I want to make my own ! But am finding it difficult to get even the most basic books or materials explaining the process. I do not mind if my attempt is primitive and shoddy. I will get some satisfaction from putting one together, and I am sure it will work !
Please advise on materials or sources of this 'BACK TO BASICS' INFORMATION.
Thanking you in advance.
J.Gerald
http://www.eren.doe.gov/pv/aboutpv.html
If your looking for a good book, "The Solar Electric House" by Steven J. Strong has a couple of chapters on the history of Photovoltaics as well as the different manufacturing methods. This book gives a very good overview of the different portions of an off the grid system as well. It should be available at your local library or through our website.
You also might want to so some looking though HomePower magazine's web site. They more than likely have written an article or two on photovoltaics. Their site is located at:
Finally, if your looking to purchase individual solar cells, we offer those as well. However, they are not listed on our site and they would have to be ordered in large quantities. Hope this helps, if you still need more information, drop us another line.
Just kidding, but anyhow, I respect your
optimissim. Seriously, I ran accross one
little pamphlet here in Portland Oregon at a
large technical book store that described the
construction of a small (miniscual) solar cell
the output of which was measured in Micro-
ampres, hardly worth the effort Vs. reward.
E- me back if you are dead- set on trying. I could find this pamphlet, i know right where is
is....
I would not discourage absolute obsession
it is so very rare, however, I think there may
be more productive pursuits , like moonlighting for a month and getting some
decent photovoltaics.
S. Yum Yum
Respectfully , S. yum yum
>Check out ebay ... i saw a booklet (22 pages) that says it shows how to make primitive solar cells.
Check under the "Solar Technology" section. There are a few articles that I reviewed myself for the same reasons. The Titanium Dioxide cells are an interesting home brew solution although efficiency is poor.
>
Brendan
I loved the response from the fellow that developed the pacemaker. Classic stuff!
Really, it's a royal pain to try and make PV cells yourself without the proper tools. Clean room, furnaces, chemicals, etc. Doing it in your garage is probably not an option. There are books that explain the science and actually give you dopant concentrations for certain substrates and all that jazz - all to generate a little bit of power. In fact, solar cells that generate more significant power are separate cells wired in arrangements to yield a higher voltage and/or current.
There is one gentleman that comes to mind who actually created PV's from amorphous silicon (silicon with random structure instead of the precisely grown crystal). Anyway, his name is Stan Ovshinsky and he founded Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. with a similar spirit and conviction. He actually created a transistor type switch from silicon melted in a crucible with electrodes. Doesn't get any more basic than that does it? Good luck.
thanks,
Getachew
>
I'm now going ask a similar question as the original poster, but add my own special twist. Why? B/c I understand that new technology has come out or is about soon on this whole solar stuff (with the idea of smaller, faster & cheaper in mind - read: gross assumption on my part) and there may be new answers to provide that haven't been given before.
Being a newbie as well, I'll have a host of regular stupid questions to go along with my post, so please bare with me.
Here goes.
I want to build a solar panel for power use during the day w/ batteries to use at night and have it hooked to the main power grid to get the excess juice my home made solar generator produces to have cash flow to my back account. The house is a 4/3 with darn near everything electric except the hot water heaters and Central heat, two units, the house is zoned.
Is solar energy more expensive to pipe into your house than regular TU electricity, Reliant, Cirro, etc... provided energy? I ask b/c I'm sure there is so much up front costs that must be paid off over time, but in time, it will be free energy more or less, there will be on going maintenance costs, what ever that will be.
Ok, that�s the plan. Now, lets say I want to design and build everything that is required.
I want to design and manufacture each solar cell in each panel of all the panels I will have to calculate I'll need, along with how many batteries I'll need. I understand that equipment that makes semiconductors would be required if I wanted to make a precise and powerful unit for max power per square inch. I understand there is something called an inverter, I guess this is a device that takes the juice coming off the solar cell and turns it into A/C power and sends to the house, and overflow to the main power grid to get paid for by whom even you have an agreement. I guess meters of your own will need to be put into place to get all that straight and you know what�s going on. This will also require computers to monitor things, and to know when to take or give juice from the solar genie or a electrical co-op, whoever.
I want to build every bit of this myself. Lets say I know enough people and have enough contacts that I can acquire the equipment used to build it all, that and electrical plans and access to the parts to manufacture the whole solar power generating operational to meet my goals mentioned above. I understand that there will be something I can't do, like hook to the power grid, I must have someone like TU do that, and I understand that there will be licenses( please tell me what all they are), and permits and loads of stuff like this that must be acquired as to not break any laws, and chiefly, try and not electrocute myself or others, and make it safe around kids who may want to play near the area, (tall fence with razor wire and a sign that says "electrified fence".
I think this is enough to get people out here started to, a) laughing at me, and b) pointing out all the pitfalls, and what�s realistic or not, what�s best practice, how to start off small and grow it bigger, etc...
I'm in the Ross Perot mode, I'm all ears, so I'll be listening to what everyone�s input is on this.
One last question, if the suns light is free, why is solar energy not used by the big electrical companies, why more people do not use it to power their own house? Is it really not cost effective in the long run? What is the big part of the puzzle that is making it so expensive as to why this has not taken off since the big energy crunch of '72 which I certainly remember and was affected by, and all the issues of pollution today.
Oh, and tax breaks if I made a giant solar energy plant as a business in some sun shinny place (can that be possible, is it worth it?), what are those tax breaks? Any other benefits besides the obvious renewable free energy source (unless Mr. Burns from the Simpson�s blocks out the sun), no pollution, etc� that I might be missing?
My thanks to all.
Can you guide us to distributors of raw materials and chemicals needed to make a photovoltaic cell.
Regards,
Gaurav Minda
Disclaimer and Disclosure
The Alternative Energy Store, Inc reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse or delete any posting or portion thereof, or terminate or block the access to this forum.
The opinions and statements posted on this forum are the opinions and statements of the person posting same, and do not constitute the opinion or act of the Alternative Energy Store, Inc (AltE). The Alternative Energy Store, Inc does not endorse or subscribe to any particular posting. No posting shall be construed as the act or opinion of the Alternative Energy Store, Inc.
©1999-2015 Alternative Energy Store Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
altE
330 Codman Hill Road
Boxborough, MA 01719
800-320-9514
What can we do to help you?
