Daily Trust (Abuja)

Nigeria: How to Build Solar Panels Plan

4 July 2008


The cost of solar panels is very high so we decided to learn how to build solar panels plans of our own. In order to run our off rid home we would need about 3000 watts of production power and that would cost us in excess of N1.3million to buy new. Now I don't know about you but that is a lot of money for this family.

Building our own seemed like a better option for us. All we had to do was figure out where to find the parts we needed and how to put them together. We had figured out how to build a wind generator before this, which turned out great so we figured we could do this too.

What did we need?

After some deliberations and quite a bit of research, we discovered a set of plans that provided us with all of the information we needed. Most of it dealt with how to install solar panels but there was a very good section on how to build our own too. There was even a section on where to find free solar panels when we got the five books together, in one called Renewable Energy Solutions.

We got right to it starting with a piece of plywood as a backer board on which to mount the individual cells. We chose to work in our workshop because there is soldering that needs to be done and we like working in a well ventilated area. Keep that in mind when you start.

I'm kind of a safety conscious person and always have been so we wear eye and hand protection when necessary too.

Wires are soldered to the back of the cells, one for positive and one for negative. We found the cells at the source mentioned in the guide.

Just a dab of solder and the wires are fished through holes in the plywood to the back.

Align the cells in rows so it's easier to set up later. They are attached to the plywood with a bit of silicone caulking- not too much or you'll have a mess on your hands.

The positive lead wires you soldered earlier are all joined together to one main wire. The same is done with the negative leads. Get these main wires out to the outside of the board and then sandwich the whole back with another thin piece of plywood.

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Author: aiyeki2003
Fri Jul 4 17:37:26 2008

Dear Editor:

The article on "How To Build Solar Panels Plan" was quite interesting to me and my colleagues who are thinking into establishing this business in Nigeria from the U.S.

Would the editor be graciuos enough to help contact the person, persons or company in this business to send me an e-mail for further discussions.

Again, my name is Clement Osgood and my e-mail: aiyeki2003@yahoo.com

Thank you and hope to read from you.

Author: emmaachile
Sat Jul 5 12:02:56 2008

Please i need a complete solar system that can power my home of about 5000 watts in Lokoja, Kogi State. How much will this cost? Please my email is emmaachile@gmail.cm

Author: cj
Mon Jul 7 00:30:37 2008

Hi there. I have a similar problem Would like to run my house on solar power, the prices of panels are fa to expensive. Can you please let me know how did you go about building yours and were did you get the components from eg. solar cells Thank you Regards CJ

Author: mazianyaogu
Mon Jul 14 00:58:04 2008

Solar Energy is the choice of tomorrow,an area in which the Fed.Govt.needs to invest heavily because it offers no environmental pollution The comments above reflect individual personal choices instead of a govt. program to extend solar energy to help solve the existing energy problem in the country.I would like the govt.to invest more efforts,and money in the development of water,and solar energies than they are investing in electricity with no results.

Author: joachjesu
Fri Jul 18 01:18:06 2008

How much will 3000watts cost

Author: vladimirkarasev1@gmail.com
Tue Dec 23 21:08:19 2008

Dear sir! Our company delivers solar stations and solar modul. Pris- solar modul :3,8$ - 1Watt Solar sustem:10$ -1Watt

Best regards, Vladimir Karasev general director JSC URALSERVIS Address: Mechanicheskaya, St1 City: Kychtym RUSSIA Zip: 456870 Phone: +7 919 345 77 57 Fax: +7 35151 3-38-02 Email: vladimirkarasev1@gmail.com WWW.SOLARUS.RU

Author: vladimirkarasev1@gmail.com
Tue Dec 23 21:12:16 2008

Dear sir! Our company delivers solar stations and solar modul. Pris: Solar modul- 3,8$ solar system-10$

Best regards, Vladimir Karasev general director JSC URALSERVIS Address: Mechanicheskaya, St1 City: Kychtym RUSSIA Zip: 456870 Phone: +7 919 345 77 57 Fax: +7 35151 3-38-02 Email: vladimirkarasev1@gmail.com WWW.SOLARUS.RU

Author: daniel.olagunju4great
Fri Jan 23 01:04:45 2009

Please Editor, I am really interested in the Solar Energy and want to be involved wanting to know the in and out of the said subject. I wish to be connected to a firm that does solar energy installationsi Nigeria. It is life saving project and therefore needs not to be taken with levity. Thanks … [Read Full Text]



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