Homemade Solar Power

The high cost of energy is what is driving many households to build their own homemade energy source. Anyone can make a homemade solar power system for under $300. The parts to make the system are available from a variety of sources and the prices are reasonable. Most people purchase the items they need from the internet. The savings involved in creating one of these units is huge. Families save hundreds and even thousands of dollars each year on their electric bill, plus they help to keep the environment save.

These generators can power televisions, fans, lights, cameras, DVDs, computers, and other appliances in the event of a power failure. To start making a portable solar panel one needs to start with 12-volt or higher size batteries; however, 16 volt batteries will probably be better. The local marine supply stores carry these size batteries in abundance. Make sure the batteries are the deep cycle gel, lead, or acid types.

A car battery is not suitable since it is only good for starting an engine. The deep cycle battery provides continuous use and has more amps. They range from under $100 to a couple of hundred dollars. As with any experiment or chemical base project, safety is the number one concern. Place the battery inside a battery case, preferably one with a cover. This will ensure that children will not be tempted to play with exposed terminals.

Purchasing a 12-volt DC meter is great for monitoring the level of charge the cell holds. Too much or too little charge can cause damage to the battery. The cell should keep a charge of up to 90% at all times. A good DC input is an excellent source of energy to use, and the cost is around $10. This is actually enough power to operate quite a few electric appliances and commercial items. The DC power can convert to AC current, easily and inexpensively, with the purchase of an inverter.

Inverters are very cheap and they are available in various watt sizes. To find out how many watts is needed count up the number of watts each appliance and product holds. The cheapest place to buy an inverter will probably be from an online store. The next step is to attach the DC and the DC meter on top of the box using a drill. When using wires make sure they have insulation covering, because they will connect to the wing nut terminals positioned on the battery. Start with connecting the negative pole first. Next, connect the DC outlet and the solar panel to the battery the same exact way.

The battery should already be in a box; close the lid tight and expose the solar panel to the sun. Let it stay in the sunlight for approximately 5 to 8 hours if the battery is dead, and 1 to 3 hours if the hour is weak. It should give up to 5 hours of continuous use, if it is using a 115 AC volt or better. It the solar system is larger a voltage regulator is necessary.