What to make a solar battery at home. How to make solar panels with your own hands. Diode solar cell

Mankind, in order to care for the environment and save money, began to use alternative energy sources, which, in particular, include solar panels. Buying such a pleasure will be quite expensive, but it is not difficult to make this device with your own hands. Therefore, it does not hurt you to learn how to make a solar battery yourself. This will be discussed in our article.

Solar panels are devices that generate electricity using photovoltaic cells.

Before talking about how to make a solar battery with your own hands, you need to understand the device and the principles of its operation. The solar battery includes photocells connected in series and in parallel, a battery that stores electricity, an inverter that converts direct current into alternating current, and a controller that monitors the charging and discharging of the battery.

As a rule, photocells are made of silicon, but its purification is expensive, so elements such as indium, copper, and selenium have recently begun to be used.

Each photocell is a separate cell that generates electricity. The cells are linked to each other and form a single field, the area of which determines the power of the battery. That is, the more solar cells, the more electricity is generated.

In order to make a solar panel with your own hands at home, you need to understand the essence of such a phenomenon as the photoelectric effect. A photocell is a silicon plate, when light hits it, an electron is knocked out from the last energy level of silicon atoms. The movement of the flow of such electrons generates a direct current, which is subsequently converted into alternating current. This is the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect.

Advantages

Solar panels have the following advantages:

harmlessness to the environment;
durability;
silent operation;
ease of manufacture and installation;
independence of electricity supply from the distribution network;
immobility of parts of the device;
insignificant financial costs;
light weight;
operation without mechanical transducers.

Varieties

Solar panels are divided into the following types.

Silicon

Silicon is the most popular battery material.

Silicon batteries are also divided into:

Monocrystalline: These batteries use very pure silicon.
Polycrystalline (cheaper than monocrystalline): Polycrystals are obtained by gradual cooling of silicon.

Film

Such batteries are divided into the following types:

Based on cadmium telluride (efficiency 10%): cadmium has a high light absorption coefficient, which makes it possible to use it in the production of batteries.
Based on copper selenide - indium: the efficiency is higher than that of the previous ones.
Polymer.

Solar batteries from polymers have begun to be manufactured relatively recently, usually furellenes, polyphenylene, etc. are used for this. Polymer films are very thin, about 100 nm. Despite the efficiency of 5%, polymer batteries have their advantages: cheap material, environmental friendliness, elasticity.

amorphous

The efficiency of amorphous batteries is 5%. Such panels are made of silane (silicon hydrogen) on the principle of film batteries, so they can be attributed to both silicon and film batteries. Amorphous batteries are elastic, generate electricity even in bad weather, absorb light better than other panels.

materials

To make a solar battery, you will need the following materials:

photocells;
aluminum corners;
Schottky diodes;
silicone sealants;
conductors;
fixing screws and hardware;
polycarbonate sheet/plexiglass;
soldering equipment.

These materials are required in order to make a solar battery with your own hands.

Choice of photocells

To make a solar battery for your home with your own hands, you should choose the right solar cells. The latter are subdivided into monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous.

The efficiency of the first is 13%, but such photocells are ineffective in bad weather, outwardly they are bright blue squares. Polycrystalline solar cells are capable of generating electricity even in bad weather, although their efficiency is only 9%, they are darker in appearance than monocrystalline ones and cut off at the edges. Amorphous photocells are made of flexible silicon, their efficiency is 10%, their performance does not depend on weather conditions, but the production of such cells is too expensive, so they are rarely used.

If you plan to use the electricity generated by photovoltaic cells in the country, then we advise you to assemble a solar battery with your own hands from polycrystalline cells, since their efficiency is sufficient for your purposes.

You should buy photocells of the same brand, since photocells of several brands can vary greatly - this can cause problems with battery assembly and its functioning. It should be remembered that the amount of energy produced by a cell is directly proportional to its size, that is, the larger the photocell, the more electricity it produces; cell voltage depends on its type, and not on size.

The amount of current produced is determined by the dimensions of the smallest photocell, so you should buy photocells of the same size. Of course, you should not buy cheap products, because this means that they have not passed the test. Also, you should not buy photocells coated with wax (many manufacturers cover photocells with wax to preserve products during transportation): removing it can damage the photocell.

Calculations and project

Building a solar panel with your own hands is a simple task, the main thing is to approach its implementation responsibly. To make a solar panel with your own hands, you should calculate the daily electricity consumption, then find out the average daily solar time in your area and calculate the required power. Thus, it will become clear how many cells and what size you need to purchase. After all, as mentioned above, the current generated by the cell depends on its dimensions.

Knowing the required size of the cells and their number, it is necessary to calculate the dimensions and weight of the panel, after which it is necessary to find out whether the roof or other place where the solar battery is planned to be installed will withstand the intended design.

When installing the panel, you should not only choose the sunniest place, but also try to fix it at a right angle to the sun's rays.

Stages of work

Frame

Before you start making a solar panel with your own hands, you need to build a frame for it. It protects the battery from damage, moisture and dust.

The body is assembled from a moisture-resistant material: plywood coated with a moisture-repellent agent, or aluminum corners, to which plexiglass or polycarbonate is glued with silicone sealant.

In this case, it is necessary to observe the indents between the elements (3-4 mm), since it is necessary to take into account the expansion of the material with increasing temperature.

Soldering elements

The photocells are laid out on the front side of the transparent surface, so that the distance between them on all sides is 5 mm: in this way, the possible expansion of the photocells with increasing temperature is taken into account.

Converters having two poles are fixed: positive and negative. If you want to increase the voltage, connect the elements in series, if the current - in parallel.

To avoid discharging the battery at night, a Schottky diode is included in a single circuit consisting of all the necessary parts, connecting it to the positive conductor. Then all the elements are soldered together.

Assembly

Soldered transducers are placed in the finished frame, silicone is applied to the photocells - all this is covered with a layer of fiberboard, closed with a lid, and the joints of the parts are treated with sealant.

Even a city dweller can make and place a solar battery on the balcony with their own hands. It is desirable that the balcony be glazed and insulated.
So we figured out how to make a solar battery at home, it turned out that it was not difficult at all.

