How to solder solar panels. DIY solar battery

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Hydrocarbons have been and remain the main source of energy, but increasingly humanity is turning to renewable and environmentally friendly resources. This has caused increased interest in solar panels and generators.

However, many do not dare to install a solar system due to the high cost of developing the complex. You can make your products cheaper if you start creating them yourself. Do you doubt your own abilities?

We will tell you how to make a solar battery with your own hands using available components. In the article you will find all the necessary information in order to calculate the solar system, select the components of the complex, and assemble and install the photopanel.

According to statistics, an adult uses about a dozen different devices that operate from the network every day. Although electricity is considered a relatively environmentally friendly source of energy, this is an illusion, because its production uses polluting resources.

What components are needed and where to buy them

The main part is a solar photopanel. Typically, silicon wafers are purchased online and delivered from China or the USA. This is due to the high price of domestically produced components.

The cost of domestic plates is so high that it is more profitable to order on eBay. As for defects, out of 100 plates only 2-4 are unusable. If you order Chinese plates, the risks are higher, because... the quality leaves much to be desired. The only advantage is the price.

A ready-made panel is much more convenient to use, but also three times more expensive, so it’s better to look for components and assemble the device yourself

The remaining components can be purchased at any electrical goods store. You will also need tin solder, frame, glass, film, tape and a marking pencil.

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Modern realities are such that pleasure is by no means cheap. alternative sources nutrition. Not everyone has the opportunity to order the installation of solar panels from a supplier, so do-it-yourself solar panels are becoming popular.

Making a solar battery is not difficult. To do this you will need: elements for a solar battery, flux (a pencil is suitable, which is easy to apply, but it is quite normal to use rosin), alcohol, a 40-watt soldering iron, cotton swabs, a wide tire (up to 2 meters) and a narrow tire (1.6 mm ). The narrow busbar is a tinned wire (flat copper that is coated with tin). When the sun shines, the temperature of the solar battery increases enormously, causing expansion; at night, the opposite process occurs - contraction. You can, of course, take a wider tire - 2 mm, but practice shows that the optimal width is still 1.6 mm.

The first step is to sort the solar cells. Each of them produces 0.26-0.35 volts. They need to be sorted to choose approximately the same face value. Their number should be 36. If the battery contains at least one element with low rate, it will be resistance, which is undesirable.

We cut the tire (there should be 72 strips), determining its length by the width of two elements located at a distance of five to ten millimeters from each other.

Video: Complete process making a solar panel with your own hands

Video: DIY solar battery made from two glasses

Video: DIY solar battery panel assembly

Video: Building a Solar Battery with your own hands

We thoroughly wipe the future soldering areas on the elements with alcohol to degrease them. To get started, just take three elements. Then we run a pencil over them (there is no need to degrease the tire, because it is tinned). We solder a busbar that fits easily, so you don’t need to apply much force to it. Having installed the soldering iron in one place, wait until the busbar begins to melt and after that, slowly move the soldering iron along the entire busbar.

Photo: Soldering a solar battery with your own hands

Then carefully remove the remaining flux with alcohol and a cotton swab. In this way, all other elements are prepared. Now you can solder with reverse side, also wiping with alcohol and applying flux, already connecting the elements into a panel (9x4 cells).

Be sure to remove excess flux. The reverse side will have positive potential at any point.

Now the structure needs to be transferred to the front surface - in our case, it is cast acrylic from the Altuglas company with a thickness of 5 mm. You can, of course, solder photocells directly on the front side (this will even be more convenient).

We lay the ribbons with solar cells in such a way that on the first ribbon the first tire goes from the bottom, the second from the top. On the second - in reverse order: first on top, second on bottom, etc. This will provide a serial connection.

We solder these outputs of the narrow bus to the wide bus, removing the remains using wire cutters. Before rolling the film, you need to take measurements to make sure everything is done correctly.

You also need to check for very hot panels (by hand). If there are any, we replace them. If not, we roll 751 Oracal film, which is intended for gluing appliqués to cars. The warranty period for its operation is seven years. But, from experience, this period is much longer. We do this very carefully so that there are no distortions, because... it is no longer possible to peel it off. As a last resort, if this happens, the film must be carefully cut and re-glued. Do not press the film against the elements. From the center it is leveled to the edges, pressing only in places where there are no elements. You should not pay attention to small bubbles - they will go away during rolling. Separate the film from the base by a centimeter, no more. We check the parameters again (volts and short circuit current). A current of four amperes indicates that everything is correct.

