If you want to make a homemade solar panel, there are many different options to try out these days. The growing number of ingenuous designs for homemade solar panels is because there is a lot of concern about household cashflow these days, as well as a growing awareness that we cannot continue depending on fossil fuel indefinitely.



Often these designs take us right back to basics! In many instances the materials are locally obtainable, either in the store around the corner, or at the local dump.

Of course this makes it easier for those who have little experience of building things, and despite the humble origins, some of these designs can make a real difference to your household energy expenses.

The first method to make a homemade solar panel considered here is a very basic one that produces hot water. Water from this system can reach 110 degrees, or even 170 degrees, depending on which variation you build.

So how is this hot water system constructed? The main component which acts as a heat collector is the coolant grill found at the back of a discarded fridge. Of course the coolant gas should be removed first, as water will siphon through the pipe.

A wooden frame can then be built around the grill, with an old rubber door mat as backing. Add a reflective foil or other material to the backing to reflect heat back towards the collector grill. Then fix the grill to the backing and the frame, cutting gaps for the inlet and outlet ports of the collector.

Now cover the frame with glass which can be taped, or fixed with brackets to the frame. Seal all openings and cracks with insulation tape.

You can now set up your frame at an angle to face the path of the sun as directly as possible.

Lastly connect lengths of flexible air pump hose to the the inlet and outlet ends of the collector. The inlet hose will go in an elevated water container filled with cold water, and the outlet end into an empty container.

Now suck the air out of the collector pipe and start the water flow, assisted by gravity. Depending on the strength of the sun, the water on the receiving end can reach more than 100 degrees F.

A number of improvements to this design can make it mor practical, such as insulating the hot water container for later use. Another option is to continuously circulate the same water via thermal siphon, which should increase the temperature dramatically.

The second method to make a homemade solar panel is the construction of homemade solar cell panels. These panels generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect, which converts solar rays into a stream of electricity.

Solar cell panels therefore produce electricity which - through the use of a converter - can be fed directly into a household grid, and used, not only to heat water, but also to power any household application.

These solar cell panels can be built by just about any enthusiast, and the parts can be found at local stores. The main requirement is to use a tried and tested guide with clear instructions, covering all aspects of a homemade solar panel, including how to install the panels professionally to get the best benefit of the sun.