The benefits of solar energy are obvious, a lot has already been said about this and there is no doubt about it. It is for this reason that many people have already installed panels on their homes today, while others are only dreaming about it. Solar panels are certainly beneficial, but such devices are quite expensive, which is why not everyone can afford such a luxury. Thanks to this, many people are wondering how to make a solar battery with their own hands, is it possible, and what is needed for this?

The answer is, of course, it is quite possible. Moreover, today there are several ways that will help you make solar panels with your own hands. The method you choose depends on what kind of performance you need.

1. Preparation of starting materials

• Elements made of polycrystalline silicon;
• Monocrystalline photocells.

The first option has a lower coefficient level useful action(efficiency), which is about 7-9%. However, panels consisting of such elements do not lose efficiency, even in cloudy weather. They are almost equally productive both on sunny days and in rainy weather.

Monocrystalline panels, in turn, have more high level Efficiency, which is about 13%. However, they are more effective only in sunny weather, and in the case of cloudiness or darkness, their productivity is greatly reduced. Due to these features, polycrystalline solar cells are most often used to create a fairly powerful homemade solar battery that will be equally effective in all weather conditions.

It is strongly recommended to purchase photocells from one manufacturer. This is because the devices different brands may well have differences in efficiency, which in turn creates additional difficulties when determining the total power of the battery. In addition, the estimated operating period of the elements may also differ.

The simplest and most common method of acquiring the necessary elements today is auctions like eBay. Here you can purchase ready-made sets of photocells, and they will have a very reasonable price. In order to assemble solar panels for your home with your own hands from available materials, you will need special conductors with which the photocells are connected to each other. In addition, you will need a soldering iron and soldering accessories.

It is quite possible to purchase slightly damaged photocells, since they do not lose any performance at all, but at the same time have much more low cost. Of course, such elements have a less aesthetic appearance.

For the manufacture of the battery case, the most suitable material are aluminum corners that have a small height. Of course, it is quite possible to make solar panels with your own hands from available materials, without buying corners, but using, for example, wooden blocks. However, it is worth understanding that homemade solar panels will be constantly used, and therefore exposed to various weather conditions. In this case, the wood can deteriorate extremely quickly, so you will have to redo the body.

The dimensions of the solar battery depend on the number of photocells that will be used. External protective covering The panels must be transparent and at the same time sufficiently strong and durable. It is best to use plexiglass or polycarbonate as such a coating. You can, of course, use durable strained glass, however, you should be more careful with such panels. Also, it will be better if this protection does not allow infrared rays to pass through, since such protection reduces the heating of the panel during use.

2. Soldering conductors

After you have purchased everything necessary materials, you can proceed to assembling a homemade solar battery. First of all, you need to solder the conductors to the photocells. This process is very labor-intensive and will require some patience and accuracy from you. During the soldering process, some difficulties may arise due to the fragility of the photocell structure. It will be much easier to buy elements that already have soldered conductors, however, even with soldering yourself, you will soon get the hang of it and easily cope with this task. In addition, already soldered solar cells may have a higher cost.

If you plan to solder the conductors yourself, you need to know the following procedure:

• The first step is to cut the existing conductors to the required length (it is more convenient to do this using a cardboard template);
• Next, you need to carefully place the cut conductor on the photocell;
• After this, you should apply soldering acid, as well as solder, to the place where soldering will be performed;
• Carefully and carefully solder the conductor. In this case, under no circumstances should you press on the crystal. Soldering is done easily and quickly. This will come with experience.

This process is not quick, which is why when making homemade solar panels for your home, you will need some time and patience.

3. Assembling the housing and installing photocells

As already mentioned, to produce a frame of the required size, aluminum corners are needed, as well as fastening materials (hardware). It is best to take corners with a low height, since otherwise they will block the Sun and create a shadow on the photocells. In addition, using too high corners, you will end up with an unreasonably wide housing for the panel.

It is necessary to apply to the inner edges of the bonded profiles silicone sealant. This is necessary to ensure that the homemade solar battery is sealed. A sheet of plexiglass cut to size should be placed on the applied sealant, pressing it tightly and fixing it. After the sealant has dried, the plexiglass can be additionally secured with hardware.