All that remains is to place the structure in the frame.

Frame for solar battery

Plexiglas is suitable as a transparent layer, but over time it warps and turns yellow, which affects the performance of the battery. You can use ordinary glass, which reduces the heating of solar cells due to the fact that it does not transmit the infrared spectrum. Finally, there is acrylic glass, which does not reduce transparency over time and does not warp.

Aluminum corners, chipboard, plywood and other materials are most often used as the body.

The last step is sealing

Compounds are used for sealing (mainly abroad). But they cost a lot, so our craftsmen use either silicone sealant or protective film(as described above), or mixed with sealants, acrylic varnish.

Soldering photocells

You can find photocells with soldered conductors on sale, but more often you have to do this yourself. What do you need to know? First, you need to work with photocells very carefully - they are fragile and expensive.

Where to buy photocells?

The easiest way is to type a request in your browser - enough results will appear, including private entrepreneurs who offer the elements necessary to create a solar battery. True, they are quite expensive - you can find them much cheaper on Ebay. You can, of course, buy elements at various reasons rejected in production: they will cost much less, but there is a risk that they will turn out to be unsuitable for use by craftsmen. In addition, delivery can cost up to thirty dollars.

Which photocells to choose?

Typically, you can find monocrystalline and polycrystalline photovoltaic converters. The former have a longer service life - up to thirty years, but they are sensitive to weather changes. The latter, on the contrary, do not reduce power too much in cloudy conditions, but have a shorter service life. In addition, compared to monocrystalline ones with an efficiency of 13%, their efficiency ranges from seven to nine percent.

To use the solar battery more efficiently, it is necessary to provide for a change in the angle of inclination.

Conclusion

Making a solar panel with your own hands turned out to be not so difficult. And much cheaper than ordering it from a supplier!

The sun is an inexhaustible source of energy. People have long learned how to use it effectively. We will not go into the physics of the process, but will look at how this free energy resource can be used. A homemade solar panel will help us with this.

Operating principle

What is a solar cell? This is a special module that consists of a huge number of the most basic photodiodes. These semiconductor elements were grown using special technologies in factory conditions on silicon wafers.

Unfortunately, such devices are by no means cheap. Most people cannot buy them, but in this case there are many ways to make them. solar panels with your own hands. And this battery will be able to compete with commercial models. Moreover, its price will not be at all comparable to what stores offer.

Building a battery from silicon wafers

The kit includes 36 silicon wafers. They are offered in sizes 8*15 centimeters. The overall power figures will be about 76 W. You will also need wires to connect the elements to each other, and a diode that will perform the blocking function.

One silicon wafer produces 2.1 W and 0.53 V at a current of up to 4 A. The wafers only need to be connected in series. Only in this way will our energy source be able to produce 76 watts. There are two tracks on the front side. This is the “minus”, and the “plus” is located on the back side. Each panel must be positioned with a gap. You should get nine plates in four rows. In this case, the second and fourth rows must be turned in the opposite direction relative to the first. This is required so that everything is conveniently connected into one circuit. The diode must be taken into account. It allows you to prevent the storage battery from discharging at night or on a cloudy day. The “minus” of the diode must be connected to the “plus” of the battery. To charge the battery you will need a special controller. Using an inverter, you can obtain a normal household voltage of 220 V.

DIY solar panel assembly

Plexiglas has the lowest refractive index of light. It will be used as a body. This is enough inexpensive material. And if you need it even cheaper, then you can buy plexiglass. In the worst case scenario, you can use polycarbonate. But it is not very suitable for the case in terms of its characteristics. In stores you can find special polycarbonate with a coating that is protected from condensation. It also allows you to provide the battery high level protection from heat. But these are not all the elements that will make up the solar panel. It’s easy to find glass with good transparency with your own hands; this is one of the main components of the design. By the way, even ordinary glass will do.

Making a frame

During installation, silicon crystals must be mounted at a short distance. After all, you need to take into account various atmospheric influences that can affect changes in the base. So, it is desirable that the distance is about 5 mm. Resulting size finished design will be somewhere around 835*690 mm.

A solar panel is made by hand using an aluminum profile. It has the maximum resemblance to branded products. At the same time, a homemade battery is more sealed and durable.

