How to Build a Low Cost Solar Panel System For Your Home Using Scrap Materials

Building your own solar panel system using scrap materials can be a great way to generate renewable electricity at a fraction of the cost of buying commercial solar panels. With some basic electrical skills and salvaged components, you can build a functional solar system to power lights, appliances, and more in your home.

Gather the Necessary Materials and Tools

The main components needed to build a scrap solar panel are:

You'll also need basic tools like wire strippers, cutters, screwdrivers, soldering iron, and drill. Multimeters help troubleshoot.

Design and Size Your Solar Panel

First, determine how much electricity you need your solar panel to produce. This depends on what you intend to power. Some common factors:

You can start small with a 50 watt panel, or build a large multi-kilowatt system.

Next, calculate the number of pv cells needed. Standard 6 inch square cells generate around 3-5 watts each. Wire 6-12 cells together for a 12-24 volt panel. For a 50 watt system, use around 15-20 pv cells total. Arrange the pv cells into columns and rows based on the aluminum frame size.

Wire the PV Cells Together

PV cells have a positive and negative side. You'll need to connect them in series to add up their voltage.

Assemble the Scrap Solar Panel

Once the pv cell electrical connections are complete, you can assemble the full panel:

Connect to Battery Bank and Inverter

With the solar panel hardware complete, it's time to add the power management components:

Now your scrap solar panel can cleanly power lights, appliances and devices!

Safety Tips

When working with DC electricity and batteries, be sure to take proper safety precautions:

Following basic electrical safety will allow you to safely build and operate your own affordable solar panel system. Power on!