After completing the above steps, you must place it on the inner plane transparent sheet photocells with soldered conductors. In this case, it is necessary to maintain a small distance between the cells (about 5 mm). This is explained by the fact that elements can expand under the influence of temperature during use. In addition, thanks to these indentations, the possibility of breaking contacts is eliminated. In order for a solar battery for your home to be correctly assembled, this process must be approached with utmost care. In addition, to make work easier, you can pre-mark the substrate.

4. Combining photocells into a single system

Soldering all photocells into one system must comply with electrical diagram. To date, several schemes are known:

• Serial connection;
• Connection to a common bus;
• Connection with derived midpoint.

There are also other schemes, therefore, it is best to first select the most suitable option. In this case, the main thing is that the circuit contains shunt diodes, which must be installed on a common “+” conductor. These diodes are required in order to prevent the device from discharging at night or in partial darkness. For these purposes, it is best to use Schottky diodes. As current carrying wires, you can use ordinary cables with silicone insulation. Of course, they must be secured securely and firmly.

After combining photocells according to the chosen scheme, the resulting solar battery must be tested for current and voltage. To do this, you will need a regular ammeter and voltmeter, or a multimeter that has both of these functions. If the test is successful, it means that the elements are connected correctly and all contacts are intact.

After checking, all photocells should be fixed and the panel sealed. Most easy way consists of applying mounting silicone to each element, after which the device must be covered with a panel, which can be made of durable plastic. Moreover, if you use transparent plastic, then you will have the opportunity to monitor the possible appearance of defects or cracks in the elements. After the silicone has dried, the back panel must be fixed into a pre-fabricated aluminum frame. All seams of the structure must also be sealed with silicone. You can also use double-sided adhesive tape to secure the photocells. The main rule is that the thickness of this tape (or silicone layer) exceeds the soldering height. This will help prevent damage to the contacts.

5. DIY solar battery made from transistors

Today it is possible to make a solar battery with your own hands, without using purchased photocells. For example, it can be made from transistors or diodes. Of course, it is impossible to make a solar battery from these materials that can provide energy to an entire house, but such a device is quite capable of powering small and compact electrical appliances.

So, how to make a homemade solar panel? Very simple. To make a homemade panel, you will need old transistors; it is best to take “P” or “KT” type devices. First of all, you need to cut down very carefully top part housing so that sunlight can reach р-n junctions. If you use “P” transistors, you will additionally need to pour powder out of it and blow out the inside.

Next, the resulting photocells must be combined into blocks. The connection is made in series to increase the voltage, and in parallel to increase the current. By connecting transistors in this way, it is quite possible to create a solar battery with your own hands, which will have the necessary parameters. It is convenient to fix such elements on a textolite substrate by hanging installation.

In addition, it is possible to assemble a solar battery from diodes, for example D223B. At the same time, you don’t even need to disassemble them; it’s quite enough to simply wipe off the paint with acetone. Under the paint you will find a glass body. Due to the small size of such diodes, high density installation of elements. It is necessary to solder the diodes into the substrate vertically, as this will allow achieving maximum illumination of the crystal, and, consequently, maximum performance.

6. DIY solar battery: Video

The world is experiencing a constant increase in electricity consumption, and the reserves of traditional energy sources are decreasing. Therefore, the demand for equipment that generates electricity using non-traditional sources of raw materials is gradually growing. One of the most common ways to generate electricity is solar panels, powered by the sun's energy. They contain photovoltaic elements, the properties of which allow them to transform solar radiation V electricity. To make them, one of the most common materials on Earth is used. chemical elements– silicon. In this article we will talk about how silicon is converted into photovoltaic cells. Simply put, we will look at what production is solar panels, and what equipment is required for this.

In the field of solar panel production, a fairly large market has already formed, with large companies present. There are already millions of dollars circulating here and there are brands that have earned a reputation for producing quality products. This refers to both the world market and the Russian one. The technologies underlying the production of solar panels are improving as they develop. scientific research in this direction. The most popular solar batteries are currently being produced. different sizes and appointments. There are very small ones used in calculators and. Is there large panels, used in solar systems and. One photocell has little power and produces very little current. Therefore they are combined into . Now let's look at how photocells are produced.