Ideas from improvised materials

You can make a solar battery with your own hands from improvised materials. Consider the most popular options.

Many will be surprised to learn that foil can be used to make a solar battery with your own hands. In fact, this is not surprising, because the foil increases the reflectivity of materials. For example, to reduce overheating of the panels, they are placed on foil.

How to make a foil solar panel?

We will need:

2 "crocodiles";
copper foil;
multimeter;
salt;
empty plastic bottle without a neck;
electric oven;
drill.

After cleaning the copper sheet and washing our hands, we cut off a piece of foil, put it on a hot electric stove, heat it for half an hour, observing blackening, then remove the foil from the stove, let it cool and see how the pieces peel off from the sheet. After heating, the oxide film disappears, so the black oxide can be gently removed with water.

Then a second piece of foil is cut out the same size as the first, the two parts are bent, lowered into the bottle so that they do not have the opportunity to touch.

Foil can also be used for heating. To do this, it must be pulled onto the frame, to which you then need to connect hoses connected, for example, to a watering can.

So we learned how to make a solar panel for the home from foil.

Many houses have old transistors lying around, but not everyone knows that they are quite suitable for making a solar battery for a summer cottage with their own hands. In this case, the photocell is a semiconductor wafer located inside the transistor. How to make a solar battery from transistors with your own hands? First you need to open the transistor, for which it is enough to cut off the cover, so we can see the plate: it is small in size, which explains the low efficiency of solar panels from transistors.

Next, you need to check the transistor. To do this, we use a multimeter: we connect the device to a transistor with a well-lit p-n junction and measure the current, the multimeter should record the current from a few fractions of a milliamp to 1 or a little more; then we switch the device to the voltage measurement mode, the multimeter should give out tenths of a volt.

We place the tested transistors inside the case, for example, sheet plastic and solder it. You can make such a solar battery with your own hands at home and use it to charge batteries and low power radios.

Old diodes are also suitable for assembling batteries. Making a solar battery with your own hands from diodes is not difficult at all. It is necessary to open the diode, exposing the crystal, which is a photocell, then heat the diode for 20 seconds on a gas stove, and when the solder melts, remove the crystal. It remains to solder the pulled out crystals to the case.

The power of such batteries is small, but it is enough to power small LEDs.

This option of making a solar battery with your own hands from improvised means will seem very strange to most, but making a solar battery with your own hands from beer cans is simple and cheap.

We will make the case from plywood, on which we will place polycarbonate or plexiglass, on the back surface of the plywood we will fix foam or glass wool for insulation. Aluminum cans will serve as photocells. It is important to choose exactly aluminum cans, since aluminum is less susceptible to corrosion than, for example, iron and has better heat transfer.

Further, holes are made in the bottom of the cans, the lid is cut off, and unnecessary elements are bent to ensure better air circulation. Then it is necessary to clean the jars of grease and dirt with the help of special products that do not contain acids. Next, you need to hermetically fasten the cans together: with silicone gel that can withstand high temperatures, or with a soldering iron. Be sure to dry the glued cans very well in a stationary position.

Having attached the cans to the body, we paint them black and close the structure with plexiglass or polycarbonate. Such a battery is capable of heating water or air with subsequent supply to the room.

We looked at options for how to make a solar panel with your own hands. We hope that now you will not have a question about how to make a solar battery.

Video

How to make solar panels with your own hands - video tutorial.

are photovoltaic converters (solar modules) that convert the energy of sunlight into electricity. In order to use household appliances at the expense of a solar battery in the house, there should be a lot of such modules.

The energy generated by one module is not enough to meet the energy needs. The photovoltaic converters are interconnected by one series circuit.

Parts that make up a solar battery:

solar modules combined into frames. In one frame, from units to several tens of photovoltaic cells are combined. To provide electricity to the whole house, you will need several panels with elements.
. It serves to accumulate the energy received, which can then be used at night.
Controller. It monitors the charging and discharging of the battery.
. Converts direct current received from solar modules to alternating current.

Solar module (or photovoltaic cell) It is based on the principle of p-n junction, and in its structure is very similar to a transistor. If you cut off the hat of the transistor and direct the sun's rays to the surface, then a meager electric current can be determined by the device connected to it. The solar module works on the same principle, only the transition surface of the solar cell is much larger.

Like many types of transistors, solar cells are made from crystalline silicon.

According to manufacturing technology and materials, there are three types of modules:

Monocrystalline. Made in the form of cylindrical silicon ingots. The advantages of the elements are high performance, compactness and the longest service life.
Thin film. The layers of the photoelectric converter are deposited on a thin substrate. The efficiency of thin-film modules is relatively low (7-13%).
Polycrystalline. Molten silicon is poured into a square mold, then the cooled material is cut into square plates. Outwardly, they differ from single-crystal modules in that the edges of the corners of polycrystalline plates are not cut off.

Battery. Lead-acid batteries are most widely used in solar panels. A standard battery has a voltage of 12 volts; battery packs are assembled to obtain a higher voltage. So you can assemble a block with a voltage of 24 and 48 volts.

Solar charge controller. The charge controller acts like a voltage regulator in a car. Basically, 12 volts give out a voltage of 15 to 20 volts, and without a controller they can be damaged by overload. When the battery is 100% charged, the controller turns off the modules and protects the battery from boiling.

inverter. Solar modules generate direct current, while household appliances and appliances require alternating current and a voltage of 220 volts. Inverters are designed to convert direct current into alternating current.

Selection of components for manufacturing

To reduce the cost of a solar station, you need to try to assemble it yourself. To do this, you will need to purchase the necessary components, some elements can be made by yourself.

It will be possible to independently collect:

frames with photoelectric converters;
charge controller;
voltage inverter;

The largest costs will be associated with the acquisition of the solar cells themselves. Parts can be ordered from China or on eBay, this option will cost less.

It is prudent to purchase serviceable converters with damage and defects - they are simply rejected by the manufacturer, but they are quite serviceable. You cannot buy elements of different sizes and power - the maximum current of the solar battery will be limited by the current of the smallest element.

