Quote (JarOfFlies @ Mon, Apr 6 2009, 07:00pm)
Nice. Let me know how it works out in the end/ the costs. Sounds cool.
ohh, I've already got the math figured out for it.
These are all approximations based on memory.
The cells themselves are 3"x6", and they cost me $2.00 each. You need 36 of these per panel, thats $72.00. Multiply that by 3 panels, thats $216.00
Soldering materials cost me $13.66 per panel, $41 for 3 panels.
(40 watt soldering gun $9 [$3 per panel], rosin core soldering flux $7 [$2.33 per], tabbing wire $25 [8.33 per])
Wood materials were all free (they were sitting in my barn as leftover scrap materials.)
that includes: (3x 3/4" thick, 22"x46" sheets of plywood) (6x 3/4"x3/4" thick, 46" long strips of wood) (9x 3/4"x3/4" thick, 20" long strips of wood)
---------------*******Approximate dimensions**********-----------------
Plexiglass: 3x 22"x46" (paid $20 for one brand new sheet, getting the rest for free)
Copper braid wire: free
Exterior Paint, White: free
Small roller, w/ tray: $5
Silicone Caulk (sealant): free
Diode: cost me $3.85 for 25x, that includes shipping and handling. Thats about $0.15 each. So $0.50 total. (pretty much nothing)
I think thats about it... for materials.
Thats about $280 for 3 panels, $93.33 each, lets say. $94.00 each.
Now.... adding to the wall of text...
These panels will produce about 18.5 volts of power @ 3.5 amps, in bright sunlight.
That's about 65 watts of power. Multiply that by 3 panels, thats 195 watts of power.
Through researching about solar energy, I've found that Maine (where I live) receives on average 4-5 hours of sunlight.
This includes rainy/cloudy/stormy days and whatnot.
195 watts X 4 hrs = 780 watt-hours of energy (.78 kWh)
195 watts X 5 hrs = 975 watt-hours of energy (.98 kWh)
For these purposes, lets make it (.88 kWh).
Electricity in the state of Maine costs an average of $0.17 per kWh.
Every day I should receive $0.15 worth of energy, multiply that by 365 days a year.
I should get about $55 a year in energy savings.
Now the project cost me $280 for the three solar panels.
Divide that by the $55 you get a year in savings and...
The panels should pay for themselves in about 5 years.
Voila
A homemade solar panel that pays for itself in 5 years, and *should* last for at least 20-25.
Now, let me give you the prices on other similar sized solar panels.
http://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-panels.htmlKyocera 65w $385
Kaneka 60w $227
there are others, but with varying wattage and prices.
the point is, with some work and an initiative to learn, you can make a solar panel for about 1/2-1/3 the price of any commercially made one.
One note:
Because this is not UL listed or ceritfied, you can not connect this directly to the grid.
But you can connect to a battery bank, then to an inverter, and then to your house. At that point, if you were collecting energy while your batteries were fully charged, and you weren't using a lot of energy, you could, then, sell your solar made energy to the energy company in your area.
This post was edited by EastPwn on Apr 6 2009 07:03pm