Solar Cells

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{{We build a 2 kW system in 2007 starting with solar cells, tabbing and encapsulating by hand. Solar Panels at Factor e Farm}}

2021

• Used panels- $45 for 250W - [1]

Solar Cells - 2008

These are the solar cells that we have from Ersol

Soldering Contacts

Recommendations for processing:

• maximum of 24 cells per bypass diode
• solder joint
  • tin-coated copper strips
  • 2.3 mm x 0.15 mm

Bypass diodes - [2]

Diode, 8 amp, $2.25 - [3]

Air Mass Calculation

In winter, the sun at high noon travels through an air mass of 2.2. See calculator at

http://www.udel.edu/igert/pvcdrom/SUNLIGHT/AIRMASS.HTM

This means that the solar irradiance available to the solar cells is about 0.8 kW per square meter, compared to 1 kW per square meter in summer.

Soldering

1. SN60 40/60 and SN 63 is widely available in the plumbing section at your local/global enterprise hardware store. SN refers to tin, thus 60%, and the rest is lead.
   

Technique is such that a low power iron or variable power iron is required. High power is generally for plumbing applications. High power will cause the solder to ball up and be of little use. The guide below is the most detailed description we have of how to solder the leads or "tabs" to the cells. If anyone has more info on this topic let us know please!

1. WORKING QUESTIONS:
2. 1. alternatives to lead? lead free solder that still works for this application? given the lifetime of the panels and amount of PB necessarily a huge factor?
3. 2. Width of solder? many sizes available, usually .31 and .75 are widely available. No guides

Encapsulation

1. Information on encapsulation from Ebay - [4]

Comment: item appears to be unavailable; 2 negative feedbacks on item not being delivered

1. YouTube video on encapsulation - [5]
2. Instructables reference - [6]

Soldering Leads to Solar Cells

To solder your solar cells, you must use a tow temperature solder iron (if you have a variable temperature iron, set it for 280' C) Use only good quality resin or rosin core SN60, 60/40 or SN63 solder and follow these steps: 1 Wear eye protection safety goggles or safety eyeglasses 2.Set cell on a cardboard surface. 3.Carefully scrape the metal bar on top of the cell with a hoboy knife or razor blade. Be very careful not to scrape too hard as you can easily break the cell The oar should be shiny where you have scraped. 4.Now draw the tip of your iron and some solder across the bar where you have scraped it and the solder should adhere. Now, carefully attach a flexible 28 ga (small) lead to the sokler contact (youII have to reheat it). 5.Note: if the solder just balls up:
a.Your soldering iron tip rs too hot
OR
b.You didn't scrape the bar properly 6. After you have made your connection to the top, let it cool and then flip the cell over 7 You should not scrape the bottom as the solder will adhere without any special treatments. Just remember these facts a.On cells that have a dark gray background youH see squared off 'silver" areas to solder to. b.On all silver colored cell backs, solder to the "dull" looking areas only.

Practical Guides

http://www.sungroper.asn.au/project/solar-panel.html

and

http://www.goodideacreative.com/solarpanel.html

are the best guides so far.

List of Solar Cell Manufacturers and Price

A list of international solar cell manufacturers can be found here:

Solar Cell Manufacturers

A list of solar cells showing specifications and price can be found here:

Solar Cell Database

Further Information

From Richard Schulte:

Most of the guides I have seen have all said the exact same thing about soldering the cells together. The process seems to be simple and more time consuming than anything. When it comes to encapsulating, however, there is a large amount of variance, though more people use plexiglass than I had thought would. Several guides have suggested the same sealant:
http://pyronet.50megs.com/RePower/Homemade%20Solar%20Panels.htm

Edit: I've been informed that fiberglass resin is a polyester resin and will not hold the moisture out very well. The best thing to use, which I'm switching to is a aluminum epoxy type sealer called ALUTHANE which can be found Here. <http://www.epoxyproducts.com/e_nonepoxy.html>"

We need to make sure you have the right kind of soldering iron as well. It must be fixed at low temperature or have a variable temp, or else the kind of solder we are using will ball up. One site, http://www.mdpub.com/SolarPanel/index.html, suggested mounting them on pegboard, and using silicone caulk to attach them.

Materials and Implementation for Factor e Farm

Solar Panels at Factor e Farm

See also

• Open Source Photovoltaics
• Wind Turbine

External Links

• Solar Panel Construction
  
• Homemade Solar Panels - Pyronet
  
• Homemade Solar Panels - MDPub
  
• Homemade Solar Panels - Good Idea Creative Services
  
• Homemade Solar Panels - VirtualSecrets
  
• Book on PVs
  
• Homemade Solar Panels - Green Livings