To make a frame with solar cells you will need:

aluminum profile;
solar cells (usually 36 pieces for one frame);
solder and flux;
drill;
fasteners did;
silicone sealant;
copper bus;
a sheet of transparent material (plexiglass, polycarbonate, plexiglass);
a sheet of plywood or textolite (plexiglass);
Schottky diodes;

It makes sense to assemble the inverter yourself only with low power consumption. A simple charge controller is not so expensive, so there is not much point in wasting time on making the device.

DIY manufacturing technology

To assemble solar panels you will need:

Design a frame (case).
Solder all the solar cells in a parallel circuit.
Fix the solar cells to the frame.
Make the housing airtight - direct contact with atmospheric precipitation on photovoltaic cells is unacceptable.
Locate the battery in an area with the highest amount of sunlight.

To meet the energy needs of a private house, one solar panel (frame) will not be enough. Based on practice, 120 W of power can be obtained from one square meter of a solar panel. For the normal energy supply of a residential building, it will take about 20 square meters. m. area of solar cells.

Most often, batteries are placed on the roof of the house on the sunny side.

Case assembly

The body can be assembled from plywood sheet and slats, or from aluminum corners and sheet and plexiglass (textolite). It is necessary to decide how many elements will be placed in the frame. It should be borne in mind that a gap of 3-5 mm is required between the elements, and the size of the frame is calculated taking into account these distances. The distance is necessary so that during thermal expansion the plates do not touch each other.

Assembling the structure from aluminum profile and plexiglass:

a rectangular frame is made from an aluminum corner;
Holes for fasteners are drilled in the corners in the aluminum case;
silicone sealant is applied to the inside of the body profile around the entire perimeter;
a sheet of plexiglass (textolite) is installed in the frame and tightly pressed against the frame;
at the corners of the case, with the help of screws, fixing corners are placed, which securely fix the sheet of transparent material in the case;
the sealant is allowed to dry thoroughly;

Everything, the body is ready. Before placing the solar cells in the housing, it is necessary to thoroughly wipe the surface from dirt and dust.

Photocell connection

When handling photoelectronic elements, it should be remembered that they are very fragile and require careful handling. Before connecting the plates in a serial chain, they are first carefully but gently wiped - the plates must be perfectly clean.

If the photocells were purchased already with soldered conductors, this simplifies the process of connecting the modules. But before assembly, in this case, it is necessary to check the quality of the finished soldering, and if there are irregularities, eliminate them.

On the photovoltaic plates, there are contacts on both sides - these are contacts of different polarity. If the conductors (buses) have not yet been soldered, you must first solder them to the contacts of the plates, and then connect the photovoltaic cells to each other.

To solder busbars to photovoltaic modules, you need:

Measure the desired length of the tire and cut into pieces the desired number of strips.
Wipe the contacts of the plates with alcohol.
Apply a thin layer of flux to the contact along the entire length of the contact on one side.
Attach the tire exactly along the length of the contact and slowly draw a heated soldering iron over the entire soldering surface.
Turn the plate over and repeat all soldering operations on the other side.

You can not strongly press the soldering iron to the plate, the element may burst. It is also necessary to check the quality of the soldering - there should be no irregularities on the front side of the photocells. If the bumps and roughness remain, you need to carefully walk the soldering iron along the contact seam again. It is necessary to use a low-power soldering iron.

What needs to be done in order to correctly and accurately connect photovoltaic cells:

If there is no experience in assembling elements, it is recommended to use a marking surface on which elements should be placed (plywood sheet).
Arrange solar panels strictly according to the markup. When marking, do not forget to leave a distance of 5 mm between the elements.
When soldering the contacts of the plates, be sure to monitor the polarity. The photocells must be properly connected in series, otherwise the battery will not work properly.

Mechanical installation of panels:

In the case, make markings for the plates.
Place the solar cells in the housing, placing them on the plexiglass. In the frame, fix with silicone glue in the marked places. Do not apply much glue, just a tiny drop in the center of the plate. Press carefully so as not to damage the plates. It is better to move the plates together into the case, it will be inconvenient for one.
Connect all wires at the edges of the plates with common busbars.

Before sealing the panel, you need to test the quality of the soldering. The structure is carefully taken out closer to the sunlight and the voltage on the common tires is measured. It should be within the expected values.

Alternatively, sealing can be done as follows:

Apply droplets of silicone sealant between the plates and along the edges of the case, gently press the edges of the photocells against the plexiglass with your fingers. It is necessary that the elements lie as close as possible to the transparent base.
Put a small weight on all edges of the elements, say, heads from an automotive tool kit.
Let the sealant dry well., the plates will be securely fixed during this time.
Then carefully grease all the joints between the plates and the edges of the frame. That is, you need to lubricate everything in the case, except for the plates themselves. Sealant getting on the edges of the back side of the plates is acceptable.

Final assembly of the solar panel

Install the connector on the side of the case, connector connect with Schottky.
Close the outer side of the plate with a protective screen from transparent material. In this case, Plexiglas. The design must be airtight and prevent the penetration of moisture into it.
The front side (plexiglass) is desirable to process, for example, varnish (lacquer PLASTIK-71).

What is a Schottky diode for? If the light falls only on part of the solar panel, and the other part is darkened, the elements may fail.

Diodes help to avoid structural failure in such cases. In this case, power is lost by 25%, but diodes cannot be dispensed with - they shunt the current, the current bypasses the photocells. To minimize the voltage drop, it is necessary to use low-resistance semiconductors, such as Schottky diodes.

Advantages and disadvantages of a solar battery

Solar panels have both advantages and disadvantages. If there were only one pluses from the use of photoelectric converters, the whole world would have switched to this type of electricity generation long ago.

Advantages:

Autonomy of the power supply, there is no dependence on power outages in the centralized power grid.
No subscription fee for the use of electricity.

Flaws:

High cost equipment and elements.
Dependence on sunlight.
Possibility of damage to elements solar battery due to adverse weather conditions (hail, storm, hurricane).

In what cases it is advisable to use the installation on photovoltaic cells:

If the object (house or cottage) is located at a great distance from the power line. It may be a country cottage in the countryside.
When the object is located in the south sunny area.
When combining different types of energy. For example, heating a private house using stove heating and solar energy. The cost of a low-power solar station will not be so high, and can be economically justified in this case.