First of all, it is worth saying that at the output manufacturers receive three types of photocells:

• Monocrystalline;
• Polycrystalline;
• Made from amorphous silicon.

Monocrystalline wafers solar cells can be visually distinguished by uniformity of color. When they are produced from the initial raw material (silicon), an ingot of monocrystalline silicon is obtained as a result of temperature melting. It has a high degree of purity and uniformity of the crystal lattice.

Polycrystalline cells are easier to produce. When creating them, there is no goal to grow an ingot from a single crystal and achieve a highly homogeneous structure. They have a lower cost, but pay for it with lower efficiency. Visually, they can be distinguished by their heterogeneous colors.

And another type of photocells is made of amorphous silicon. To obtain certain characteristics, various microelements and nanoparticles are added to it. Production from this type of silicon is mainly focused on the production of flexible solar cells. This type of panels has the lowest efficiency.

As a result of temperature treatment of silicon, cylindrical bars are obtained. Small thickness plates are cut from it. As a result of this operation, damage appears on the surface of the plates, which is removed by etching and texturing. This is necessary in order to improve the absorption of light radiation. After such treatment, microscopic pyramids are formed on the surface of silicon wafers, arranged in a chaotic manner. When light hits them, it reflects on side surfaces other such pyramids. Loosening the texture reduces reflectivity by about a quarter. The etching process itself is a series of sequential treatments with alkalis and acids. As experts say, you can’t overdo it and pickle too much. The layer is thin and the plate may be unsuitable for further use.

The photocell production technology itself is based on the use p-n junction. The photocell plate combines hole and electron conductivity, p and n-type, respectively. This design has the properties of being a barrier and passing electric current in one direction. This is what solar panels work on.

Phosphorus diffusion is used to lay n-type semiconductors on a silicon wafer in production. This layer is located at the surface of the plate, going approximately 0.5 microns deep. As a result, under the influence sunlight charge carriers opposite sign penetrate to a shallow depth. This was done specifically so that the path to p-n zone transition be as fast as possible. Otherwise, they may cancel each other out when they meet. In this case, they do not generate electric current, which means they are wasted.

As a result of diffusion, a short circuit occurs between the front surface of the plate with a grid for collecting current and the back side, which is a continuous contact. To remove this closure, use various technologies. This can be plasma-chemical or chemical etching. And also this can be done by laser or mechanically. Using plasma chemical etching, the short circuit is removed immediately for a stack of silicon wafers. The result of this procedure largely depends on the processing time, chemical composition, surface area of ​​elements and many other factors.

A texture is then applied to the surface of the plate to reduce reflection. If this is not done, then 10% of the sun's rays will be reflected and will not take part in the generation of electric current. The coating is used for deep penetration light, which prevents them from being reflected back.

Creating a metallized mesh on the face of the plates is a challenging task. On the one hand, a minimum of optical losses is achieved if the grid lines are thin and located at a significant distance from each other. If you make the grid larger, then some of the charges will not reach contact and will be lost in vain. On the other hand, if the mesh strips are too thin, there will be too much space for light absorption.

But thin lines cannot conduct much current. Therefore, a “golden mean” is sought. There are standardized values ​​for line sizes and distances between them for various metals. Metallization technology is based on screen printing. The material most often used is paste containing silver. Thanks to its use, the efficiency of the plates can be increased to 15 percent.

Now, let's look at the production of solar cells at the stage of assembling them from the obtained solar cells.

