A solar power panel to power up appliances at home can be pretty expensive if you are purchasing everything from a retailer. However you can cut the cost if you decide to make your solar power panel at home. This is easier than it sounds and while you won't be able to power your whole house with a solar power panel that you make at home, you can still power some electronic appliances. An added benefit to the homemade solar power panel is that you can take it anywhere with you.

Basic Panel

This basic panel will cost you somewhere between $250 to $300. You should be able to find most of the materials at the hardware store or through online stores. This first thing you will need to make your solar power panel is a solar panel that is rated at 16 volts. You will also need a battery, look for rechargeable batteries. A size deep cycle 12 volt lead/acid or gel battery is ideal when you want to make a solar power panel. You cannot use a car battery for this.

To make your solar power panel last longer you want a battery case as well. This will protect the terminals. It also makes your solar panel safer for when children are around. Shop around for a 12 volt DC meter and a DC input. Both are relatively cheap and easy to find. If you intend to power AC appliances then you will also need an inverter, this can be a bit expensive but you can still find a cheap inverter.

You can start to make your solar power panel by fixing the meter and the input onto the top of the battery box with a drill. You need to attach the battery to the DC input. Use insulated wire and start with the negative pole on the battery. Next connect the solar panel to the battery and close the battery box. You now have a working solar panel.

All that's left is to charge the battery. Put the solar panel in the sun and wait until the battery charges up before you start using your solar panel. It will take about 6 or 7 hours before the battery can be used to charge up your appliances. You can use this simple diagram to make a bigger solar power panel with bigger panels and batteries. This will allow you to power more appliances or have power for longer.