Installation

It is necessary to mount the battery in the place of maximum illumination by sunlight. The panels can be mounted on the roof of the house, on a rigid or swivel bracket.

The front of the solar panel should face south or southwest at an angle of 40 to 60 degrees. During installation, external factors must be taken into account. Panels should not be obstructed by trees and other objects, dirt should not get on them.

It is better to buy photocells with small defects. They also work, only they do not have such a beautiful appearance. New elements are very expensive, the assembly of a solar battery will not be economically justified. If there is no particular hurry, it is better to order plates on eBay, it will cost even less. With shipment and China, you need to be more careful - there is a high probability of receiving defective parts.
Photocells need to be bought with a small margin, there is a high probability of their breakdown during installation, especially if there is no experience in assembling such structures.
If the elements are not yet used, you should hide them in a safe place to avoid breakage of fragile parts. You can not stack the plates in large stacks - they can burst.
At the first assembly, a template should be made, which will mark the location of the plates before assembly. This makes it easier to measure the distance between elements before soldering.
Soldering is necessary with a low-power soldering iron, and in no case apply force when soldering.
It is more convenient to use aluminum corners to assemble the case, wooden construction is less reliable. As a sheet on the back of the elements, it is better to use plexiglass or other similar material and is more reliable than painted plywood and looks aesthetically pleasing.
Photovoltaic panels should be located in places where sunlight will be maximum. throughout the daylight hours.

House power supply scheme

The series power supply chain of a private solar-powered house is as follows:

Multi-panel solar array, which are located on the slope of the roof of the house, or on the bracket. Depending on the energy consumption, there can be up to 20 panels or more. The battery generates a direct current of 12 volts.
Charge controller. The device protects batteries from premature discharge, and also limits the voltage in the DC circuit. Thus, the controller protects the batteries from overload.
voltage inverter. Converts direct current to alternating current, thereby enabling the consumption of electricity by household appliances.
Batteries. For private houses and cottages, several batteries are installed, connecting them in series. They serve to store energy. The energy of the batteries is used at night, when the solar cells do not produce current.
electric meter.

Quite often, in private homes, the power supply system is supplemented by a backup generator.

In general, it is not so difficult to assemble a solar battery with your own hands. Only certain means, patience and accuracy are needed.

There is probably no such person who would not like to become more independent. The ability to fully manage your own time, to travel without knowing borders and distances, not to think about housing and financial problems - this is what gives a feeling of real freedom. Today we will talk about how, using solar radiation, relieve yourself of the burden of energy dependence. As you may have guessed, we are talking about solar panels. And to be more precise, about whether it is possible to build a real solar power plant with your own hands.

History of creation and prospects for use

The idea of converting the energy of the Sun into electricity has been nurtured by mankind for a long time. Solar thermal plants were the first to appear, in which steam superheated by concentrated sunlight rotated generator turbines. Direct conversion became possible only in the middle of the 19th century, after the Frenchman Alexandre Edmond Baccarel discovered the photoelectric effect. Attempts to create an operating solar cell based on this phenomenon were crowned with success only half a century later, in the laboratory of the outstanding Russian scientist Alexander Stoletov. It was possible to fully describe the mechanism of the photoelectric effect even later - humanity owes this to Albert Einstein. By the way, it was for this work that he received the Nobel Prize.

Baccarel, Stoletov and Einstein - these are the scientists who laid the foundation for modern solar energy

The creation of the first solar cell based on crystalline silicon was announced to the world by employees of Bell Laboratories back in April 1954. This date, in fact, is the starting point of the technology, which will soon be able to become a full-fledged replacement for hydrocarbon fuel.

Since the current of a single photovoltaic cell is milliamps, in order to obtain sufficient power, they have to be connected in modular designs. Arrays of solar photocells protected from external influences are a solar battery (because of the flat shape, the device is often called a solar panel).

Converting solar radiation into electricity has huge prospects, because for every square meter of the earth's surface there is an average of 4.2 kWh of energy per day, and this is a saving of almost one barrel of oil per year. Initially used only for the space industry, the technology already in the 80s of the last century became so commonplace that photocells began to be used for domestic purposes - as a power source for calculators, cameras, lamps, etc. At the same time, "serious" solar electric installations were also created. Fixed on the roofs of houses, they made it possible to completely abandon wired electricity. Today, one can observe the birth of power plants, which are many kilometers of fields of silicon panels. The power generated by them allows you to feed entire cities, so we can say with confidence that the future belongs to solar energy.

Modern solar power plants are many kilometers of fields of photovoltaic cells capable of supplying electricity to tens of thousands of homes.

Solar battery: how it works

After Einstein described the photoelectric effect, the whole simplicity of such a seemingly complex physical phenomenon was revealed to the world. It is based on a substance whose individual atoms are in an unstable state. When “bombarded” by photons of light, electrons are knocked out of their orbits - these are the current sources.

For almost half a century, the photoelectric effect had no practical application for one simple reason - there was no technology for obtaining materials with an unstable atomic structure. Prospects for further research appeared only with the discovery of semiconductors. The atoms of these materials either have an excess of electrons (n-conductivity) or experience a shortage in them (p-conductivity). When using a two-layer structure with an n-type layer (cathode) and a p-type layer (anode), the “bombardment” of light photons knocks electrons out of the atoms of the n-layer. Leaving their places, they rush to the free orbits of the atoms of the p-layer and then return to their original positions through the connected load. Probably, each of you knows that the movement of electrons in a closed circuit is an electric current. But it is possible to make the electrons move not due to the magnetic field, as in electric generators, but due to the flow of particles of solar radiation.

The solar panel works thanks to the photoelectric effect, which was discovered at the beginning of the 19th century.

Since the power of one photovoltaic module is insufficient to power electronic devices, a series connection of many cells is used to obtain the required voltage. As for the current strength, it is increased by parallel connection of a certain number of such assemblies.

The generation of electricity in semiconductors directly depends on the amount of solar energy, so photocells are not only installed outdoors, but they also try to orient their surface perpendicular to the incident rays. And in order to protect the cells from mechanical damage and atmospheric influences, they are mounted on a rigid base and protected with glass from above.

