by admin on September 12, 2011
Earth4Energy – Learn To Make Solar Panels And Wind Turbines!
Avg. Rating: 9.5 / 10
Earth4Energy is my favorite guide because it teaches you not only how to make solar panels but also how to make a wind turbine. It is the only guide that has videos for how to make wind turbines included, and the videos are the most important part for a lot of people when doing a do-it-yourself project. The part devoted to teaching how to make solar panels is quite nice as well. My only complaint about it is that the videos are not quite as good as some other guides. But they are still good enough to learn what you need, and build a reliable solar panel system. In conclusion, if you want the most guide for your money I like this guide since it is essentially two guides for the price of one, and if you ever think you might try to build a wind turbine you will already have a guide.
Read my full review of the Earth4Energy Guide To Make Solar Panels.
GreenDIYEnergy – A Great Guide To Make Solar Panels
Avg. Rating: 9.0 / 10
GreenDIYEnergy is the best do it yourself solar guide if all you want to do is make solar panels. It has 17 different components. These include an ebook with hundreds of incredibly well written pages with illustrations, spreadsheets designed to help you do the important calculations, and high quality step-by-step videos. I especially like this guide because the videos are higher quality and filled with more detail than the videos in some of the other guides. If you are trying to build a solar panel system and are not interested in building a wind turbine then I recommend this guide.
Read my full review of the GreenDIYEnergy Guide To Make Solar Panels.
Homemade Energy – The Most Videos Of How To Make Solar Panels
Avg. Rating: 9.0 / 10
Like the title says, the most noticeable difference between the first two guides and the Homemade Energy guide is that this guide has more videos than any other package, although sadly they are not quite as high quality. The guide offers over 6 hours of step by step videos. That’s about double what the other two guides provide. So if you prefer watching someone else show you how to make solar panels and don’t like reading instructions as much this guide might be just right for you. Also, this guide does not have wind turbine videos like the Earth4Energy guide.
Read my full review of the Homemade Energy guide to Make Solar Panels
by admin on August 27, 2011
In my review I will explain exactly what is included in the Earth4Energy guide, what I liked about this guide, and what I did not like.
Click Here To Make Solar Panels With Earth4Energy.
This Guide Includes:
Close to 100 pages of step by step instructions
Over 2 hours of videos with step by step instructions
Blueprints to make solar panels
Blueprints to make a home wind turbine
List of recommended parts
Lifetime access to updates and new material
60 Day Money Back Guarantee
What I liked About This Guide
The close to 100 pages of instructions on how to make solar panels.
I really liked how the instructions are written in a simple, non-technical way so that you can understand them even if you have no knowledge about how to make solar panels or electrical systems. They were also very in depth, covering all that I needed to know from start to final installation, and system maintenance.
I also really liked how this guide gives multiple solar panel configurations for you to pick from depending on which one fits your situation best. These include how to make solar panels for a portable system that you could take camping for example, a grid tied system with battery backup or without, and an off grid system for if you live in a secluded area or just don’t want to tie into the local grid. This is really useful because the wiring and compnents needed for each situation are a bit different, and this guide gives clear instruction for each.
The Videos
The videos were my favorite part, because even if you have great written instructions it helps a lot to be able to see something done by a professional in a step by step format. The videos really help to further explain some of the things that might be confusing to you.
Other Things I liked
There were lots of other things I liked. For example, the guide tells you some ways to get your solar cells really cheap, and even free from solar panel installers if you are lucky and know what to look for. So now let me tell you what I didn’t like.
What I Didn’t Like About The Earth4Energy Make Solar Panels Guide
Overall, the guide was wonderful. My main complaint was that it ended up being a bit harder than I think the guide led me to expect. It did become easier as I went and I finished my test panel in one weekend, so keep in mind that this is a technical project and it will take some effort. But that being said, I think the end result of a very inexpensive solar panel achieved my original goal very successfully.
Click Here To Make Solar Panels With Earth4Energy.
by admin on August 24, 2011
This review will explain exactly what is included in the Homemade Energy guide to make solar panels, what I liked about the guide, what I didn’t like about the guide, and how it stacks up against some other guides to make solar panels.
