| Attracted to the idea of building low-cost solar | | | | with the tool you need, it's also worth seeing if you |
| energy yourself? Many people are realizing that they | | | | can find it used at your local thrift store or pawn |
| can have their own solar energy without the | | | | shop. |
| staggeringly large setup costs typically associated | | | | 3. Find some used solar cells |
| with solar panels. When done properly, building your | | | | Not many people realize this, but you can save a lot |
| own panels can give you significant savings. In this | | | | of money by buying used solar cells on eBay. Just go |
| article, I'm going to show you four tricks you can use | | | | to their website and search for used, scratched, |
| to build homemade solar panels on the cheap. | | | | chipped and tabbed solar cells. These will still work |
| 1. Salvage your materials | | | | just fine for your project as long as the majority of |
| You can cut your costs significantly just by using | | | | the surface area of each cell is still intact. |
| salvaged materials for you panel - particularly your | | | | You can also get used solar cells from local solar |
| frame. Check your junk pile out back to see if you | | | | contractors who have old solar panels lying around |
| have any dimensional lumber and plywood. You'll need | | | | that they're waiting to dispose of. |
| this for your frame and backing, so you might as well | | | | Just phone them up and ask if you can take their |
| recycle what you already have instead of buying it | | | | used panels off their hands. This saves them the |
| new. | | | | dumping fees, and then you can just disassemble the |
| 2. Borrow tools | | | | panels and remove the cells. |
| You probably already have most of the tools you'll | | | | 4. Use a proven DIY solar panel blueprint |
| need to build your homemade solar panels. But if | | | | The simplest way to build panels for cheap is to use |
| you're missing some, consider borrowing them from a | | | | a proven DIY solar panel blueprint for your project. A |
| friend instead of buying them. A solder kit is one item | | | | good blueprint will show you the most efficient, |
| that you may not have on hand - a great candidate | | | | economical way of building a panel and save you a lot |
| for borrowing. If you can't find a friend or relative | | | | of unnecessary steps and cost. |