable in life. It powers the machines that most of us use every day.
So what are solar panels? What if you can create your own?
In this article, we will show you a simple method to build your own functional solar panel.
COMPONENTS
A solar panel is usually produced from six (6) elements, namely a PV (photovoltaic) or solar cell that generates electricity, a glass pane that covers and protects the solar cells, a frame that provides stiffness, a rear sheet in which the solar cells are laid, a junction box in which the wiring is closed and connected and a sealant that serves as a binder.
Since most people do not have access to the equipment used to make solar panels, it is important to remember and understand these six elements so that everyone can plan the materials needed to make their own or home solar panel.
The materials needed to make a solar panel must be available for purchase locally or online and should not exceed the cost of a new solar panel or take a long time to make.
1.) PV chamber
The first thing to consider when building your own solar panel is the solar cell.
A photovoltaic (PV) or solar cell converts the visible light into electricity. However, one (1) solar cell is not enough to generate a useful amount of electricity, as is the case with the microbe in Baymax (Hero 6), which only becomes useful when combined into a group. This basic unit generates 0.5 to 1-volt direct current (DC), and while this is reasonable, the voltage is still too low for most applications. To produce a useful DC voltage, the solar cells are connected in series and then locked into modules to form a solar panel. If one cell produces 0.5 volts and is connected in series with another, these two cells should be able to produce 1 volt and can then be called a module. A typical module usually consists of 28 to 36 cells connected in series. A 28-cell module should be able to produce about 14V (28 x 0.5 = 14VDC), which is sufficient to charge a 12V battery or power 12V devices.
Connecting two or more solar cells requires basic knowledge of serial and parallel connection, which is similar to connecting batteries to create a battery storage system.
There are two most common solar cells on the market: the monocrystalline and polycrystalline cells. These two can have the same size, 156mm x 156mm, but the main difference is performance. It is important to buy additional cells that will serve as a safety precaution in case of failure of some of them, such as bad soldering, broken, scratched, etc.
Monocrystalline solar cells are usually black and octagonal in shape. This type of cell is made of the highest and purest quality silicon, which makes them expensive. But they are the most efficient of all types of solar cells and are almost always the choice of solar contractors when space is an important factor to consider in achieving the power they want to achieve based on their solar system design.
Polycrystalline PV cells have a bluish color and a rectangular shape. These cells are produced in a much simpler process that lowers the purity of the silicon content and also lowers the performance of the final product.
In general, monocrystalline cells are more efficient than polycrystalline cells, but this does not mean that monocrystalline cells achieve and produce more power than polycrystalline cells. The performance of solar cells has something to do with the size of the cells, and each panel or solar cell has a performance evaluation based on standard tests carried out during its production. This rating is usually expressed as a percentage and the common values range from 15% to 20%.
2.) Glass
The glass protects PV cells while allowing the sunlight to pass through optimally. They are usually made of anti-reflective materials. Tempered glass is now the material of choice even for unknown and new manufacturers, although there are still those who use flat glass on their solar panels. Toughened glass is created by chemical or thermal means and is many times stronger than plate glass, which makes its products more expensive, but the price of its production is reasonable and profitable today. Flat glass, when broken, forms sharp and long fragments, in contrast to tempered glass.
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