Watch in HD
Watch The First Part of This Project First At:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4BKuH…
Visit Solar Tech Town for the full video:
http://www.solartechtown.com
I, Robert Smith, show you every step I take to building a custom made solar panel from scratch. I explain in detail about each item I use and why to use it, so the video is fairly long.
I will be hosting the majority of the video on my own server so you can view it all in one take. It will take time to edit the video, but the more of you that subscribe to the video, the faster I’ll try to get it out to you guys as it just shows that people are interested and appreciate what I’m doing, as I’m providing this video for free unlike some videos you see on YouTube.
The method I described in this video is just one way to go about it, however, there are many ways you can build a custom solar panel. Some use aluminum or plastic frames, but I found for a beginner, working with wood would probably be easier and cheaper.
Overall, building a solar panel can be fun, but there are many factors that play into building a solar panel, and I as well still have an extreme amount to still learn about it.
So I hope that for those wanting to learn more about solar energy and wanting to take the adventure of building their own solar panel will find this video very useful.
To watch to full video just video, just visit: http://www.solartechtown.com
Again the video is fairly large, so to prevent from having to put 6 or 7 parts on youtube in 10 minute sections, I’m just going to host in on my server.
If you all have ANY questions, feel free to leave a comment under the video.
Thanks guys!
Duration : 0:10:0
[youtube HIgzvnLdIsw]
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#1 by birdwing98 at June 29th, 2010
Great Video! I …
Great Video! I recommend you fold the small tab wire around the bus tab, and also avoid touching or moving the solder joint until it has cooled for 20 seconds. You could use a popsicle stick, or chopstick to hold the pieces together while soldering.
#2 by mozilla700 at June 29th, 2010
nice choice of …
nice choice of music.
#3 by jamesdor55 at June 29th, 2010
Good going with the …
Good going with the peg board homie
#4 by rhblakeman at June 29th, 2010
Also be careful …
Also be careful what type silicone you use, if it smells like vinegar it has acetic acid in it – will corrode metals like your bus line. Instead bond the bus with double stick adhesive tape (not the spongy stuff, the stuff that has a paper backing and leaves only a thin adhesive strip)
#5 by Martintfre at June 29th, 2010
I really like the …
I really like the peg board as a means of easing spacing and keeping it together with the tile spacers.
#6 by mikeymike77123 at June 29th, 2010
This video wont …
This video wont load for me. Is it working for anyone else?
#7 by JMF2479 at June 29th, 2010
it’s siliCONE. …
it’s siliCONE. silicon is different, i think it’s a metal.
#8 by rh001YT at June 29th, 2010
Robert: In addition …
Robert: In addition to a good iron, get a gold curly-q tip wiping ’sponge” – looks like a coily copper pot scrubber but is gold colored and made for soldering. Hakko makes a good one, but a good cheapie can be found at Jameco daught com
#9 by rhblakeman at June 29th, 2010
Clean the tip on …
Clean the tip on that iron and wipe it occasionally on a damp sponge to clean it and you’ll get better results. Use sandpaper, steel wool, etc till that black oxidation and burned flux are gone.
#10 by tupac93013 at June 29th, 2010
i have no idea im …
i have no idea im still looking for the cells on ebay and i cant find a low volt dm 1.5 hp motor and i also need a dc pump. lol
so its a hard project.
#11 by eric8eric888 at June 29th, 2010
great vid! sooo …
great vid! sooo useful, im gonna be following you when i actually do start this project
#12 by RobertSmith3 at June 29th, 2010
@zliminator lol not …
@zliminator lol not sure about the breasts part, but you may be right tho..
#13 by zliminator at June 29th, 2010
I call it silicone. …
I call it silicone. You call it silicon. Isn’t that what they use to augment breasts? LOL. Seriously, these are excellent videos. Thanks for the great work.
#14 by Maccan at June 29th, 2010
what is the purpose …
what is the purpose of the pegboard. why is it necessary?
#15 by mikeymike77123 at June 29th, 2010
It finally loaded …
It finally loaded for me nvm.
#16 by fawks0512 at June 29th, 2010
Thank you for …
Thank you for posting this video. Its awsome. Why don’t you make a serial connection between solar cell busses ? so you can get the maximum voltage output.
#17 by gcdrummer02 at June 29th, 2010
that second solder …
that second solder joint doesn’t look good. You should try and hold down the soldering gun a bit longer to make sue both components are hot enough.
#18 by RobertSmith3 at June 29th, 2010
@YeeYIpWai
The …
@YeeYIpWai
The top of the solar cell is “always” positive (+).
The bottom of the solar cell is “always” negative (-).
I suggest going back a few videos and seeing how I soldered the tabbing wire and connected the solar cells together. It’s very straight forward.
Series Connection: + – + – + – + -……
So if the top is negative (-), you would take the tabbing wire on the top of the solar cell and solder it to the “bottom (+)” of the next solar cell.
#19 by YeeYIpWai at June 29th, 2010
in part 4, u put in …
in part 4, u put in the wire to the hole right? so where is this wire connected to?
#20 by YeeYIpWai at June 29th, 2010
@RobertSmith3 im …
@RobertSmith3 im sory, i dont quite understand what u said. u mean on d left tab wire is soldering from -(front) to +(back), and the right hand side tab wire is soldering from +(back) to -(front)?
or at the 1st cell, soldering it from – (front) to 2nd’s cell backside(+), then continue the 2nd cell is from + (back) to next cell’s front (-). which 1 is correct?
#21 by rayofminneapolis at June 29th, 2010
I have that one too …
I have that one too. If you’re outside, you can just grind it on a cement sidewalk of the like. Gets it clean and hot.
#22 by RobertSmith3 at June 29th, 2010
Right so both wires …
Right so both wires on top (-) of the solar cell go the bottom (+) of the next solar cell.
Both wires on the bottom (+) of the next solar cell are placed on the top (-) of the next solar cell.
#23 by joe18370 at June 29th, 2010
so you are sodering …
so you are sodering – to + and on bottom + to – is this correct
#24 by joe18370 at June 29th, 2010
great job and …
great job and thanks ,if you file the tip of your solder iron with a file ,you will get more heat at the tip,and get the job done faster,i have the same iron tip you have ,it gets corroded and needs to be filed
#25 by atmosink at June 29th, 2010
you should not use …
you should not use silicon at all cause silicon is not very good with uv. UV brakes down silicon you will find id recommend a potting epoxy rated for uv this way you do not have to worry about the silicon letting go and having to repair