Classification and features of modern solar cells

The first solar cell was made on the basis of selenium (Se), but the low efficiency (less than 1%), rapid aging and high chemical activity of selenium solar cells forced us to look for other, cheaper and more efficient materials. And they were found in the face of crystalline silicon (Si). Since this element of the periodic table is a dielectric, its conductivity was provided by inclusions from various rare earth metals. Depending on the manufacturing technology, there are several types of silicon photocells:

monocrystalline;
polycrystalline;
from amorphous Si.

The first are made by cutting off the thinnest layers from silicon ingots of the highest degree of purification. Externally, single-crystal type photocells look like plain dark blue glass plates with a pronounced electrode grid. Their efficiency reaches 19%, and the service life is up to 50 years. And although the performance of panels made on the basis of monocrystals is gradually declining, there is evidence that batteries manufactured more than 40 years ago still remain operational, delivering up to 80% of their original power.

Monocrystalline solar cells have a uniform dark color and cut corners - these features do not allow them to be confused with other solar cells

In the production of polycrystalline solar cells, less pure, but cheaper silicon is used. The simplification of technology affects the appearance of the plates - they do not have a uniform shade, but a lighter pattern that forms the boundaries of many crystals. The efficiency of such solar cells is slightly lower than that of monocrystalline ones - no more than 15%, and the service life is up to 25 years. It must be said that the decrease in the main performance indicators did not affect the popularity of polycrystalline solar cells at all. They benefit from a lower price and not as strong dependence on external pollution, low cloudiness and orientation to the Sun.

Polycrystalline solar cells have a lighter blue tint and a non-uniform pattern - a consequence of the fact that their structure consists of many crystals

For solar cells made of amorphous Si, not a crystalline structure is used, but a very thin layer of silicon, which is deposited on glass or a polymer. Although this method of production is the cheapest, such panels have the shortest life, the reason for which is the burnout and degradation of the amorphous layer in the sun. This type of photocells is not happy with its performance either - their efficiency is no more than 9% and significantly decreases during operation. The use of solar panels made of amorphous silicon is justified in deserts - high solar activity levels the drop in productivity, and the vast expanses make it possible to place solar power stations of any size.

The ability to spray a silicon structure on any surface allows you to create flexible solar panels

Further development of photovoltaic cells production technology is caused by the need to reduce the price and improve performance. Film photocells today have maximum performance and durability:

based on cadmium telluride;
from thin polymers;
using indium and copper selenide.

It is still too early to talk about the possibility of using thin-film photocells in home-made devices. Today, only a few of the most technologically advanced companies are engaged in their release, so most often flexible photovoltaic cells can be seen as part of finished solar panels.

Which photovoltaic cells are best suited for a solar panel and where can I find them

Homemade solar panels will always be one step behind their factory counterparts, and for several reasons. Firstly, well-known manufacturers carefully select photocells, weeding out cells with unstable or reduced parameters. Secondly, in the manufacture of solar batteries, special glass is used with increased light transmission and reduced reflectivity - it is almost impossible to find this on sale. And thirdly, before proceeding to serial production, all parameters of industrial designs are tested using mathematical models. As a result, the effect of cell heating on the battery efficiency is minimized, the heat removal system is improved, the optimal cross section of the connecting busbars is found, ways to reduce the degradation rate of photocells, etc. are studied. It is impossible to solve such problems without an equipped laboratory and appropriate qualifications.

The low cost of homemade solar panels allows you to build a plant that allows you to completely abandon the services of energy companies

Nevertheless, do-it-yourself solar panels show good performance results and are not so far behind industrial counterparts. As for the price, here we have a gain of more than two times, that is, at the same cost, homemade products will give twice as much electricity.

Considering all of the above, a picture emerges of which solar cells are suitable for our conditions. Film ones disappear due to lack of sale, and amorphous ones - due to a short service life and low efficiency. Cells of crystalline silicon remain. I must say that in the first home-made device it is better to use cheaper "polycrystals". And only after running the technology and having “filled your hand”, you should switch to single-crystal cells.

Cheap substandard photocells are suitable for running in technologies - as well as high-quality devices, they can be bought on foreign trading floors

As for the question of where to get inexpensive solar cells, they can be found on foreign trading platforms such as Taobao, Ebay, Aliexpress, Amazon, etc. There they are sold both in the form of individual photocells of various sizes and performance, and ready-made kits for assembling solar panels any power.

It is not uncommon for vendors to offer so-called "B" class solar cells, which are damaged mono- or polycrystalline solar panels. Small chips, cracks or lack of corners practically do not affect the performance of the cells, but it allows you to purchase them at a much lower cost. It is for this reason that they are best used in home-made solar energy devices.

Is it possible to replace photovoltaic plates with something else

It is rare that a home master does not have a treasured box with old radio components. But diodes and transistors from old receivers and TVs are still the same semiconductors with p-n junctions, which, when illuminated by sunlight, generate current. Using these properties and connecting several semiconductor devices, you can make a real solar battery.

For the manufacture of a low-power solar battery, you can use the old element base of semiconductor devices

The attentive reader will immediately ask what the catch is. Why pay for factory-made mono- or polycrystalline cells, if you can use what lies literally under your feet. As always, the devil is in the details. The fact is that the most powerful germanium transistors make it possible to obtain a voltage of no more than 0.2 V in the bright sun at a current strength measured in microamps. In order to achieve the parameters that a flat silicon photocell produces, you will need several tens or even hundreds of semiconductors. A battery made from old radio components is only good for charging an LED camping lantern or a small mobile phone battery. For the implementation of larger projects, purchased solar cells are indispensable.

How much solar power can you expect

Thinking about building your own solar power plant, everyone dreams of completely abandoning wired electricity. In order to analyze the reality of this undertaking, we will make small calculations.

Finding out the daily electricity consumption is easy. To do this, just look at the invoice sent by the energy sales organization and divide the number of kilowatts indicated there by the number of days in the month. For example, if you are offered to pay 330 kWh, then this means that the daily consumption is 330/30=11 kWh.

