How To Build A Solar Panel - Part 1
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- Опубліковано 6 чер 2009
- Watch in HD
www.solartechtown.com
I, Robert Smith, show you every step I take to building a custom made solar panel from scratch. I explain in detail about each item I use and why to use it, so the video is fairly long.
I will be hosting the majority of the video on my own server so you can view it all in one take. It will take time to edit the video, but the more of you that subscribe to the video, the faster I'll try to get it out to you guys as it just shows that people are interested and appreciate what I'm doing, as I'm providing this video for free unlike some videos you see on UA-cam.
The method I described in this video is just one way to go about it, however, there are many ways you can build a custom solar panel. Some use aluminum or plastic frames, but I found for a beginner, working with wood would probably be easier and cheaper.
Overall, building a solar panel can be fun, but there are many factors that play into building a solar panel, and I as well still have an extreme amount to still learn about it.
So I hope that for those wanting to learn more about solar energy and wanting to take the adventure of building their own solar panel will find this video very useful.
To watch to full video just video, just visit: www.solartechtown.com
Again the video is fairly large, so to prevent from having to put 6 or 7 parts on youtube in 10 minute sections, I'm just going to host in on my server.
If you all have ANY questions, feel free to leave a comment under the video.
Thanks guys!
~
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Robert, you're a good person.
SOME PEOPLE ON THE OTHER HAND, want to "sell" this information on how to get "free" energy.
It's hard to find honest people like you. And you're great at making the video itself, at the start the cheerful music with all of the backround sounds really complimented the beginning of this tutorial-series.
Young brother take a minute to be proud of yourself as I am. You may not understand how important this information is to a lot of people worldwide. I will do this and teach someone how to do this as well. Thank you
It's holding up great. I also talked to others who have went the same route, and they said after a couple of months theirs was still performing well also.
You deserve some sort of an award...I would call it: Humanitarian Award, Video of the Year.
dude....you're my hero. Seriously, you're doing a good thing here. Fighting the good fight. Thank you....just, so much "thank you"!
i appreciate this video, Im a middle school student in the science fair and this is going to help me alot
By far, the most through and easy to understand tutorial on creating panels on youtube. I clicked a few of your google ads on your website so you get a few bucks for your work :).
Hi Rob, this is slow but very detailed one. I saw all your clips and now i am writting this comment, yoour video is lot better than any other, even Dan Rojas.
Material List for Video 1:
- 2x4 PegBoard - $3.78 From Lowes
- 2x4 Pressure Treated Plywood - $11.61 From Lowes
- 4 Strips of Plywood
- 1 Gallon of Deck & Siding Stain Paint (White) - $8.74 Walmart
- 1 Large piece of Spare Plywood (To be used as a Template for Solar Cells)
- Equally Cut up pieces of Cardboard (Shipped with Solar Cells)
- Tile Spacers - $2.48 From Lowes
- Staple Gun to hold spacers in place on plywood
- Straight Ruler
- Saw to cut Plywood
-
Thanks, and yeah, I have a while to go before this video series is finished. I didn't realise how long the video would turn out :) but we have a longggg way to go before the end.
After a couple of months the panel is still working fine.
Of course there are many tweaks you can always add being that it is a DIY panel, but like I mentioned in my last video, I'd definitely want to try building it out of aluminum next time around. Mostly to just learn how to work with the material, but it will also last long in the long run as well, and less maintenance.
I'm excited about this. I hope to find updated videos on how this first project progressed; weathering, longevity, trouble shooting, better/updates material options, etc. :-)
Hi Amanda. This project was definitely a fun one to introduce myself to solar. However, since making this solar panel over 10 years ago, I find it much cheaper and more reliable to purchase professionally made solar panels if you have access and the means to do so. I believe this solar panel in the video lasted about 2-3 years before I started to notice some power output issues in case you are wondering. Thanks for your support also! Always appreciated.
AMAzing man. Thanks! You're offering confidence. You are the future!! Huge love from barcelona.