Contents Of The Homemade Energy Guide To Make Solar Panels
The Ebook
It has sections on:
Reducing Your Homes Energy Needs
How to Make Solar Panels
The Alternative Energy Home
Solar Panel Maintenance
Wiring A Backup Battery System
Wind Turbine Guide
Workshops and Resources
The PDF Ebook takes you through the whole process step by step, with helpful diagrams and illustrations throughout. It teaches you all the tools, and materials that will be needed and where to get them, and even gives some ideas on how to get them at a discount (with liknks to online sources as well).
Click Here To Make Solar Panels With The Homemade Energy Guide
The Excel Spreadsheets
The spreadsheets give you some helpful worksheets to calculate things like how much electricity your appliances use, how many solar panels it would take to provide a given amount of electricity, how many batteries you would need, and more. The written instructions and spreadsheets are comparable to the two guides I wrote about previously, and to other guides available online. The area that this guide really shines is with its video content, so lets look at that next.
The Videos
Simply put, this guide has the most videos of any guide available as of the writing of this review. There are 15 videos totaling 6 HOURS of viewing time that cover absolutely everything you need to know. That is almost 3 TIMES as much as the other guides. Video topics include:
System Components
System Types
System Design
System Sizing
Tools Needed
Layout
Calculations
Measurements
Building the Panel
Wiring
Finishing the Panel
Batteries
Admittedly, the videos are not the most professional, they’re just a guy in his garage building a solar panel, but I was trying to make solar panels in my garage too so it seemed right to me. I followed along with the videos step by step from start to finish. The videos show everything from getting your materials and tools together, to laying it out, doing the math, making the panel, wiring, soldering, finishing, and everything in between. He even makes a couple mistakes and goes back to show you what you would do to fix them (very useful). It was all very complete and thorough.
Conclusion
The Homemade Energy guide to make solar panels is very comprehensive and well written, with a written and illustrated guide comparable to other guides available on the net. However, where this guide really shines is in the huge amount of step by step videos. If you want to watch how to make solar panels rather than read how this is the perfect guide for you. The written portion with its spreadsheets and illustrations are great and very helpful but the main reason I would recommend this guide is because of its videos.
Click Here To Make Solar Panels With The Homemade Energy Guide
by admin on August 23, 2011
This review will tell you exactly what the GreenDIYEnergy guide includes, what I liked about the guide, and what I disliked.
The GreenDIYEnergy guide is very comprehensive with everything you need to know on how to make solar panels. There are 17 different components including the ebook, spreadsheets, dvd quality videos, and others covering all you need to know to build, install, and maintain a home solar panel system.
Click Here To Make Solar Panels With GreenDIYEnergy
How I Followed This Guide to Make Solar Panels Of my Own
I bought my solar cells from an online retailer and got everything else I needed from a local hardware store. I watched the videos as I went through the process of building the solar panels. It was much easier than I expected once I got the nack of it. I was able to complete my panel in one weekend, including buying the parts at the hardware store, cutting the wood, painting it, soldering the cells into place, construction, wiring, and installation.
And what was the total cost?
It ended up costing me $130 to make my solar panel, and I actually spent a little more than necessary because I bought the pre-tabbed solar cells to speed up the build process. You can also save some money if you have other extra materials on hand such as a spare sheet of plywood.
Would I recommend This Guide To Make Solar Panels To Others?
In one word, absolutely. If you have been contemplating building a solar panel I would highly recommend that you give it a try with this guide. It made it very simple to make solar panels even for a non technical person like me.
One thing that I know people worry about is the soldering, and this guide went into great detail in the videos to show you how to do it right, and really all the soldering I did was big wires so it was pretty easy. After I soldered my first couple cells I got into a good rhythm and the rest went really smoothely.
What Exactly Is Included In This How To Make Solar Panels Guide?