Graph of the dependence of the power of the solar battery depending on the illumination

In the calculations, it is imperative to take into account the fact that the solar panel will generate electricity only during daylight hours, and up to 70% of the generation is carried out from 9 am to 4 pm. In addition, the efficiency of the device directly depends on the angle of incidence of sunlight and the state of the atmosphere.

Slight cloudiness or haze will reduce the efficiency of the current output of the solar installation by 2-3 times, while the sky covered with solid clouds will provoke a drop in productivity by 15-20 times. Under ideal conditions, a solar panel with a capacity of 11/7 = 1.6 kW would be enough to generate 11 kWh of energy. Taking into account the influence of natural factors, this parameter should be increased by approximately 40–50%.

In addition, there is another factor that makes it necessary to increase the area of used photocells. First, we should not forget that the battery will not work at night, which means that powerful batteries will be needed. Secondly, to power household appliances, you need a current of 220 V, so you need a powerful voltage converter (inverter). Experts say that losses for the accumulation and transformation of electricity take up to 20-30% of its total amount. Therefore, the real power of the solar battery should be increased by 60–80% of the calculated value. Assuming an inefficiency value of 70%, we get the nominal power of our solar panel equal to 1.6 + (1.6×0.7) = 2.7 kW.

The use of high-current lithium battery assemblies is one of the most elegant, but by no means the cheapest way to store solar electricity.

To store electricity, you will need low-voltage batteries rated for 12, 24 or 48 V. Their capacity should be designed for daily energy consumption plus losses for transformation and conversion. In our case, we need an array of batteries designed to store 11 + (11 × 0.3) = 14.3 kWh of energy. If you use regular 12V car batteries, you will need a 14300Wh / 12V = 1200Ah build, which is six batteries rated at 200Ah each.

As you can see, even in order to provide electricity for the household needs of an average family, a serious solar electric installation is needed. As for the use of home-made solar panels for heating, at this stage such an undertaking will not even reach the limits of self-sufficiency, not to mention the fact that something could be saved.

Battery Size Calculation

The size of the battery depends on the required power and dimensions of the current sources. When choosing the latter, you will definitely pay attention to the proposed variety of photocells. For use in homemade devices, it is most convenient to choose medium-sized solar cells. For example, 3 x 6 inch polycrystalline panels rated for 0.5V output voltage and up to 3A current.

When manufacturing a solar battery, they will be connected in series in blocks of 30 pieces, which will make it possible to obtain the voltage of 13–14 V required for charging a car battery (taking into account losses). The maximum power of one such block is 15 V × 3 A = 45 W. Based on this value, it will not be difficult to calculate how many elements will be needed to build a solar panel of a given power and determine its dimensions. For example, to build a 180-watt solar electric collector, 120 photovoltaic cells with a total area of 2160 square meters will be needed. inches (1.4 sqm).

Building a homemade solar battery

Before proceeding with the manufacture of a solar panel, it is necessary to solve the problems of its placement, calculate the dimensions and prepare the necessary materials and tools.

The right choice of installation location is important

Since the solar panel will be made by hand, its aspect ratio can be any. This is very convenient, since a home-made device can be more successfully fit into the exterior of the roof or the design of a suburban area. For the same reason, you should choose a place for mounting the battery even before the start of design activities, not forgetting to take into account several factors:

openness of the place to sunlight during daylight hours;
lack of shading buildings and tall trees;
the minimum distance to the room where the storage capacities and converters are installed.

Of course, a roof-mounted battery looks more organic, but placing the device on the ground has more advantages. In this case, the possibility of damage to the roofing materials during the installation of the supporting frame is excluded, the laboriousness of installing the device is reduced, and it becomes possible to timely change the "angle of attack of the sun's rays." And most importantly, with the bottom placement, it will be much easier to keep the surface of the solar panel clean. And this is a guarantee that the installation will work at full capacity.

Mounting a solar panel on a roof is driven more by lack of space than by necessity or ease of use.

What will be needed in the process of work

Starting to make a homemade solar panel, you should stock up:

photocells;
stranded copper wire or special busbars for connecting solar cells;
solder;
Schottky diodes, designed for the current output of one photocell;
high-quality anti-reflective glass or plexiglass;
slats and plywood for the manufacture of the frame;
silicone sealant;
hardware;
paint and protective composition for the treatment of wooden surfaces.

In work, you will need the simplest tool that a homely owner always has at hand - a soldering iron, a glass cutter, a saw, a screwdriver, a paint brush, etc.

Manufacturing instructions

For the manufacture of the first solar battery, it is best to use photocells with already soldered leads - in this case, the risk of damage to the cells during assembly is reduced. However, if you are skilled with a soldering iron, you can save some money by purchasing solar cells with solderless contacts. To build the panel, which we considered in the examples above, you need 120 plates. Using an aspect ratio of approximately 1:1, 15 rows of photocells, 8 each, would be required. In this case, we can connect every two "columns" in series, and connect four such blocks in parallel. In this way, tangles in the wires can be avoided and a smooth, beautiful installation can be obtained.

Electrical connection diagram of a home solar power plant

Frame

The assembly of a solar panel should always begin with the manufacture of the case. To do this, we need aluminum corners or wooden slats no more than 25 mm high - in this case they will not cast a shadow on the extreme rows of photocells. Based on our 3 x 6 inch (7.62 x 15.24 cm) silicon cells, the frame size should be at least 125 x 125 cm. the same section.

The reverse side of the case should be sewn up with a plywood or OSB panel, and ventilation holes should be drilled in the lower end of the frame. The connection of the internal cavity of the panel with the atmosphere will be needed to equalize the humidity - otherwise, fogging of the glass cannot be avoided.

For the manufacture of a solar panel housing, the simplest materials are suitable - wooden slats and plywood

A panel of plexiglass or high-quality glass with a high degree of transparency is cut out according to the outer size of the frame. In extreme cases, window glass up to 4 mm thick can be used. For its fastening, corner brackets are prepared, in which drillings are performed for fastening to the frame. When using plexiglass, you can make holes directly in the transparent panel - this will simplify assembly.

To protect the wooden case of the solar battery from moisture and fungus, it is impregnated with an antibacterial compound and painted with oil paint.

For the convenience of assembling the electrical part, a substrate is cut out of fiberboard or other dielectric material according to the internal size of the frame. In the future, photocells will be installed on it.