Just wanted to say that you was absolutely correct on the other videos missing certain parts in their videos or they didnt script before making the video making it to where a rocket scientist wouldnt of been able to comprehend it! Good Job!
Very excited to get started on something like this man. I've been letting my skills go to waste for too long. I'm going to start with a Iphone charger.
Thank you robert for this awesome and very useful tutorials. Thank you very much
Hi,
I actually just made a script on the website for this. If you go to the website and click on the Solar Tools link at the top, the second script is the one you want to use.
Also, at the beginning of this video is a link (red annotation) to the video I made on how to use it.
Great tutorial! Much success on your college studies, Robert!
I just wanted to say thank you for posting this Robert Smith
@RBurrows99 You do not want the solar cells touching each other, so you need to leave some space between each. You do not have to use tile spacers but you need to be sure some way they aren't touching.
Thanks Robert!! Good start, easy to follow and professional look to boot!
Good tutorial and information.You answered some of my questions and I like your idea of the tile spacers. Thank you
Cool! This one actually teaches you how to do it rather than advertising for the lesson they sell.
Robert, thanks so much for giving me a great background on building a solar panel.
I think this is going to be my next project.
Thanks
Awesome! This is exactly what I was looking for! THANK YOU. Looking forward to viewing them all.
Thank you so much, Robert. You are awesome!
Great job Robert, I have all my stuff coming in the mail. I needed this. one comment though. wish you would have spent more time on connecting the 3 rows together (the bus wires) - getting the pos/neg. maybe that's in video 5. anyway great job!
AWESOME! THANK YOU FOR MAKING AND SHARING THIS VIDEO
Lots of detail to your videos.... Thanks for sharing
Great video bro. I like that you don't talk too much! haha. thanks for putting this knowlegde out there!
You are awesome. Thank you for all your help.
Thank you for this really important info! You're awesome!
Nice job Robert! Well done!
Really very useful video👌.... Thank You very much👍💐💐💐
Great job Robert,
Thank you for adding your experience.
Bless you! I appreciate this information more than you know.
you great homy and an inspiration i really like your work from RSA
I can't believe I didn't see your series of videos earlier. I am going to watch every part, but I can already see that you did a fantastic job. I made a play-list from your videos called, How to build a solar panel by RobertSmith3, and I hope that many people will watch your videos. That is one awesome garden you got there, I could see you have a fish-pond, I am growing food with the help of my pond, it's easy and very efficient and low maintenance and called aquaponics, you should check it out.
Thanks for making these videos.
THANK YOU! for the FREE information.
Great vid. Thanks for posting.
Really nice video. Good work
Wow thanks man its great people like you that take the greed out of passing on knowledge, appreciate it :)
great vids... keep it up and keep us inspired.
thanks for taking the time man good share
Don´t use wood frames guys... it can catch fire if there is a concentration spot within the solar panel or a wire spark... use aluminium its not much more costly but still light and can´t burn...
just paint the wood white and spray on a coat of varnish, degradation and moisture ingress are bigger issues
You could also coat and cover the wood with flame retardant material.
You rock Robert Smith!
Thanks so much for the help
pretty cool video, thanks
thanks for the help friend
Thank you...sharing!!!
GREAT VID!
Great Vid!
your videos are really good helpful and all that
Thank you, very well done. I have subscribed. Mike, London, On.
Excellent !!!
Thank You so much brother! I subcribed!
thanks alot! maybe someday if i got my own house i will use your video to make some:)
Hi randrboy,
As long as the solution (paint) is made to protect the wood it should be fine. I only used white because I wanted it to look similar to a regular solar panel.
Bravo to you
excellent well done:)
I think my son would like this I save this for later this will be great if people can do this
Very nice instructional video, props to Mr. Smith. However, unless you just happen to have some stuff laying around to work with I don't recommend building a panel. The prices of professional panels has dropped enough that it doesn't really make sense. I got a 100 watt panel off Ebay for $200 that is fully sealed with aluminum frame, junction box etc (Ramson) I am going to build a small panel but that's only because I have some solar cells already laying around and don't want to waste them.
