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Generate Your Own Power By Building Solar Panels

Solar energy is an excellent way to cut electrical bills by using an ever-constant power source, the sun. Solar panels can be expensive to buy, so sometimes it is simpler to make them at home. Building solar panels is not easy, so you should be sure to have the right equipment and tools necessary for the job.

Solar cells are usually made from silicon, but you can also make them from cuprous oxide. This compound is one of the first materials that was discovered to have a photoelectric effect, causing electricity to flow through a material. When building solar panels, you will need an array of different ingredients for this job, such as copper, clip leads, a micro-ammeter, and metal shears. These items can be found at most hardware stores. Some home items are required as well when building solar panels, such as tap water, an electric stove, table salt, and sandpaper.

Start by cutting the sheet of copper using the metal sheers. Wash your hands first to get rid of any oil or grease. You should also wash the copper with a cleanser to remove any dirt. Using the sandpaper, thoroughly rub down the sheeting to remove any corrosion or sulphide accumulation.

Place the dried and clean copper onto the electric stove and put it on its highest heat. As the metal begins to heat, you should see beautiful shades and rainbow colors beginning to form on the metal. Red, purple, and orange patterns will begin to cover the surface.

Once the copper begins to get hotter, the colors go away and a black cupric oxide layer replaces them. This burnt layer will eventually flake off however, exposing the colors underneath. When the burner starts to become red hot, the entire sheet of copper should be covered with a thick black layer. Let the metal cook for half an hour, since a thick layer will be able to flake off easily.

Take off the plate and cool it to room temperature before attempting to rub off the black layer. Lightly scrub the metal until the entire black color is removed. Cut another sheet of copper and bend both pieces into a plastic jar, but keep them from touching each other. The cooked copper should be connected with the negative alligator terminal, while the new one should have the positive terminal.

Mix hot tap water and table salt into the plastic container. Place the mixture into the sun, and you should see a moderate range of micro-amps in the current reader. Copper is a semiconductor, so you effectively have a working solar panel made from scratch.

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