Plate soldering

Before you start soldering, you should "estimate" the stacking of photocells. In our case, we need 4 cell arrays of 30 plates each, and they will be located in the case in fifteen rows. Such a long chain will be inconvenient to work with, and the risk of damage to fragile glass plates increases. It will be rational to connect 5 parts each, and perform the final assembly after the photocells are mounted on the substrate.

For convenience, photocells can be mounted on a non-conductive substrate made of textolite, plexiglass or fiberboard

After connecting each chain, you should check its performance. To do this, each assembly is placed under a table lamp. By recording the values of current and voltage, you can not only control the performance of the modules, but also compare their parameters.

For soldering, we use a low-power soldering iron (maximum 40 W) and good, low-melting solder. We apply it in a small amount to the output parts of the plates, after which, observing the polarity of the connection, we connect the parts to each other.

When soldering photocells, maximum care should be taken, since these parts are characterized by increased fragility.

Having collected individual chains, we unfold them with the back to the substrate and glue them to the surface using silicone sealant. We supply each 15-volt block of photocells with a Schottky diode. This device only allows current to flow in one direction, so it will not allow the batteries to be discharged when the solar panel voltage is low.

The final connection of the individual photocell strings is carried out according to the wiring diagram above. For these purposes, you can use a special bus or stranded copper wire.

Mounted elements of the solar battery should be fixed with hot glue or self-tapping screws

Panel Assembly

Substrates with photocells located on them are placed in the body and fixed with self-tapping screws. If the frame was reinforced with a cross member, then several drillings are performed in it for mounting wires. The cable that is brought out is securely fixed to the frame and soldered to the assembly terminals. In order not to be confused with polarity, it is best to use two-color wires, connecting the red lead to the "plus" of the battery, and the blue one to its "minus". A continuous layer of silicone sealant is applied along the upper contour of the frame, on top of which glass is laid. After the final fixation, the assembly of the solar battery is considered complete.

After the protective glass is installed on the sealant, the panel can be transported to the installation site

Installation and connection of the solar battery to consumers

For a number of reasons, a homemade solar panel is a rather fragile device, and therefore requires the arrangement of a reliable supporting frame. The ideal option would be a design that allows you to orient the source of free electricity in both planes, but the complexity of such a system is most often a strong argument in favor of a simple inclined system. It is a movable frame that can be set at any angle to the luminary. One of the options for a frame knocked down from a wooden bar is presented below. You can use metal corners, pipes, tires, etc. for its manufacture - everything that is at hand.

Solar panel frame drawing

To connect the solar panel to the batteries, you need a charge controller. This device will monitor the degree of charge and discharge of the batteries, control the current output and switch to mains power in case of a significant voltage drop. The device of the required power and the required functionality can be bought at the same outlets where photocells are sold. As for the power supply of household consumers, for this it will be necessary to transform the low-voltage voltage into 220 V. Another device, the inverter, successfully copes with this. I must say that the domestic industry produces reliable devices with good performance characteristics, so the converter can be bought on the spot - in this case, a “real” guarantee will be a bonus.

One solar battery will not be enough for a full-fledged power supply at home - you will also need batteries, a charge controller and an inverter

On sale you can find inverters of the same power, differing in price at times. Such a spread is explained by the “purity” of the output voltage, which is a necessary condition for powering individual electrical devices. Converters with the so-called pure sine wave have a complicated design, and as a result, a higher cost.

Video: making a solar panel with your own hands

Building a home solar power plant is a non-trivial task and requires both financial and time costs, as well as minimal knowledge of the basics of electrical engineering. When starting to assemble the solar panel, you should observe maximum attention and accuracy - only in this case you can count on a successful solution to the issue. Finally, I would like to recall that glass contamination is one of the factors in the decline in productivity. Do not forget to clean the surface of the solar panel in time, otherwise it will not be able to work at full capacity.

The sun is a huge and stable source of energy, it would be foolish not to use it. The power emitted by the sun is 1000 W / m². you won't be able to use all the power, but you will be able to use some of it. With the help of photocells, you can collect up to 140 W from each m².

Solar panels are several solar cells that convert solar energy into electricity.

What is the structure of a solar battery? These are one or more solar cells that convert solar energy into electricity.

Electricity is getting more expensive every day and will continue to grow in price. Now companies are looking for new sources of energy and trying to manufacture them. One of the most popular such sources is solar panels. Every day there are more and more chargers based on solar panels. They are used at home, in the office, in industry. Solar energy is being used more and more.

Advantages of a solar battery

Durability. Such an energy source will work for you for a very long time, so when you purchase a solar battery, you sign a long-term contract with it.
Simple building. You can make a battery yourself at home, there is nothing difficult in this. Below are instructions on how to do this.
Little weight. Solar panels, due to their design features and the material used, weigh little, which is a huge plus in some industries.
Amenable to repair. Batteries of this kind break quite rarely, but if they do, they can be easily repaired.
Environmental friendliness. Solar panels are environmentally friendly, they use an inexhaustible resource - sunlight. In addition to environmental friendliness, they have another advantage - noiselessness.

You need to know that such an energy source is not ideal, it also has disadvantages. First, solar panels are quite expensive. Second, they take up a lot of space. Thirdly, they need careful care - batteries react to dirt, they must always be kept clean. Fourth, depending on the weather and time of day. You can get solar energy only if the weather is favorable and during the daytime. On overcast and cloudy days, battery power can be reduced by 10 times. Fifth, low efficiency. It is about 10 to 25%.

At the moment, there are several factories in Russia that produce solar panels, but you can make them yourself at home. They won't be as powerful as professional makers, but they might work for the home.

The structure of the solar battery

The main function on which the structure of the solar battery depends is the generation of energy.

The basis of the battery is photocells, which must be connected in series and in parallel. The most popular solar cells are made from silicon. There is a huge amount of silicon in the reserves of our planet, but the process of its purification is very costly, which causes difficulties. An alternative to silicon is copper, selenium, indium, organic solar cells, etc. One solar cell has a very small power, it is not suitable for industrial use, so the elements are connected together, thereby increasing their power and efficiency. The resulting "bundle" of elements is very fragile, so it is covered with a protective layer (glass, film, plastic). All together and forms a solar battery.