For assembly you will need an aluminum corner. A blank for the future frame is made from it. Dimensions - 835*690 mm. In order to fasten the profiles together, it is necessary to make technological holes in advance.

The inside of the profile should be coated with silicone-based sealant. You need to apply it very carefully so that all places are coated. The efficiency and reliability that the solar panel will have depends entirely on how well it is applied.

With your own hands, you now need to put a sheet of pre-selected transparent material into the profile frame. It could be anything else. An important point: the silicone layer must dry. This must be taken into account, otherwise a film will appear on the silicon elements.

At the next stage transparent material it is necessary to squeeze and secure well. To make the fastening as reliable as possible, you should use hardware. We will secure the glass around the perimeter and at four corners. Now the solar panel, made by hand, is almost ready. All that remains is to connect the silicon elements to each other.

Soldering crystals

Now you need to lay the conductor onto the silicon plate as carefully as possible. Next we apply flux and solder. To make it more convenient to work, you can fix the conductor on one side with something.

In this position, carefully solder the conductor to the contact pad. Do not press on the crystal with a soldering iron. It is very fragile, you can break it.

Latest assembly operations

If making solar panels with your own hands is your first time, then it is better to use a special marking substrate. It will help position the necessary elements as evenly as possible at the required distance. In order to correctly cut the wires of the required length connecting individual elements, it should be taken into account that the conductor must be soldered to the contact pad. It is slightly moved beyond the edge of the crystal. If you do preliminary calculations, then it turns out that the wires should be 155 mm each.

When you assemble all this into a single structure, it is better to take a sheet of plywood or plexiglass. For convenience, it is better to pre-position the crystals horizontally and fix them. This is easily done using crosses for laying tiles.

After you connect all the elements together, stick double-sided construction tape on the back of each crystal. You just need to press the back panel a little, and all the crystals will be easily transferred to the base.

This type of fastening is not additionally sealed in any way. Crystals can expand when high temperatures, but it's not scary. Only individual parts need to be sealed.

Now you need to use it to secure all the tires and the glass itself. Before sealing and completely assembling the battery, it is advisable to test it.

Sealing

If you have regular silicone sealant, you don’t need to completely fill the crystals with it. This way you can eliminate the risk of damage. To fill this structure, you need not silicone, but epoxy resin.

This is how you can easily and easily get electrical energy for almost nothing. Now let's look at how else you can make solar panels with your own hands.

Experimental battery

Efficient systems for converting solar energy require huge factories, special care behind them and a serious amount of money.

Let's try to make something ourselves. Everything you need for the experiment can be easily purchased at a hardware store or found in your kitchen.

DIY solar panel made from foil

For assembly you will need copper foil. It can be easily found in the garage or, in extreme cases, can be easily purchased at any hardware store. To assemble the battery you need 45 square centimeters of foil. You should also buy two alligator clips and a small multimeter.

To get a working solar cell, it is advisable to have an electric stove. You need at least 1100 watts of power. It should heat up to a bright red color. Also prepare the usual plastic bottle without a neck and a couple of tablespoons of salt. Get a drill with an abrasive attachment and a sheet of metal from the garage.

Let's get started

The first step is to cut a piece of copper foil of such a size that it fits completely on the electric stove. You will be required to wash your hands to avoid any greasy fingerprints on the copper. It is also advisable to wash the copper. To remove the coating from the copper sheet, use sandpaper.

copper foil

Next, we place the cleaned sheet on the tile and turn it on to its maximum capacity. When the tile begins to heat up, you will be able to observe the appearance of beautiful orange spots on the copper sheet. Then the color will change to black. It is necessary to hold the copper for about half an hour on a red-hot tile. This is very important point. Thus, a thick layer of oxide peels off easily, while a thin layer will stick. After half an hour has passed, remove the copper from the stove and let it cool. You will be able to watch how pieces fall off the foil.

When everything cools down, the oxide film will disappear. You can easily clean most of the black oxide with water. If something doesn't come off, it's not worth trying. The main thing is not to deform the foil. As a result of deformation, a thin layer of oxide can be damaged; it is very necessary for the experiment. If it is not there, a solar panel made by yourself will not work.

Assembly

Cut the second piece of foil to the same dimensions as the first. Next, very carefully you need to bend the two parts so that they fit into the plastic bottle, but do not touch each other.