Production of solar panels

The production of solar cells can be divided into the following main stages:

• Testing. At this stage, measurements are taken electrical characteristics. For this purpose, flashes of powerful xenon lamps are used. Based on the test results, the solar cells are sorted and sent to the next stage of production;
• At the second stage of production, the elements are soldered into sections. They are formed into sections on a glass substrate. The assembled sections are transferred to the glass using vacuum grippers. This mandatory requirement to exclude mechanical or other impact on the surface of the plates. Blocks usually include 4-6 sections. The sections, in turn, consist of 9-10 photovoltaic panels;
• The next stage of production is lamination. The blocks of solar cells connected by soldering are laminated using ethylene vinyl acetate film. A special protective coating is also applied. All this is done on CNC equipment. The computer monitors characteristics such as pressure, temperature, etc. Depending on the material used, lamination parameters can be changed;
• And the final stage is to make a frame from aluminum profile and a special connection box. To ensure the reliability of the connection, an adhesive sealant is used. At the same stage of production, solar panels are tested. In this case, currents are measured short circuit, output voltage (operating and no-load), current strength.

Equipment used

Reputable manufacturers use it in the production of solar panels modern equipment with program control. This approach ensures minimal error and spread in the parameters of the assembled solar panels. In addition, computer equipment allows for more accurate and complete testing. As a result, the number of defects is reduced and battery life is increased.

Let's list the equipment used for production.

• Tables for moving assemblies. On these tables, cutting, laying of elements, attaching a junction box, and so on are performed. Such tables have non-metallic balls on the surface of the table top. This makes it possible to easily move assemblies without damaging elements;
• Laminator. This equipment is used for lamination and all parameters are adjusted in a special software For automatic operation. Although manual operation is also possible;
• Tool for cutting cells. Cutting is performed using a fiber laser. Parameters are also set programmatically;
• Equipment for cleaning glass substrates. The procedure takes place in several stages. First, nylon brushes and detergent are used. Then a gradual rinse with deionized water is carried out. After this, drying is carried out with hot and cold air.

Large manufacturers of solar panels

The production of solar panels and finished solar systems is a profitable and promising business. The number of purchased batteries is growing from year to year. As a result, there is a constant sales market, which many large manufacturers pay attention to.

First of all, this market is being developed by companies from China. Due to their low cost, they squeeze all other companies out of the market. Thus, due to Chinese expansion, four German companies medium size, as well as one American manufacturer. Work in this direction was closed by Siemens and Bosch. The result is logical, since solar panels made in China cost twice as much as European and American products.

Among the world's manufacturers are the following large companies producing solar panels:

• Yingli Green Energy. Every year the company produces solar panels total capacity 2 gigawatts. They produce batteries from monocrystalline and polycrystalline cells;
• First Solar. They were forced to close the plant in Germany, but are still one of the largest in the world. They produce panels per year with a total capacity of 3.5 gigawatts;
• Suntech Power Co. This is a Chinese giant producing 1.8 gigawatts of products. Their production facilities are located in eighty countries around the world.

Solar panels Russian production produced by the following companies:

• Hevel LLC (Novocheboksarsk);
• Telecom-STV (Zelenograd);
• CJSC Termotron-zavod;
• OJSC "Ryazan Plant of Metal-Ceramic Devices" (Ryazan).

In countries former USSR You can also find many industries. For example, in Astana. Moreover, local silicon is used for production. During construction, modern equipment was installed at the enterprise. They are planning to build a similar enterprise in Uzbekistan. Moreover, construction is also being carried out by Chinese manufacturers.
If you found this article useful, please share the link to it on in social networks. This will help the development of the site. Vote in the poll below and rate the material! Please leave corrections and additions to the article in the comments.

When thinking about the idea of ​​starting a business, entrepreneurs can pay attention to “innovative” areas that are just beginning to develop in the consumer market. This carries significant risks for a businessman - it is important to think everything through thoroughly so as not to burn out at the start. One of these areas is the production of solar panels. And if in the foreign market such products have long been used by ordinary people, then for our compatriots they are an outlandish novelty. Russian-made solar panels are offered by no more than a dozen manufacturers. This means you have a chance to conquer this direction

Our business assessment:

Starting investments – from 300,000 rubles.

Market saturation is low.

The difficulty of starting a business is 5/10.

