Thursday, November 8, 2012

Solar Power - How to make a basic solar panel




This was the first do-it-yourself solar panel. Thought I would show some of the steps involved. - Purchased (36) b-grade 2" x 6" solar cells from ebay ($20) - Need soldering gun, a rosin pen and solder - Be safe. Solder smoke is toxic! Use a ventilation system like a kitchen fan ($10) and dryer hose. Or a table fan to blow the smoke away. - Single pane window ($15) for the glass/frame/panel - Use a sealant or waterproof back. (As shown in this video, don't recommend clear caulking to seal the cells) Produce a good panel that is still working 3 years later. Feel free to check out some of the other videos from the Cedarworkshop



In the News:




FuelFix (blog)

Europe Intensifies Chinese Solar Panel Investigation
New York Times
But some companies, including many that install and repair solar energy systems, say that punishing the Chinese will make it more difficult to generate jobs and to expand use of the solar power as a way to cut pollution and enhance energy independence.
U.S. trade panel finds harm from China solar panelsFuelFix (blog)
US finalizes steep tariffs on China's solar panelsUSA TODAY
Europe Launches Probe Into China's Solar PanelsWall Street Journal
AllAfrica.com -4-traders
all 640 news articles »



Press-Enterprise

Farmers grow profits with a new crop: solar panels
Charlotte Observer
Utilities argue that it is more expensive to produce solar power than traditional energy forms. They also say the best solar power can ever do is supplement more reliable energy sources. It will never replace coal or nuclear because the sun doesn't ...
Rural Kingston's largest proposed solar farm generates heat at councilEMC Kingston

all 15 news articles »



Clifton Park approves agreement on solar panels in landfill
cnweekly
to generate solar energy in Baltimore, Camden, N.J., Hackettstown, N.J. and Wilmington, Del. The company is tracking several bills in the New York Legislature that could make the Clifton Park solar panel project profitable. The agreement contains no ...




PolicyMic

Solar Power: What Obama Can Learn From German Solar Success and Failure
PolicyMic
Astonishingly, the Germans are ambivalent over whether or not to phase out their “Feed-In Tariff” policy, wherein private citizens can actually make money with their solar power production by feeding it back into the power grid. This appears to be in ...




Researchers work to make solar tech more affordable
Phys.Org
The studies are aimed at improving an ink jet-like printing technique for producing flexible solar paneling, making thin-film solar panels more efficient and understanding structural changes in solar panel components that are heated during manufacturing.

and more »






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