A solar panel is made up of solar cells, each of which converts the sun’s energy into electricity. Despite the known benefits of having solar power on the home, the cost had prevented an ordinary homemaker from considering it. However, recent studies have shown that anyone can build their own solar panel for use at home simply by using items that are readily available at a hardware store. Although most commercially manufactured solar cells are made of intricately processed silicon and are expensive, cuprous oxide can be used. Although not as efficient as cells made of silicon, a typical home can obviously sacrifice efficiency for more affordable cost. Cuprous oxide has been found to have a photoelectric effect, a property in which light causes a flow of electricity in a material. Some things needed to make a panel at home include a sheet of copper, alligator clips, an electric stove, a plastic bottle, table salt, and plain tap water.
Anyone can also make use of other easily available materials at home to replace the mentioned things because the sole purpose is to create a cuprous oxide material by burning a copper sheet. The steps on how to make a homemade solar panel begin by burning a piece of copper for about half an hour to make cuprous oxide. A regular stove can be used in this step or anything in the kitchen that can do the job. The presence of cuprous oxide is evident by a thick black layer that will appear on the surface of the copper as it burns. The solar cell is created by pairing the burned piece with another piece of copper foil that will act as a conductor through which the current will flow. Several solar cells can be arranged to make a homemade panel.
A touch of technical creativity can help ensure that the setup can be exposed to the sun for as long as possible during the day. Ideally, a solar panel receives maximum sun exposure from 10am to noon. This gradually decreases towards the afternoon. A panel generates DC that can be used directly to power DC-powered equipment such as flashlights and light bulbs. However, since most household appliances run on AC, an inverter would be needed to convert DC to AC. An inverter can be easily purchased at a local hardware store or made at home as well.