Solar batteries are products that allow you to “take” the sun’s energy to heat water, heat rooms, and operate equipment. Great option for the dacha and country houses, allowing you to save on connecting communications and paying electricity and gas bills. An approximate power indicator is that 1 m2 of such a collector can heat 100 liters of water in an hour.
Before drawing up a detailed business plan, it would not hurt to study the market and understand whether it is even profitable to launch a business in this direction in a particular region. It will be profitable to open a plant for the production of solar panels in those areas where the sun shines for a significant part of the year - only then will the products be in demand on the market. No wonder - how will people be able to use solar energy where there are polar nights? Also analyze the level of competition. But there are unlikely to be any problems here - the production of solar panels in Russia is not at all developed.

Business is profitable for several reasons:

• low start-up costs,
• simplicity of technology,
• great opportunities for development,
• huge market.

Despite the many advantages, the production and sale of solar panels will require a thoughtful marketing strategy. And it is the novelty of the product on the market that will cause problems - a lot of effort will have to be made to sell the collectors. But good quality products will serve as the best advertising.

Is it possible to make solar panels yourself?

The technology for producing solar panels is quite complex. When organizing a business, it is better to involve a specialist who knows physics and electromechanics. And even though the “consultant” will have to pay, he will help set up a profitable business.

The first difficulties will arise at the stage of selecting raw materials. To produce products you will need the following materials:

• poly- and monocrystalline silicon,
• aluminum frames,
• cellular polypropylene,
• cellular polycarbonate,
• wires,
• electrical converters.

The production of solar panels as a business can be built in another way - you order ready-made “parts” from third-party companies, and simply assemble them before installation. In this case, you don’t have to spend money on complex equipment. But other difficulties await us - rising prices for finished products, since high-quality parts cost a lot. If you have planned such a development for your future enterprise, establish contacts with reliable suppliers to obtain components for batteries High Quality.

Solar panels for the home are produced using several technologies. And the silicon method has become the most studied of all. It consists of the following steps:

• Cutting silicon wafers and cleaning them.
• Etching the surface of a silicon wafer and its structuring.
• Applying phosphorus to the plate and burning it.
• Application of an anti-reflective layer.
• Surface metallization.
• Drying the plates.
• Connecting electrical contacts to front side collector
• Plate alignment.
• Framing the plates with aluminum frames.
• Testing of the finished collector.

What equipment will be needed?

The next thing an entrepreneur has to do after studying the technology is to buy equipment for the production of solar panels. Only complete automation of production will allow us to supply high quality products to the market. At the same time, the cost will be lower than if you decide to work on purchased parts.

To organize a home business, the “standard” set of a craftsman will be enough for you - an electric drill, jigsaws, saws, a level.

To get hybrid solar panels, you will need a production line consisting of the following equipment:

• laser cutting machine,
• laminator,
• framing machine,
• plate surface cleaning machine,
• "inspection" tables,
• machines for testing collectors under high voltage.

Get it production line It will be difficult in Russia - our factories do not yet produce such high-tech machines. All that remains is to look for suppliers abroad - businessmen often order lines from Europe and China. The price of equipment for the production of solar panels varies widely, depending on the power and configuration. You can buy an Asian line of low productivity for no less than 5,000,000 rubles. And this is far from the limit - there are fully equipped factories, the cost of which reaches 10,000,000 rubles.

It is advisable to take care of creating your own vehicle fleet. This way you will offer customers a delivery service and go to sites yourself to install the ordered batteries. This will be much more profitable than hiring a third-party vehicle every time.

When buying a machine for solar panels, ask the seller if he offers commissioning and line installation services - this will greatly simplify the matter. But most likely, you will have to pay extra for the “service”.

Premises requirements and staff recruitment

And if you do not need large areas to assemble panels from individual parts, then in the case of a full-fledged enterprise you cannot do without renting a workshop. Here, too, investments are required, since the area must be carefully prepared so that the technology is carried out according to all the rules. Will be required – ventilation systems, heating, water supply, three phase electricity, disinfection installations. The workshop must be kept clean, since high-precision work will be carried out technical work. An area of ​​at least 300 m2 will be required.

You can run a home business from your own garage. After completing the order, you will go to the site to install the collector.

