Make a high powered solar panel from broken solar cells

Step 5 You're Done

Put that bad boy in the sun and have pride when you tell people you made it yourself for pennies on the dollar.

Comments

[cheesphht]

The hardest thing for me to build is the protective encapsulator. Do you build it out of glass or poly? and how was it put together? Or just direct me to the site where instructions to build such an enclosure is available. I want it strong enough to sustain winds but also light enough to put on by telescope's tracking device during the day.

[menahunie]

There is a clear silicon two part many home builders use; but it runs around 50.00 a can. It is mixed and poured on the panel while it is face down and a brush is used to spread it.

[mattfelice]

i just made a simple wood frame painted, caulked, with a plexi top

[golfdeals]

Thank you mattfelice for answers about broken cells and panels. For new guys this is a critical part of making your own panels. Yours is the best statement I have found on the web.... ps/ What's the minimum size (% of a broken/chipped cell) I should use in a panel? Does the size of a broken cell used in a panel matter? If so, what's the rule? Thanks in advance

[jimmy dean]

There really is no minimum size, you just have to remember that a couple of solar cells wired in series is only as strong as their weakest link. So if you wired a piece that was producing 200 milliamps in series with some that produce 1.5 amps it's only going to produce 200 milliamps. So if you use small ones, make sure they're only in series with other small ones.

[fat64]

I just ordered some broken pieces to sweden for a first hands on experiment. Taking the time to document this is what generates real wealth, thanks for sharing matt. 35 Watts sounds impressive for that, where in the world do you live btw? :)

[philippinejohn]

Hello,...can I charge a bank of say six battries with this?.and if so how long in good sun?..I'm old and new to all this solar bussiness,and really hoping this old dog can learn a few new things,Thanks John

[PondPlantGirl]

I am looking at running a 1,000 watt heater. How many watts will this operate?

[geetz]

A kilowatt solar array would require (approximately) 100 square feet of solid collectors. It would only deliver its kilowatt when the unimpeded sun was shining directly straight on to the array. I'm guessing the pictured array delivers 10-15 Watts.

[mattfelice]

19v 1.85 amps 35 watts in partial sun

[jerber26]

hi, can you connect those broken pieces together so that it will look like one whole solar panel?

[mattfelice]

you could but it would be realy hard

[brainstormer]

I am new to this stuff. so I'm not being sceptical, but I am wondering how you use this if one does not have an inverter.

[killersquirel11]

If you use it to charge a battery or other DC powered device, no inverter is necessary.

[martian742]

I think many of the 15.4 inch notebooks use 19 or 20 V charger. So it could be probably used to charge/power one of those. I would recommend some voltage stabilisation.

[johnsocm]

Yes, this is the voltage that a 15.4 inch notebook would use normally, but you have to remember the current on the chargers as well. Most of them are in the excess of over 65watts. This solar panel would only be able to produce around a 10 to 12 watt max power. So yes it could probably charge a laptop but after a day or so of direct sunlight. It could never power a laptop unless it is big enough for a 65 watt which would be a very big solar panel.

[mattfelice]

is a full 35 watts, not 10 to 12