The Ebooks
The ebooks are absolutely brimming with information. They are over 200 pages of text, pictures, and diagrams. They talk about the different parts of a solar panel system, how to build a solar panel system, installation, electrical, potential tax credits, a consumers guide, building a home wind turbine, a map of wind resources, a list of helpful websites, and much more.
The Videos
The videos are very high quality and probably the best feature of the whole guide. They were shot in Colorado and coincide directly with the 200 page ebooks. They go through the whole solar panel build process step by step beginning to end. They are DVD quality, large, downlodable videos. Thanks to the high quality and size of the videos you can easily see all the important little details as they take you through the build process step by step.
Conclusion
The GreenDIYEnergy guide is a very high quality, thorough, simple, and even fun guide on how to make solar panels. You get 17 components including large DVD quality videos, over 200 pages of instructions, and helpful Excel spreadsheets. If you think you would like to make solar panels and have been looking for a great guide then I recommend you check this one out.
Click Here To Make Solar Panels With GreenDIYEnergy
by admin on October 27, 2010
If you are one of the growing number of people interested in do it yourself solar panel projects, then you will need to get a good guide on how to make solar panels that includes information on what materials you need, where to find them, what tools you need, and everything else. People are really getting interested in these type projects, because solar power is such a great way to reduce the amount of non renewable resources we use, save money, and help the environment. Not to mention, you can reduce your electric bill, and increase the value of your home when you make solar panels.
So once you have decided to make solar panels for your home the first thing you will want to do is find a good guide or manual. You can find them online, and I have reviewed a couple how to manuals myself. Two of my favorites are mentioned below:
Earth4Energy
This is one of the best manuals out there. It has been around for a few years, and has been updated a number of times, adding more videos, and content. It includes step by step written and illustrated directions, with excel spreadsheets to help with the calculations, plus detailed diagrams to explain things well. They have lots of videos that show you exactly how to make solar panels. They go over everything you need to know, and they also have a section on wind turbines. There are three sections. The first covers how to make solar panels, the second covers wind turbines, and the third hits everything else, like how to get inexpensive batteries and solar panels. One key point is that it is the only guide with videos on how to build the wind turbine, so if you are interested in both solar and wind then this is probably the best guide for you.
Homemade Energy
This is another great guide. It has everything that earth for energy has minus the wind turbine part. It goes over how to make solar panels, all the information on renewable energy, and more. It has lots of diagrams and illustrations as well. The main thing about this guide is that it has a lot of videos. It has more than any other guide I have come across, with roughly 6 hours of viewing time. Just to put that into context, most of the other guides out there have less than half that much. So this guide is probably best for those who want to learn how to make solar panels by watching someone else do everything.
Grab one of these or other guides out there, and you are one step close to learning to make solar panels for your home. They are the most important step, without which I don’t see how you could possibly make solar panels. You have to learn it somewhere, and these guides make it exceedingly easy. Good luck!
by admin on October 26, 2010
Are you as excited as I am about the rising cost of energy that we have seen in the past (and can expect in the future)? Don’t you love it when you get each month’s new gas or electric bill? Well believe it or not, you share similar feelings to most other homeowners out there. So let’s see if we can find a solution, or at least an improvement upon this downward spiral of rising energy costs. One of the best weapons we have against these rising costs is renewable energy such as solar, wind, and other power sources. More and more people are tying to learn how to make solar panels. But why stop there, lets try to not only make solar panels ourselves, let’s find the cheapest way to do it. One way to get cheap material to make solar panels is to get components from a local building center, recycled from other solar projects, or buy them used online.
Most people don’t even consider alternative energy in their homes, because it has historically been so expensive, and downright foreign to people. Now though solar cells are being manufactured much cheaper, and the individual cells are more efficient than ever, making it possible to get much more electricity for your investment. You can make solar panels for less than $200 very easily, and I have seen them made for as little as the low $100’s.