Flexible solar panels must be produced under the strict supervision of a specialist. In addition to the working personnel, invite qualified employees who have experience in working with complex equipment to the production. But finding specialists who have already worked in similar workshops in Russia will be almost impossible - unless you invite people from abroad.

Profitability of the planned business

To open a business for assembling solar panels, you will not need much investment - from 300,000 rubles. But if we talk about a full-fledged enterprise, then investments will increase tenfold - from 5,500,000 rubles. Then you will have to attract third-party investors to the business, which is very difficult, given the novelty of the direction - not everyone will agree to give their money.

The costs will begin to pay off when sales channels are established and the products become popular in a particular region (and then beyond its borders). The market price of Russian-made solar panels is at least 20,000 rubles for a collector with an area of ​​2 m2. At the same time, their cost is 50-100% lower - excellent profitability indicators! Add to the revenue the cost of installation services - and this is at least another 30,000-50,000 rubles per order. So, set yourself the goal of promoting your products on the market.

And if at first there will be practically no people willing to buy Russian-made solar panels due to the novelty of the product and a minimum of reviews from consumers, then over time their popularity will only increase. To promote your enterprise, use all advertising opportunities - advertisements in magazines and newspapers, a website on the Internet, advertising on TV and radio, calling potential customers. There will be significant expenditures on advertising - but these investments will fully pay for themselves if the advertising begins to “work”, attracting interested buyers.

What does solar cell production technology look like?

The world is experiencing a constant increase in electricity consumption, and the reserves of traditional energy sources are decreasing. Therefore, the demand for equipment that generates electricity using non-traditional sources of raw materials is gradually growing. One of the most common ways to generate electricity is solar panels, powered by the sun's energy. They contain photovoltaic cells, the properties of which allow them to convert solar radiation into electric current. For their production, one of the most common chemical elements on Earth is used - silicon. In this article we will talk about how silicon is converted into photovoltaic cells. Simply put, we will look at what solar panel manufacturing is and what equipment it requires.

In the field of solar panel production, a fairly large market has already formed, with large companies present. There are already millions of dollars circulating here and there are brands that have earned a reputation for producing quality products. This refers to both the world market and the Russian one. The technologies underlying the production of solar panels are being improved as scientific research in this direction develops. Solar batteries are now produced in a variety of sizes and purposes. There are very small ones used in calculators and. And there are large panels used in solar systems and. One photocell has little power and produces very little current. Therefore they are combined into . Now let's look at how photocells are produced.

The production of solar cells can be divided into the following main stages:

• Testing. At this stage, electrical characteristics are measured. For this purpose, flashes of powerful xenon lamps are used. Based on the test results, the solar cells are sorted and sent to the next stage of production;
• At the second stage of production, the elements are soldered into sections. They are formed into sections on a glass substrate. The assembled sections are transferred to the glass using vacuum grippers. This is a mandatory requirement to avoid mechanical or other impact on the surface of the plates. Blocks usually include 4-6 sections. The sections, in turn, consist of 9-10 photovoltaic panels;
• The next stage of production is lamination. The blocks of solar cells connected by soldering are laminated using ethylene vinyl acetate film. A special protective coating is also applied. All this is done on CNC equipment. The computer monitors characteristics such as pressure, temperature, etc. Depending on the material used, lamination parameters can be changed;
• And the final stage is to manufacture a frame from an aluminum profile and a special junction box. To ensure the reliability of the connection, an adhesive sealant is used. At the same stage of production, solar panels are tested. In this case, short circuit currents, output voltage (operating and no-load), and current strength are measured.

With constantly rising prices for electricity, you inevitably begin to think about using natural sources for power supply. One of these possibilities is solar panels for your home or garden. If desired, they can fully provide all the needs of even a large house.

Design of a solar power supply system

Converting solar energy into electricity is an idea long time kept scientists awake. With the discovery of the properties of semiconductors, this became possible. Solar cells use silicon crystals. When sunlight hits them, a directed movement of electrons is formed in them, which is called an electric current. When connecting a sufficient number of such crystals, we obtain quite decent currents: one panel with an area of ​​​​a little more than a meter (1.3-1.4 m2 with a sufficient level of illumination can produce up to 270 W (voltage 24 V).