Then attach the crocodile clips to the plates. The wire from the “unfried” foil goes to the “plus”, the wire from the “fried” foil to the “minus”. Now take the salt and hot water. Stir the salt until completely dissolved. Let's pour the solution into our bottle. And now you can see the fruits of your labors. This homemade solar panel, made with your own hands, can be slightly improved in the future.

Other ways to use solar energy

Solar energy is no longer used. In space, it powers the famous Mars rover on Mars from the Sun. And in the United States of America, Google data centers operate from the sun. In those parts of our country where there is no electricity, people can watch the news on TV. All this thanks to the Sun.

This energy also makes it possible to heat houses. A do-it-yourself air-solar panel is very simply made from beer cans. They accumulate heat and release it into the living space. It's effective, free and accessible.

IN modern world It is difficult to imagine existence without electrical energy. Lighting, heating, communications and other joys comfortable life directly depend on it. This forces us to look for alternative and independent sources, one of which is the sun. This area of energy is not yet very developed, and industrial installations are not cheap. The solution is to make solar panels yourself.

What is a solar battery

A solar battery is a panel consisting of interconnected photocells. It directly converts solar energy into electricity. Depending on the system design, Electric Energy accumulated or immediately used to supply energy to buildings, mechanisms and devices.

A solar battery consists of interconnected photocells

Almost everyone used the simplest photocells. They are built into calculators, flashlights, batteries for recharging electronic gadgets, and garden lanterns. But the use is not limited to this. There are electric cars that charge from the sun; in space, this is one of the main sources of energy.

In countries with a lot of sunny days, batteries are installed on the roofs of houses and used for heating and water heating. This type is called collectors; they convert the sun's energy into heat.

Often, entire cities and towns are supplied with electricity only through this type of energy. Power plants powered by solar radiation are being built. They are especially widespread in the USA, Japan and Germany.

Device

The solar battery is based on the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect, discovered in the 20th century by A. Einstein. It turned out that in some substances, under the influence of sunlight or other substances, charged particles are detached. This discovery led to the creation of the first solar module in 1953.

The materials used to make the elements are semiconductors - combined plates of two materials with different conductivities. Most often, polycrystalline or monocrystalline silicon with various additives is used for their manufacture.

Under the influence of sunlight, an excess of electrons appears in one layer, and a deficiency in the other. “Extra” electrons move into the region with their deficiency, this process has received name р-n transition.

The solar cell consists of two semiconductor layers with different conductivities

Between the materials that form an excess and deficiency of electrons, a barrier layer is placed that prevents the transition. This is necessary to ensure that current occurs only when there is a source of energy consumption.

Photons of light incident on the surface knock out electrons and supply them with the necessary energy to overcome the barrier layer. Negative electrons move from the p-conductor to the n-conductor, and positive electrons travel the other way.

Due to the different conductivities of semiconductor materials, it is possible to create a directed movement of electrons. This creates an electric current.

The elements are connected in series to each other, forming a panel of larger or smaller area, which is called a battery. Such batteries can be directly connected to the source of consumption. But since solar activity changes during the day and stops altogether at night, batteries are used that accumulate energy during the absence of sunlight.

The necessary component in this case is the controller. It serves to monitor battery charging and turns off the battery when fully charged.

The current generated by a solar battery is constant and must be converted to alternating current to be used. An inverter is used for this.

Since all electrical appliances that consume energy are designed for a certain voltage, the system requires a stabilizer that provides the required values.

Additional devices are installed between the solar module and the consumer

Only if all these components are present, it is possible to obtain a functional system that supplies energy to consumers and does not threaten to damage them.

Types of elements for modules

There are three main types of solar panels: polycrystalline, monocrystalline and thin-film. Most often, all three types are made from silicon with various additives. Cadmium telluride and copper-cadmium selenide are also used, especially for the production of film panels. These additives help increase cell efficiency by 5-10%.

Crystalline

The most popular are monocrystalline. They are made from single crystals and have a uniform structure. Such plates have the shape of a polygon or rectangle with cut corners.

The monocrystalline cell has the shape of a rectangle with beveled corners

A battery assembled from monocrystalline cells has greater performance compared to other types, its efficiency is 13%. It is light and compact, is not afraid of slight bending, can be installed on an uneven surface, and has a service life of 30 years.

