With the progress of green technologies, solar power is no longer considered to be theoretical or impractical source of renewable energy. We have now reached the stage where solar power installation is a cost effective solution for house owners. The prices for solar energy systems have significantly dropped in the past several years but are still too high for some homeowners. To this day, going solar and generating your own electricity is a serious investment. However you should not be frustrated by it. Instead you can invest your time and efforts in designing and building long lasting, strong DIY solar panels.. You'll hear many negative people saying it is too difficult to build solar panels on your own. They could never be more mistaken. Here are some useful points that can get you started for your very own DIY solar panels.

Start with the very core of a solar energy system

Solar power set up is based on PV panels. These are responsible for turning the heat from the sun into electrical power. But solar panels can be expensive. The good news is you can construct your own DIY solar panels by purchasing solar cells, the building block of a functional industrial solar system. You can easily buy solar cells online. Solar cells come in different rated "classes",A,B and C, where A has the best quality and is the priciest. To guarantee the best quality solar panels for your home make sure you go with A rated solar cells. Solar panels are usually constructed from an array of at least 32 pieces of solar cells, producing at least 18 kilo-volts of energy. These figures should help you estimate the size of your DIY solar panels project.

Making solar cells frames

A simple, wood container can be used to frame the solar cells. Solar cells are fragile so you need to work carefully with it. To keep the cells stable for external installation make sure you use a sturdy frame. The cables and diodes of your DIY solar panel will also be placed in the container. Take additional care in the frame construction. This does not demand expertise in construction. To ensure the durability of your DIY solar panels make sure you are committed to quality.

How to protect solar cells?

Use Plexiglass to cover up the front side of the solar cells. This will protect the surface of your solar panel and ensure its long life. Simply use silicone caulk attach the Plexiglass onto the front face of your DIY panel frame. Protect the wires with electrical tape. A solid solder work can also help a lot in making sure that the connections in the cell series will last for years.

Solar cell assembly option: buy a kit!

If you find it hard to source everything you need to assemble your very own solar system at home then you can shop for an all-inclusive kit that assembles right out of the box. This might be higher in price than getting the components one at a time but it guarantees you have all the right parts to start your DIY solar panels project from the get-go. A solar cell kit may cost about 200 dollars- a good deal in starting off your very own solar energy project.

Reliable installation can make a difference

Be sure you install your panels the right way, or else your system might not be a long lasting one. Construction of your panel should be taken into consideration. All the panels should be completely supported. Durability and performance of your solar panels is also affected by their placement. Ask for professional help if you are not positive you can actually deal with the installation process yourself. For real professionals it takes a really short time to install your system the right way.

Make sure you only getting the best parts for your solar energy system.

To ensure the durability of your solar power system, buy only the components that have long lasting warranties. This way you can protect your initial investment. Although you started with a relatively low budget project, you can still build long lasting, powerful environmentally and financially successful solar power system for your home.