God Bless U Brother!
cool vid bro
How much was the total cost for the project?
Thank you for your reply Robert. I'm getting ready to make
two 125 watt panels in a bit different configuration than yours and using a different frame and junction block. I take my time so it will be a while before I post the video.
Thanks again
thank you so much.
@iowac thxs! those solar cells are a lot for a nice prize!
Tank you fort sharing :)
Robert this is exactly what I was looking for. Your step by step instructions are easy to follow. I do have one question. Can the UV stain that I apply be a clear coat stain to give it a really nice appearance. Thank you very much
I've been doing my own home solar setup (12v :D) and I've been needing to know how to do custom solar (for low amp f2 reasons) and this is so helpful. Can you give me some advice in the future? :)
thanks :)
@netKnap6 There is no download link, but the video player on the homepage of the website will automatically take you to the next video in the series instead of having to find the next part of the video here on UA-cam.
I agree with hellhound thanks for the vids and not trying to rip us off like other people.
It's been 11 years since this summer break . How's life treating you? Those panels still up and running??
Hey SomewhatHonest. I cannot complain. Regarding the panels, no I've come a long way since making this video and currently use commercially made panels. I still believe making a panel is great for educational reasons.
awesome
brilliant
Thanks so much for the video! Where did you purchase the solar panels from?
hi when they said solar cell need to be encapsulated.. what does it mean? how its done? plus when you were laying down the 2nd row of solae cell was it turned 180 deg(top side down) so the negative end meet the other negative end?
thanks very nice detailed video..
Hi. Thanks for the Videos. Can you add to all the materials?
Hello...I only wanted to ask if you couldn't upload somewhere the full video...i was on your site but i didn't found a link to dowload a complet video in one...i have a very slow internet so it's much easier for me to download it and then watch it...if you can please answer me...thanks (btw it's great to see that someone finally did something like this...)
oh fuck yeah!!! This is awesome!
@RBurrows99
Spacers are there to allow the material to increase due to temperatures
I would prefer different material like plastic over ply-wood though
Hi Robert, I'm just wondering if you can build the solar panel without the spacers, so that the solar cells are practically flush against one another?
Great effort in putting these videos together.
@hotsexybrownguy Most charge controllers prevent the back flow of current and a blocking diode is not necessary. You would need to read the description/features of the charge controller to find out if it does perform that feature.
Hi, Robert, Congratulations for the vídeos and I'd like to thank you for these so instructive informations. I'm very interested in this matter and in Brazil we don'r have many informations about it. W'ell be in touch. Best regards. Tavynho
freeking aaaaawesome!
Hey there robert, will a 100w soldering iron due instead of a 60w for attaching the tabbing wire to the cells..?
I am doing a science project on thi thanks for the a+ :)
Robert, do you have a video on sun tracking? Once I construct my solar cells I would like to find a way to attach servos and have them move with the sun. Thank you.
I need to know where you got your solar cells and for how much. Any useful info to get me started on these would be great.
how many watts did you get can you use it for the whole house? how much does everything cost?
A lot has been said about the longevity of home built solar panels.
I would like to know how is your panel holding up after a week or two?
I loved the video!! But wasn't able to see the full video. I tried going on the site but it didn't work. :(
how many watts did you get can you use it for the whole house?
Some people are saying that wood frames might catch fire is that true?
Check out the B Cells these people try to peddle off on you (I got some and they were lousy, cracked and chipped) and add up the cost per watt. After you add in all the other costs you will find that it costs almost as much as buying one. The only way to go around this is either A. You already have materials laying around or B. You cut corners and end up with an inferior panel. Don't forget you have to encapsulate the cells correctly too. I don't sell solar panels, I'm just not stupid.
@6WildThing6 Visit the website that is shown in the video and description. It tells you all that information on the homepage. Good luck.