The disadvantages include a significant reduction in power during cloudy conditions, up to a complete cessation of energy production. The same happens when it is dark; the battery will not work at night.

The polycrystalline cell has the shape of a rectangle, which allows you to assemble the panel without gaps

Polycrystalline are produced by casting, have a rectangular or square shape and a heterogeneous structure. Their efficiency is lower than monocrystalline ones, the efficiency is only 7-9%, but the drop in output during cloudiness, dust or twilight is insignificant.

Therefore, they are used in the device street lighting, they are more often used by homemade products. The cost of such wafers is lower than single crystals, the service life is 20 years.

Film

Tocfilm or flexible elements are made from an amorphous form of silicon. The flexibility of the panels makes them mobile; by rolling them up you can take them with you when traveling and have an independent source of energy anywhere. The same property allows them to be mounted on curved surfaces.

The film battery is made of amorphous silicon

In terms of efficiency, film panels are two times inferior to crystalline ones; to produce the same amount, double the battery area is required. And the film is no different in durability - in the first 2 years, their effectiveness drops by 20-40%.

But when it is cloudy or dark, energy production is reduced by only 10-15%. Their relative cheapness can be considered an undoubted advantage.

What can you make a solar panel from at home?

Despite all the advantages of batteries industrial production, their main disadvantage is their high price. This trouble can be avoided by making a simple panel with your own hands from scrap materials.

From diodes

A diode is a crystal in plastic case, acting as a lens. It concentrates the sun's rays on a conductor, resulting in an electric current. Connecting with each other a large number of diodes, we get a solar battery. You can use cardboard as a board.

The problem is that the power of the energy received is small; to generate a sufficient amount you will need a huge number of diodes. In terms of financial and labor costs, such a battery is much superior to the factory one, and in terms of power it is much inferior to it.

In addition, production drops sharply when illumination decreases. And the diodes themselves behave incorrectly - spontaneous glow often occurs. That is, the diodes themselves consume the energy produced. The conclusion suggests itself: ineffective.

From transistors

As in diodes, main element transistor - crystal. But it is enclosed in a metal case that does not allow sunlight to pass through. To make a battery, the housing cover is cut off with a hacksaw.

A small power battery can be assembled from transistors

Then the elements are attached to a plate made of textolite or other material suitable for the role of a board and connected to each other. In this way, you can assemble a battery whose energy is sufficient to operate a flashlight or radio, but you should not expect much power from such a device.

But it is quite suitable as a low-power camping energy source. Especially if you are fascinated by the creation process itself and the practical benefits of the result are not very important.

Craftsmen suggest using CDs and even copper plates as photocells. It’s easy to make a portable phone charger from photocells from garden lanterns.

The best solution would be to buy ready-made plates. Some online sites sell modules with minor manufacturing defects at a reasonable price; they are quite suitable for use.

Rational placement of batteries

The placement of the modules greatly determines how much energy the system will produce. The more rays that hit the photocells, the more energy they produce. For optimal location The following conditions must be met:

Important! The battery current is determined by the performance of the weakest element. Even a small shadow on one module can reduce system performance by 10 to 50%.

How to calculate the required power

Before you begin assembling the battery, you need to determine the required power. The number of cells purchased and total area finished batteries.

The system can be either autonomous (supplying the house with electricity on its own) or combined, combining the energy of the sun and a traditional source.

The calculation consists of three steps:

Find out the total power consumption.
Determine Sufficient Capacity battery and inverter power.
Calculate required amount cells based on insolation data in your region.

Power consumption

For autonomous system You can determine it by your electric meter. Divide the total amount of energy consumed per month by the number of days and get the average daily consumption.

If only some of the devices will be powered from the battery, find out their power from the passport or markings on the device. Multiply the resulting values by the number of hours of work per day. By adding up the obtained values for all devices, you get the average consumption per day.

AB capacity (rechargeable battery) and inverter power

AB for solar systems must withstand a large number of discharge and discharge cycles, have low self-discharge, withstand high charging current, operate at high and low temperatures, while requiring minimal maintenance. These parameters are optimal for lead-acid batteries.

Another important indicator is capacity, the maximum charge that the battery can accept and store. Insufficient capacity is increased by connecting batteries in parallel, in series or combining both connections.

Calculation will help you find out the required number of batteries. Let's consider it to concentrate the energy reserve for 1 day in a battery with a capacity of 200 Ah and a voltage of 12 V.

