A Project on Solar Energy Panels
Solar powered calculators,
watches, and even flashlights have been around
since we were little kids. If you have already
seen one, then you have already seen solar
energy panels that power up these little piece
of equipment.
Today’s advances in nanotechnology have
made solar energy panels more powerful while
reducing the size requirement. A solar energy
panel produced today has more electrical power
than solar energy panels produced in the 1980s.
They have also become cheaper and more affordable
as compared to 20 years ago while at the same
time more durable because it no longer turns
yellowish-brown as it gets older. This means
that their energy absorption efficiency is
not diminished as it ages.
Solar Energy Panel Explained
The principle behind the solar energy panel's
electrical power actually is very simple.
The solar energy panel is made up of special
semiconductors like silicon which are specifically
built to absorb the sun's light. As light
passes through the semiconductor, cells are
knocked loose and they are moved into a particular
direction. These movements are called currents--and
these currents produce electricity when metal
contacts are placed on the top and bottom
portion of the PV cells.
Constructing a Solar Energy Panel from Scratch
Solar energy panels can be easily constructed
at home from readily available materials.
If you want to build one, just buy the following
materials:
a sheet of copper flashing (this
can be bought at any hardware or electrical
shop)
an electric burner (they provide
better heating and there are very little carbon
deposits and soot after burning)
1) a couple of teaspoons table salt
2) alligator clips
3) wires
4) sand paper or steel brush
5) metal sheet cutters
6) bottled water container
7) some warm water
8) a micro-ammeter (to measure the amount
of amps generated by your home-made solar
energy panel)
First off, cut off about a third of the bottom
portion of your bottled water container and
set it aside. you will need to cut the copper
sheet in half and place a piece on top of
the electric burneer. Power up your electric
burner and watch as your copper sheet turn
from multiple colors to dark reddish-brown
to black. Once black soot appears, turn your
electric boruner off. You have just made the
first part of your solar energy panel.
Once the copper sheet has cooled enough, use
your sand paper or steel brush to remove as
much of the balck soot as possible from your
copper sheet. Be very careful not to remove
the red cuprous oxide underneath the black
soot. You need this in your solar energy panel
project.The burned copper sheet will be a
little smaller than the unburned one. So resize
your unburned copper sheet until it is about
the same size as the burned one.
Now comes the easy part. Attach the wires
to your alligator clip then attach the alligator
clips to your copper sheets. The burned copper
sheet will be attached to the negative terminal
of the micro-ammeter. The unburned one will
be attached to the positive terminal. Put
both copper sheets inside the bottled water
container being careful not to let the metals
touch eath other
Mix some warm water and table salt. Once the
salt has been completely dissolved, pour it
carefully to your bottled water container.
Watch as your micro-ammeter registers the
amps being produced!
You have just successfully created a solar
energy panel powerful enough to power up,
um, nothing. Well at least you know the basic
principle and how to make your own solar energy
panel.
|