One way to keep down the cost when you make solar panels is by using used solar cells which you can find in any quantity you want online. Another way is to ask around your area to try to find old panels or material at construction sites, especially where remodeling is being done on a home or business that has solar panels. You can sometimes buy them cheap or even get them free from construction companies. It just saves them from having to properly dispose of them. Any panels you get secondhand you will want to test thoroughly with a multimeter to make sure they don’t have any defects which you would want to repair before adding them to your own roof. Another simple way to save money with your system is to not use batteries. You can still completely eliminate your power bill, just make solar panels enough so that you generate enough power each day to sell back to the power company and make up for whatever power you have to use from the grid at night when your panels aren’t generating power.
by admin on October 24, 2010
The vast majority of people living in the United States use electricity on a daily basis, whether in their homes, to power their devices, or drive their cars. Unfortunately, much of the energy they use is from non renewable and polluting sources of energy, such as oil, coal, gas, or others. There are alternatives that are not only pollution free but renewable, infinite sources of energy, one such energy source is solar power. You can make solar panels, or buy them, and take advantage of this clean renewable source of power today.
Solar power comes from the sun, and one way to tap that power is by using solar panels. You can make solar panels of your own, or buy them. Homemade solar energy is fast becoming a saving grace for many homeowners threatened with ever increasing electricity bills, due to rising demand, and ever dwindling supplies of oil and the other natural resources that we use to fuel our power plants.
Solar power has been around in one form or another for many years, but only recently has it begun to gain widespread appeal. This is due to a number of factors, with the most important one being price. It is cheaper than ever to learn to make solar panels, and the materials you need are becoming less and less expensive. I have seen numerous accounts of people make solar panels for as little as $125.
And with the availability of high quality guides on how to make solar panels that you can find online, it is increasingly easy to get started with your own solar project. These guides usually come with plenty of step by step instructions, high quality illustrations, diagrams, spreadsheets for the more difficult calculations, and lots of dvd quality videos that show you how everything is done. They make it where the average Joe can make solar panels in his own garage with little to no prior experience, and save a ton of money in the process.
The materials and tools you need are all readily available from your local hardware store, and you can purchase used or new solar cells from online retailers or eBay for really cheap. The whole process is much easier than most people may suspect, and these guides really make it easy for people to do it.
So why use solar power? Well if you are not as worried about money and rising energy costs like the majority of people, then do it to help the environment, or do it as a fun weekend project, or to impress the neighbors. Let your kids help; it can be a really fun experience for people of all ages!
by admin on October 22, 2010
This is a way you can make a solar panel at home from very basic materials and very inexpensively. It is not what I would recommend if you want to make solar panels to power your home, but it is a fun experiment into solar power.
To make a good solar panel requires silicon, but silicon is one of the main reasons solar panels tend to be expensive. Therefore this experiment into how to make solar panels will use a more inexpensive material, cuprous oxide. Cuprous oxide has the same properties that we want to take advantage of as any other metal compound, it’s photoelectric, but not as much as silicon, which is why silicon is preferred, but it is much less expensive.
What Do You Need To Make Solar Panels With Cuprous Oxide?
You will need a 1000 watt electric coil heater (found on an electric stove), and a square copper dish (the source of our cuprous oxide).
The Procedure:
Begin by cleaning the copper dish thoroughly. You may want to use sand paper to get any crud from cooking off the copper. Next heat the copper dish for one hour. As the temperature increases the dish will oxidize changing color from its original copper color to brown, and then black. When the dish becomes black stop heating it. The black part is now cuprous oxide. Let it cool. Once it is cool, clean the soot off of the cuprous oxide. Do this carefully so as not to remove the cuprous oxide beneath.
Next get a plastic bottle big enough that the copper plate will fit inside. Cut off the top or whatever you need to do to open it up. Place the copper plate on it with the cuprous oxide side facing towards the dish. Place another piece of copper that has had the above procedure done to it inside the plastic bottle but not touching the other copper plate. Add a mixture of salty water to the bottle covering roughly 80% of the copper dish that’s inside the bottle. Connect a micrometer to the two copper pieces, the positive end to the copper plate, and the negative end to the cuprous oxide plate. Now place the whole thing in the sun. Take a look at the meter, and congratulations, you have just learned to make solar panels.