Let's assume that the daily demand is 4800 V.h., the output voltage of the system is 24 V. Taking into account that the losses on the inverter will be 20%, we will introduce a correction factor of 1.2.

4800:24x1.2=240 Ah

The depth of battery discharge should not exceed 30-40%, let's take this into account.

240x0.4= 600 Ah

The resulting value is three times the battery capacity, so to store the required amount you will need 3 batteries connected in parallel. But at the same time, the battery voltage is 12 V, to double it, you will need 3 more batteries connected in series.

To obtain a voltage of 48 V, connect two parallel chains of 4 AB each in parallel.

The inverter is used to convert direct current into variable. Select it according to peak, maximum load. On some consuming devices, the inrush current is significantly higher than the rated current. It is this indicator that is taken into account. In other cases, nominal values are taken into account.

The shape of the voltage also matters. The best option- pure sine wave. Suitable for devices insensitive to voltage surges square shape. You should also consider the possibility of switching the device from the battery directly to solar panels.

Required number of cells

Insolation rates vary greatly in different areas. For correct calculation you need to know these numbers for your area; the data is easy to find on the Internet or at a weather station.

Insolation table by month for different regions

Insolation depends not only on the time of year, but also on the angle of the battery

When calculating, focus on the lowest insolation levels during the year, otherwise the battery will not generate enough energy during this period.

Suppose the minimum indicators are in January, 0.69, the maximum in July, 5.09.

Correction factors for winter time are 0.7, for summer time - 0.5.

The required amount of energy is 4800 Wh.

One panel has a power of 260 W and a voltage of 24 V.

Losses on the battery and inverter are 20%.

We calculate consumption taking into account losses: 4800×1.2=5760 Wh=5.76 kWh.

We determine the performance of one panel.

Summer: 0.5×260×5.09= 661.7 Wh.

In winter: 0.7×260×0.69=125.5 Wh.

We calculate the required number of batteries by dividing the energy consumed by the performance of the panels.

In summer: 5760/661.7=8.7 pcs.

In winter: 5760/125.5=45.8 pcs.

It turns out that for full provision, in winter you will need five times more modules than in summer. Therefore, it is worth immediately installing more batteries or winter period provide a hybrid power supply system.

How to assemble a solar battery with your own hands

The assembly consists of several stages: manufacturing the case, soldering the elements, assembling the system and installing it. Before you start work, stock up on everything you need.

The battery consists of several layers

Materials and tools

photocells;
flat conductors;
alcohol-rosin flux;
soldering iron;
aluminum profile;
aluminum corners;
hardware;
silicone sealant;
hacksaw for metal;
screwdriver;
glass, plexiglass or plexiglass;
diodes;
measuring instruments.

It is better to order photocells complete with conductors; they are specially designed for this purpose. Other conductors are more fragile, which can be a problem during soldering and assembly. There are cells with already soldered conductors. They cost more, but significantly save time and labor costs.

Buy plates with conductors, this will reduce operating time

The housing frame is usually made of aluminum angle, but it is possible to use wooden slats or 2x2 square bars. This option is less preferable as it does not provide sufficient protection from weather conditions.

For a transparent panel, choose a material with a minimum refractive index. Any obstacle in the path of the rays increases energy loss. It is desirable that the material transmits as little infrared radiation as possible.

Important! The more the panel is charged, the less energy it produces.

Frame calculation

The dimensions of the frame are calculated based on the size of the cells. It is important to provide a small distance of 3-5 mm between adjacent elements and take into account the width of the frame so that it does not overlap the edges of the elements.

The cells are available in various sizes; consider the option of 36 plates, 81x150 mm in size. We arrange the elements in 4 rows, 9 pieces in one. Based on these data, the dimensions of the frame are 835x690 mm.

Making a box

Soldering elements and assembling modules

If the elements were purchased without contacts, they must first be soldered to each plate. To do this, cut the conductor into equal pieces.