Since the illumination changes depending on the weather and time of day, it is not possible to directly connect devices to solar panels. We need a whole system. In addition to solar panels, you need:

• Battery. During daylight hours, under the influence of sunlight, solar panels generate electric current for the home or cottage. It is not always used in full; its excess accumulates in the battery. The accumulated energy is consumed in inclement weather.
• Controller. Not a mandatory part, but desirable (if you have enough funds). Monitors the battery's charge level to prevent it from over-discharging or exceeding its maximum charge level. Both of these conditions are detrimental to the battery, so having a controller extends the life of the battery. The controller also provides optimal mode operation of solar panels.
• DC to AC converter (inverter). Not all devices are designed for D.C.. Many work from AC voltage at 220 volts. The converter makes it possible to obtain a voltage of 220-230 V.

Solar panels for the home are only part of the system

By installing solar panels for your home or cottage, you can become completely independent from the official supplier. But for this you need to have a large number of batteries, a number of batteries. A kit that produces 1.5 kW per day costs about $1000. This is enough to meet the needs of a summer house or part of the electrical equipment in the house. A set of solar panels for producing 4 kW per day costs about $2,200, for 9 kW per day - $6,200. Since solar panels for home - modular system, you can buy an installation that will provide part of the needs, gradually increasing its productivity.

Types of solar panels

With rising energy prices, the idea of ​​using solar energy to generate electricity is becoming increasingly popular. Moreover, with the development of technology, solar converters are becoming more efficient and, at the same time, cheaper. So, if you wish, you can meet your needs by installing solar panels. But they happen different types. Let's figure it out.

The solar battery itself is a number of photocells located in a common housing, protected by a transparent front panel. For household use Solar cells are produced on the basis of silicon, since it is relatively inexpensive, and elements based on it have a good efficiency (about 20-24%). Monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film (flexible) solar cells are made based on silicon crystals. A certain number of these photocells are electrically connected to each other (series and/or parallel) and connected to terminals located on the housing.

Photocells installed in closed case. The solar battery housing is made of anodized aluminum. It is lightweight and non-corrosive. Front panel made of durable glass that must withstand snow and wind loads. In addition, it must have certain optical properties - have maximum transparency in order to transmit as many rays as possible. In general, a significant amount of energy is lost due to reflection, so the requirements for the quality of glass are high and it is also coated with an anti-reflective compound.

Types of photocells for solar panels

Solar panels for the home are made from three types of silicon cells;

If you have pitched roof and the façade is facing south or east, it makes no sense to think too much about the space occupied. Polycrystalline modules may well suit this. For the same amount of energy produced, they cost slightly less.

How to choose the right solar panel system for your home

There are common misconceptions that make you spend extra money on overly expensive equipment. Below are recommendations on how to properly build a power supply system from solar panels and not spend extra money.

What to buy

Not all components of a solar power plant are vital for operation. Some parts can be done without. They serve to increase reliability, but without them the system is operational. The first thing to remember is to purchase solar panels at the end of winter, beginning of spring. Firstly, the weather at this time is excellent, there is a lot sunny days, the snow reflects the sun, increasing the overall illumination. Secondly, discounts are traditionally announced at this time. The following are the tips:

If you use only these tips, and connect only equipment that runs on constant voltage, a solar panel system for your home will cost a much more modest amount than the cheapest kit. But that is not all. You can leave some of the equipment “for later” or do without it altogether.

What can you do without?

The cost of a set of solar panels for 1 kW per day is more than a thousand dollars. Considerable investment. You will inevitably wonder whether it is worth it and what the payback period will be. At current rates, you will have to wait for more than one year until you get your money back. But costs can be reduced. Not at the expense of quality, but due to a slight decrease in the operating comfort of the system and due to a reasonable approach to the selection of its components.