The main characteristic of a battery is its capacity. It is formed depending on the current and voltage in the battery. The parallel connection of the plates is responsible for the magnitude of the current, and their sequence is responsible for the voltage. It is also possible to connect not only the plates inside the battery, but also the batteries themselves.

If we describe each level of the photocell, starting from the base, it will look like this:

metal substrate;
silicon;
anti-reflective coating;
conductor plates.

The battery will look different:

frame;
photocell;
anti-reflective sheet;
protective covering.

Make a solar battery with your own hands without effort

Have you ever tried to build your own energy source at home? It's time to try it.

In order for the solar panel at home to bring you the greatest benefit, it should be exposed to sunlight as long as possible.

You also need to use batteries that will collect energy. Homemade batteries will come in handy when you travel, when you go out into nature, and at home.

There are several ways to make a solar energy source at home.

The first way is pretty simple. You will need to purchase solar modules. They can be ordered online. The modules may not be of the best quality, any will do to build a battery. Look, maybe there are a couple of modules in your home.

If you plan to consume solar energy only in good weather, then the battery is not needed, the sun will be the energy source. Be careful when building - the modules are very fragile! A strong finger pressure on the module is enough to crack it and go to the trash can.

The number of modules you need depends on the required battery power and where it will be used in the future. Take the modules and solder them on a flat table in several identical chains. Solder the chains together so that you get a rectangular sheet of modules. For example: 3 rows of 5 modules each. Fix the protective layer on top, ordinary glass will do. Take care of the base of the battery too, use plywood, plastic sheet or something else. Fasten the resulting modular sheet together with the base and protective layer. For this, ordinary construction tape is suitable. An important rule: do not press your battery, make sure that there is a small gap between the module, the base and the protective glass. Next, install the block on the structure and stretch the wires there.

You should not press the battery too hard, you need to make sure that there is a small gap between all the elements.

The next method is also quite simple and practical. It was described above how to make a battery at home from modules, and now another option will be offered - how to make a battery from diodes.

Choose D223B diodes, they have many advantages over the rest. Firstly, they are cheap, a box of 100 pieces costs 130 rubles. Secondly, the paint is easily removed from them. You need to hold them quite a bit in acetone, and then wipe them with a rag, and the paint will come off. Thirdly, they are compact. Your design will take up little space and will be convenient for transportation. Fourth, these diodes have a good voltage - about 350 mV in direct sunlight. Look at your home, diodes could have been with you for a long time.

Start by cleaning the paint off the diodes, dip them in acetone and let them sit for a while. Under these conditions, the paint will get wet, and then you can easily remove it. While preparing the basis for the battery. Take a plastic plate, the width should be such that in the future you can make holes in this plate.

Take a sheet in a cage, draw a diagram and observe the scale. Better to do 1:1. The cage can be 5x5 mm, 10x10 mm, no longer worth it. The scheme should have the following form: the closing rows should be solid, i.e. simply connect the top and bottom row in series. The rows between the trailing ones will be different. Rows 2 and 3, 4 and 5, 6 and 7, and so on will be connected in the center, forming a square one cell in size. Now we need to return to the diodes, which are soaked in acetone. Carefully remove them and clean off the paint. Using a voltmeter, determine where the positive of the diode is. Bend the positive terminal to make a hook. Make holes in the plastic plate according to the diagram, and then thread the diodes into these holes and solder them. The battery is ready, you can test it with a voltmeter.

Such homemade solar panels will definitely find application in everyday life, make your life more comfortable and reduce costs. Making a solar panel at home is not difficult. Assembly takes about an hour.

Ecology of consumption. Science and technology: Everyone knows that the solar battery converts the energy of the sun into electrical energy. And there is a whole industry for the production of such elements in huge factories. I suggest that you make your own solar panel from readily available materials.

Everyone knows that the solar battery converts the energy of the sun into electrical energy. And there is a whole industry for the production of such elements in huge factories. I suggest that you make your own solar panel from readily available materials.

Components of a solar battery

The main element of our solar battery will be two copper plates. After all, as you know, copper oxide was the first element in which scientists discovered the photoelectric effect.

So, for the successful implementation of our modest project, you will need:

1. Copper sheet. In fact, we don’t need a whole sheet, but small square (or rectangular) pieces of 5 cm are enough.

2. A pair of crocodile clips.

3. Microammeter (to understand the magnitude of the generated current).

4. Electric stove. It is necessary in order to oxidize one of our plates.

5. Transparent container. An ordinary plastic bottle from under mineral water is quite suitable.

6. Table salt.

7. Ordinary hot water.

8. A small piece of sandpaper to clean our copper plates from oxide film.

Once everything you need is prepared, you can proceed to the most important stage.

Cooking plates

So, first of all, we take one plate and wash it to remove all fats from its surface. After that, using sandpaper, we clean off the oxide film and put the already cleaned bar on the switched on electric burner.

After that, turn it on and watch how it heats up and changes our plate with you.

As soon as the copper plate is completely black, hold it for at least another forty minutes on a hot stove. After that, turn off the stove and wait until your "roasted" copper has completely cooled down.

Due to the fact that the cooling rate of the copper plate and the oxide film will be different, most of the black coating will go away on its own.

After the plate has cooled, take it and carefully wash off the black film under water.

Important. In this case, the remaining black areas should not be torn off or bent in any way. This is to ensure that the copper layer remains intact.

After that, we take our plates and carefully place them in the prepared container, and attach our crocodiles with soldered wires to the edges. Moreover, we connect an untouched piece of copper with a minus, and a processed one with a plus.

Then we prepare a saline solution, namely, we dissolve a few tablespoons of salt in water and pour this liquid into a container.

Now we check the performance of our design with you by connecting to a microammeter.

As you can see the setup is quite working. In the shade, the microammeter showed approximately 20 μA. But in the sun, the device went off scale. Therefore, I can only say that in the sun such an installation clearly produces more than 100 μA.

Of course, you won’t even be able to light a light bulb from such an installation, but by making such an installation with your child, you can stir up his interest in studying, for example, physics. published

If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to specialists and readers of our project.