Cut a rectangle out of cardboard the right size and wrap the conductor around it, then cut it on both sides.
Apply flux to each conductor and attach the strip to the element.
Carefully solder the conductor along the entire length of the cell.
Solder conductors to each plate
Place the cells in a row one after another with a gap of 3-5 mm and solder them together sequentially.
During installation, periodically check the functionality of the modules
Transfer the finished rows of 9 cells into the body and align them relative to each other and the contour of the frame.
Solder in parallel, using wider bars and observing polarity.
Place rows of elements on a transparent backing and solder them together
Output the “+” and “-” contacts.
Apply 4 drops of sealant to each element and place the second glass on top.
Let the glue dry.
Fill the perimeter with sealant to prevent moisture from getting inside.
Secure the panel to the housing using the corners, screwing them to the sides aluminum profile.
Install a Schottke blocking diode using sealant to prevent the battery from discharging through the module.
Provide the output wire with a two-pin connector, and then connect the controller to it.
Screw the corners to the frame to secure the battery to the support.

Video: soldering and assembling a solar module

The battery is ready, all that remains is to install it. For more efficient work you can make a tracker.

Manufacturing of the rotary mechanism

simplest swivel mechanism easy to make yourself. The principle of its operation is based on a system of counterweights.

From wooden blocks or an aluminum profile, assemble a support for the battery in the form of a stepladder.
Using two bearings and a metal rod or pipe, place the battery on top so that it is centered on the larger side.
Orient the structure from east to west and wait until the sun is at its zenith.
Rotate the panel so that the rays fall on it vertically.
Attach a container of water to one end and balance it at the other end with a weight.
Make a hole in the container so that the water flows out little by little.

As the water flows out, the weight of the vessel will decrease and the edge of the panel will rise up, turning the battery behind the sun. The size of the hole will have to be determined experimentally.

The simplest solar tracker is made on the principle of a water clock

All you need is to pour water into the container in the morning. This design cannot be installed on the roof, but for garden plot or the lawn in front of the house, it is quite suitable. There are others, more complex designs tracker, but they will require large expenses.

Video: how to make your own electronic solar tracker

Battery Installation

Now you can conduct a test and enjoy free electricity.

Module maintenance

Solar panels do not require special maintenance, because they have no moving parts. For their normal functioning It is enough to clean the surface from time to time from dirt, dust and bird droppings.

Wash the batteries with a garden hose; if there is good water pressure, you won’t even need to climb onto the roof to do this. Make sure it's working properly additional equipment.

How soon will the costs be recouped?

You should not expect immediate benefits from a solar power supply system. Its average payback is approximately 10 years for an autonomous system at home.

The more energy you consume, the faster your costs will pay off. After all, both small and large consumption require the purchase of additional equipment: battery, inverter, controller, and they account for a small part of the costs.

Also consider the service life of the equipment, and the panels themselves, so that you don’t have to change them before they pay for themselves.

Despite all the costs and disadvantages, for solar energy future. The sun is a renewable energy source and will last at least another 5 thousand years. And science does not stand still; new materials for solar cells are appearing, with much greater efficiency. This means that they will soon be more affordable. But you can use the energy of the sun now.

Nowadays, not only specialists are involved in alternative energy. Options for autonomous power supplies are also of interest to hobbyists who are familiar with electrical and radio equipment. In relation to solar panels main difficulty in the implementation of the project - their high price. And if you consider that for a private house you will need several panels, then some skepticism in terms of their use in everyday life becomes understandable.

Although there is a good solution for those who are used to doing everything with their own hands - to assemble a solar battery from separate panels. For example, Chinese ones, which are relatively inexpensive.

From their experience practical application we can conclude that they fully meet the expectations of the master. And if you focus on class B kit (cheaper products), then the savings are self-assembly significant power supply is achieved.

To obtain a sample of 145 W with a total voltage of 18 V, you will have to pay about 3,100 rubles for Chinese panels (36 pieces) (if purchased via the Internet, for example, on Alibaba, Ebay) versus 6,180 (the cost of a ready-made analog industrial production). It turns out that it makes sense to spend time and make such a battery.

Not only Chinese, but all solar panels are divided into mono- (more expensive) and polycrystalline (amorphous). What is the difference? Without going into manufacturing technology, it is enough to point out that the former are characterized by a homogeneous structure. Therefore, their efficiency is higher than that of amorphous analogues (approximately 25% versus 18%) and they are more expensive.

Visually, they can be distinguished by their shape (shown in the figure) and shade of blue. Monocrystalline panels are slightly darker. Well, whether it makes sense to save on power, you will have to decide for yourself. In addition, it should be taken into account that the production of inexpensive polycrystalline panels in China is mainly carried out by small companies that save on literally everything, including raw materials. This directly affects not only the cost, but also the quality of the product.

