Building Solar Panels

[Letemps]

Hi All!

New here. Just bought 108 cells. Looking forward to building 3 panels. Looking for ways to make the frames cheaply [cost] but durable. Thanks!

[Sunking]

You do know you will end up breaking a lot of cells and will not be making 3 panels right? It is going to cost you more to build panels than buy them.

[daz]

Hi All!

New here. Just bought 108 cells. Looking forward to building 3 panels. Looking for ways to make the frames cheaply [cost] but durable. Thanks!

Welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

Sounds like you are going to have fun!!

[Letemps]

Thanks daz.

Welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

Sounds like you are going to have fun!!

I'll try

[Letemps]

You do know you will end up breaking a lot of cells and will not be making 3 panels right? It is going to cost you more to build panels than buy them.

Thanks for the warning!

The goal is to build 3 panels. I may have to buy a few more cells. I am doing a project overseas and the panels need to be built almost on site. I priced already built panels and they are more expensive than what I can build them for. If you have any source please let me know. I am doing it for the experience, but my true objective is to help some third-world communities with some of their energy needs. Thanks again!

[SunEagle]

Thanks for the warning!

The goal is to build 3 panels. I may have to buy a few more cells. I am doing a project overseas and the panels need to be built almost on site. I priced already built panels and they are more expensive than what I can build them for. If you have any source please let me know. I am doing it for the experience, but my true objective is to help some third-world communities with some of their energy needs. Thanks again!

Letemps

You may think building your own panels are cheaper than buying manufactured but you are unaware of the short comings of those cells you purchased.

First off they are not grade A cells (regardless of what the sales pitch says) which means they are "seconds" and do not have the same long life or quality as those already in panels.

Next. Even if you properly wire and solder your cells together getting into a "panel" that stands up to the environment is next to impossible without the proper equipment to seal the cells and keep out moisture. Usually one or more of the cells will fail which make the whole panel useless.

In short your panels will not produce the same amount of electricity or last anywhere near the 25years of a manufactured panel.

Right now as there is a glut of panels the price for the 200watt and greater type are as low as $1/watt. You can find lower wattage for about $2/watt which is still pretty cheap considering these panels were going for $5/watt not too long ago. You can easily find the $1/watt panels with a simple Google search.

It is alright if you choose to build your own panels for experimentation or small hobby projects but they wont last which in the end increases the price per watt when compared to manufactured.

Since you plan on using them in a 3rd world country I won't have to explain that they will never be accepted as Grid-Tie panels in the US.

Good luck with your experiment and enjoy learning about this technology. It is pretty cool. Just be aware there are pitfalls and disappointments with the DIY type panles.