Solar power has huge benefits. It is pollution free, does not use up our limited natural supplies of fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, and it is becoming increasingly less expensive. It does not release greenhouse gases into our atmosphere, which helps prevent global warming, and it is infinite, coming directly from the sun. So make solar panels, and take advantage of all these benefits!
by admin on October 19, 2010
Depending on where you live there is a good chance that you may have a neighbor or three who has some type of solar panel system. More and more people have begun taking advantage of less expensive materials and begun to make solar panels a part of their homes. People all over are taking advantage of the infinite source of clean energy that moves through our sky each and every day. And many of these homeowners have gone one step further in saving money by learning to make solar panels at home, either following a guide they purchased, or with help from a friend who has done it before. Solar power is in style!
There are numerous types of solar panels that can me made from home. One of my favorites uses copper indium selenide cells. They are super easy to solder, and the ends are marked so you know which is positive and which is negative, and best of all they aren’t as expensive as other cells. Just use a cheap soldering iron from Radio Shack and join the positive and negative ends together with copper wire, and then connect them in a series to produce a desired amount of voltage.
Place your series of copper indium selenide cells into a frame of some sort, you can use a cheap picture frame or build your own, and sandwich it between a sheet of plywood and plexiglass. Now your solar panel is good to go.
If you are really interested in learning to make solar panels you should find a good do-it-yourself guide that can give you much more detailed directions, with diagrams showing you how to do everything, and videos of someone who shows you how to make solar panels. These guides can be found online, and are a lifesaver when it comes to make solar panels.
So why exactly is solar power so in style right now? Well let me tell you about some of the many benefits. First of all is the monetary benefit. It has become more and more affordable to make solar panels for home use, and as the cost of electricity continues to rise solar power has become a very economical way to power your home or business. Also a monetary benefit is the fact that when you install solar panels on your home or business you increase the value of them just like any other home improvement. You also make your home more attractive to buyers. On the non monetary side, you will be helping the environment by using a completely pollution free means of powering your home. You will also be helping to preserve non renewable resources such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which believe it or not are used for a ton of things other than making power, and if we use them all up to make electricity then our future generations can say goodbye to many of the conveniences of modern life.
So jump on the bandwagon, and make solar panels for your family! You have nothing to lose, and a lot to gain.
by admin on October 18, 2010
Solar panels can help make our lives happier, healthier, and safer. Solar panels are a great answer to the environmental concerns we are facing. Namely, the depleting ozone, which is the layer of the atmosphere that protects us from being cooked by harmful radiation from the sun. Other concerns that solar panels can help eliminate are global warming, which is where all the greenhouse gasses created by traditional power plants are making our atmosphere too thick which in turn makes it hold in heat raising the temperature of the planet, once again cooking us. And if those aren’t enough reasons to adopt solar power there is always the general pollution created by other sources of power.
What other ways can solar power improve our lives? Well if you make solar panels for your home or business you can expect to save a lot of money on your power bill. Yes it costs money up front, but in the long run you will end up saving a lot of money, plus when you make solar panels for your home you will get the added bonus of increasing the value of your home, and making it more desirable to future buyers.
These and other reasons are why it is so beneficial to us that more people learn to make solar panels. It is not hard, and can be taught by any number of guides and how-to instruction manuals which you can get on the internet.
With these guides you can build solar panels for your home for very little, each solar panel can be made for as low as a little over a hundred dollars. These guides help you find great deals on the materials you need, and teach you other money saving strategies to follow when you make solar panels.
Many companies, and even government agencies and public sector institutions are adopting solar power in a big way. With the recent oil spill in the Gulf it has become painfully clear that our reliance upon polluting power sources is a practice that can and has backfired on us. In the years to come I believe we will see major growth in the use of solar and other sources of clean renewable energy. The sun provides us with an almost infinite source of energy that we can tap in for our homes and businesses, and it is so easy to make solar panels that a homeowner with a free weekend can do it for cheap. So, what is stopping us, let’s embrace a cleaner, brighter future for ourselves and our children and make solar panels a part of our lives.