All photocells are connected into a single energy chain by conductors. Depending on the type of panels, they may already be fixed in place or missing. This means you will have to solder them yourself. All crystalline samples are quite fragile and must be handled with extreme care.

If you do not have the proper skills to work with a soldering iron, then it is better to purchase class A panels (more expensive). When buying cheap analogues (B), it is advisable to take at least one in stock. The practice of assembling solar panels shows that damage cannot be avoided, so an extra panel will definitely be needed.

When determining the required number of photocells, you can rely on such data. 1 m² of panels provides approximately 0.12 kW/hour of electricity. Energy consumption statistics show that for a small family (4 people) about 280 - 320 kW per month is sufficient.

Solar panels are sold in two possible options– with wax coating (to protect against damage during transportation) and without it. If the panels have a protective layer, they will have to be prepared for assembly.

What needs to be done?

Unpack the goods.
Immerse the kit in hot water. Approximate temperature – 90±5 0С. The main thing is that it is not boiling water, otherwise the panels will be partially deformed.
Separate samples. Signs that the wax has melted are visible visually.
Process each panel. The technology is simple - alternately immerse them in hot soapy water, then clean. The “washing” procedure continues until there are no traces of wax left on the surface.
Dry. The panels should be laid out soft fabric. For example, on a terry tablecloth.

Assembly order

Specifics of frame manufacturing

In fact, this is a traditional simple frame, the material for which is selected depending on the location of the battery. Typically, on thematic websites, aluminum corner or wood is indicated. The advisability of using the latter (with all due respect to the authors of the articles) raises certain doubts. The main reason is the characteristics of any tree. It consists of moisture content, regardless of the degree of drying.

No matter how many percent it is, twisting and even cracking of the wood cannot be avoided. Given the fragility of the panels, this is definitely not an option. This kind of thing, even if attached to a window inside a building, will not last long.

Battery installation

The frame dimensions are selected based on the linear parameters of the panels. Horizontal or vertical orientation - this depends on the specifics of the battery installation, and is not of fundamental importance.

A sheet of glass or polycarbonate (not cellular, but monolithic) is attached to the frame. He performs protective function, protecting photocells from mechanical destruction.

on him, with inside frame, drops are applied silicone sealant(in the center of the panels), or it is spread with the thinnest layer. Recommendations for the use of resin (epoxy) are hardly worthy of attention, since in this case there is no talk about the maintainability of the battery.

The calculated number of panels is placed in the frame (assembly is done in advance). One gives a voltage of about 0.5 V (a small deviation in the nominal value does not count). Here it is important not to confuse where the front side of the products is and where the back is.

The back is covered with a soft, removable mat. To make it yourself, you can take foam rubber (4 cm, at least) and P/E film. Its edges are connected with tape or soldered (if you have a special machine).

The work doesn't end there. Air bubbles will remain between the glass (polycarbonate) and the panels, which reduces the efficiency of the solar panel. They need to be removed. To do this, dense material is laid on the mat. For example, a fragment selected according to the size of the frame, thick (multi-layer) plywood.

On top is a load whose weight is sufficient to lightly press down the panels. The battery is left in this position for at least half a day. Here you should focus on its dimensions and uniform load distribution.

After this time, the bending, plywood and mat are dismantled. You cannot immediately attach the battery to the installation site. It will take some more time for the sealant to completely dry.

Instead of a mat, you can use another soft substrate. For example, sawdust, shavings.

The final stage is manufacturing back wall and putting it in place. For this, chipboard, fiberboard, plywood are taken, but always with the same backing to protect the panels from deformation.

Circuit assembly features

Soldering plates is a complex process that requires painstakingness and care. It is better to work with a low-power soldering iron (24 - 36 W). If you use 65, which is common in everyday life, then it should be turned on through a limiting resistance. The simplest option– serial connection of a 100-watt light bulb.

But that's not all. It is necessary to prevent self-discharge of the battery (at night, in inclement weather). This is ensured by the inclusion of semiconductor diodes in the circuit. It is advisable to use an acoustic cable as a conductor (for terminals), which is also fixed on the panel with sealant.

The option of a film solar battery (there is one) is not being considered. Despite some advantages, it has a number of significant disadvantages - low efficiency and the need for installation over large areas. This is an unacceptable solution for a private home.

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