So, if your budget is limited, you can get by with a few solar panels and rechargeable batteries, the capacity of which is 20-25% higher than the maximum charge of solar panels. To monitor the condition, buy a car clock that also measures voltage. This will save you from having to measure the battery charge several times a day. Instead, you will need to look at your watch from time to time. That's all for the start. In the future, you can purchase additional solar panels for your home and increase the number of batteries. If desired, you can buy an inverter.

Determining the size and number of photocells

Good 12-volt solar panels should have 36 cells, and 24-volt solar panels should have 72 solar cells. This amount is optimal. With fewer photocells you will never get the stated current. And this is the best option.

You should not buy dual solar panels - 72 and 144 elements, respectively. Firstly, they are very large, which is inconvenient for transportation. Secondly, with abnormal low temperatures, which happen to us periodically, they are the first to fail. The fact is that the laminating film greatly decreases in size in cold weather. On large panels Due to the high tension, it peels off or even breaks. Transparency is lost and productivity drops catastrophically. The panel is being repaired.

Second factor. On larger panels the thickness of the body and glass should be greater. After all, the windage increases and snow loads. But this is not always done, as the price increases significantly. If you see a double panel, and the price for it is lower than for two “regular” ones, it’s better to look for something else.

Again: the best choice— a 12-volt solar panel for a home, consisting of 36 photocells. This best option, proven by practice.

Technical specifications: what to look for

Certified solar panels always indicate operating current and voltage, as well as open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current. It is worth considering that all parameters are usually indicated for a temperature of +25°C. On a sunny day on the roof, the battery heats up to temperatures significantly higher than this figure. This explains the presence of higher operating voltage.

Also pay attention to the open circuit voltage. In normal batteries it is about 22 V. And everything would be fine, but if you carry out work on the equipment without disconnecting the solar panels, the no-load voltage will damage the inverter or other connected equipment that is not designed for such a voltage. Therefore, during any work - switching wires, connecting/disconnecting batteries, etc. etc. - the first thing you should do is disconnect the solar panels (remove the terminals). Having gone through the circuit, you connect them last. This procedure will save you a lot of nerves (and money).

Case and glass

Solar panels for home have aluminium case. This metal does not corrode and has sufficient strength and is light in weight. A normal body must be assembled from a profile containing at least two stiffeners. In addition, the glass must be inserted into a special groove, and not fixed on top. All these are signs of normal quality.

When choosing a solar battery, pay attention to glass. In normal batteries it is not smooth, but textured. It is rough to the touch; if you rub it with your nails, you can hear a rustling sound. In addition, it must have high-quality coating, which minimizes glare. This means that nothing should be reflected in it. If reflections of surrounding objects are visible at any angle, it is better to find another panel.

Selecting the cable cross-section and the fineness of the electrical connection

Solar panels for your home must be connected using a single-core copper cable. The cable cross-section depends on the distance between the module and the battery:

• distance less than 10 meters:
  • 1.5 mm2 per 100 W solar battery;
  • for two batteries - 2.5 mm2;
  • three batteries - 4.0 mm2;
• distance more than 10 meters:
  • to connect one panel we take 2.5 mm2;
  • two - 4.0 mm2;
  • three - 6.0 mm2.

You can take a larger cross-section, but not less (there will be big losses, but we don’t need it). When purchasing wires, pay attention to the actual cross-section, since today the declared dimensions very often do not correspond to the actual ones. To check, you will have to measure the diameter and calculate the cross-section (you can read how to do this).

When assembling the system, you can show the advantages of solar panels using multi-core cable of a suitable section, and for the minus, use one thick one. Before connecting to the batteries, we pass all the “pluses” through diodes or diode assemblies with a common cathode. This prevents the battery from shorting out (which could cause a fire) if the wires between the batteries and the battery are shorted or broken.

Diodes use types SBL2040CT, PBYR040CT. If you don’t find any, you can remove them from old power supplies personal computers. There are usually SBL3040 or similar ones. It is advisable to pass through diodes. Don’t forget that they get very hot, so you need to mount them on a radiator (you can use just one).

The system also requires a fuse box. One for each consumer. We connect the entire load through this block. Firstly, the system is safer. Secondly, if problems arise, it is easier to determine its source (by a blown fuse).