With the average cost of solar panels for a home being anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 it is understandable that a used solar panel becomes appealing for those who believe in alternative power sources but just can't afford them. However there is a real solution out there that could benefit millions of people.

That solution is to build you own solar panels rather than buy a used solar panel and even though it seems a daunting task it doesn't need to be. All you need is a full proof guide on how to build your own panels and in no time at all you can be making solar panels that literally cost thousands of dollars for hundreds.

Materials you will need to build a solar Panel include:

A sheet of copper flashing from the hardware store. This normally costs about $5.00 per square foot. We will need about half a square foot.

Two alligator clip leads.

A sensitive micro-ammeter that can read currents between 10 and 50 microamperes. Radio Shack sells small LCD multimeters that will do, but I used a small surplus meter with a needle.

An electric stove. My kitchen stove is gas, so I bought a small one-burner electric hotplate for about $25. The little 700 watt burners probably won't work -- mine is 1100 watts, so the burner gets red hot.

A large clear plastic bottle off of which you can cut the top. I used a 2 litter spring water bottle. A large mouth glass jar will also work.

Table salt. We will want a couple tablespoons of salt.

Tap water.

Sand paper or a wire brush on an electric drill.

Sheet metal shears for cutting the copper sheet.

Now that is what you need but we have ignored the most important thing of the lot here and that is a professional guide on how to put these parts together to make a working solar panel preferably one that has a money back guarantee.

So forget about a used solar panel and get yourself a guide and make your own,