Did you know that there are 10 various parts that are required to make a complete solar powered system for your home? Of course you don't have to use all them. You can pick and choose depending on what type of system you want to end up with.

Just to emphasize that point. For example, if your home gets electricity from the national grid, it doesn't mean you have to hook your system up to it if you don't want to.

Solar Cells

Solar cells are placed in direct sunlight, and they transform daylight into electricity. It converts it into DC electricity. You can connect as many panels as you like together, this is called a solar panel array.

The panels are linked together inline. One follows the next one, a bit like a string of fairy lights in contrast to being connected together on an adhoc basis. The more panels you have, the more energy you produce.

Direct Current (DC) Disconnect

You want you solar panels connected to a Direct Current (DC) disconnect. You do not want to undertake any maintenance on your system while there is electricity flowing through it. The DC disconnect switches of the power generated by your solar panels.

Electric Charge Controller

If you are using a battery bank to store any unused electricity then I strongly suggest you fit a charge controller to your system. If a battery gets over charged it can become damaged. A charge controller is designed to protect your batteries.

Battery

Be careful about what type of batteries you use to store electricity. You want to use deep cycle batteries like the ones they use in forklift trucks. Do not use car batteries.

Keep the batteries warm, that way they work better. Do not expose them to the elements; keep them in a garage or some sheltered building. A battery box is also a good investment, they keep your batteries at a good temperature and also protect them from accidental damage.

System Metering

The way to know how much power you are producing, how much you are using and how much is left in your batteries, is to use a system meter. You don't want to work blind, they don't cost very much are really worth their weight in gold.

Main Supply DC Disconnect

The main DC disconnect is used to turn off the power from your battery. You want to locate it between your battery and your alternating current and direct current inverter. Like the solar panel disconnect, it is very handy for when you are carrying out maintenance on your system.

AC DC Inverter

Batteries and solar panels output a direct current. The problem is, many if not all your electrical gadgets in the home use an alternating current. So the inverter converts the DC into an AC current so everything works as it should.

Petrol Generator

There are various types of electric generators to choose from. If you live in a house that does not have an electric utility supplier then this is a good option to add to your system. A backup generator does not only secure your energy supply should something go wrong, it can also recharge your batteries during cloudy days or at night.

AC Breaker Panel

The AC breaker panel switches off the flow of electricity either from the grid to your home or your home to the grid. Although all houses have them, only the electric company is allowed to wire them up. So you need to book an appointment for your utility supplier to wire it up to your solar panels.

Don't be tempted to do it yourself, it is a criminal offence for unqualified people to touch these panels, and you want it to be done correctly..

KW per Hour Meter

All homes which are on-grid are fitted with a kilo watt hour meter. The meter measures your electric usage and your bill is calculated based on the figures from this meter. So if you send power back to the grid, this will go in reverse.

The first step is to build a solar panel, after that we have to design a home electrical system for it to work with. Check out Build a Solar Panel and get full instructions on how to put it all together.

Before embarking on a project to build a solar, do a basic check to see that you are going to end up with what you hope to end up with and have a well thought out plan to work from. Your action plan should include, products, equipment and a good training manual.

If you require a more detailed explanation on how to build a solar panel, visit How to Build a Solar Panel on a Tight Budget.

Locating Solar Cells

Depending on what size solar panel you are going to build, will dictate how many solar cells you are going to need. You can always buy solar cells of the shelf but this can be expensive, an alternative is eBay or find a local company that uses solar cells in their products. There are many companies who use solar cells to power road signs, their signs suffer from wear and tear and are chucked in the skip. The good news is that the solar cells work fine and just need a bit of TLC.

Strong Plywood

The plywood forms the backing board which the cells sit on and is an integral piece of the panel. Choose your plywood with care, you want a quality piece which is nice and flat. We will be treating the plywood later to make sure it doesn’t rot when left outside to the elements.

Soft or Preferably Hard Wood

If you can afford hardwood then get this as it will last longer when left outside at the mercy of the elements and again we will treat it with a UV protector to enhance the lifecycle of your solar panel.

Flexi-Glass

Flexi- glass is used to protect the solar cells and all the electrical wiring. Some people like to use special glass that has the ability to collect infrared light. This is expensive but it will make your solar panel more efficient as the infrared feature will allow you to convert the suns energy in cloudy conditions.

Tabbing or Soldering Wire

Tabbing wire is great for connecting the different solar cells together and so making a complete solar panel assembly. Tabbing wire is made from tin, it is very plyable and has a low melting point.

Silicone

Silicon is used to make the solar panel water tight by filling the gap between the flexi glass and the wooden frame. It is also used to hold the solar cells in place.

Solder

The solar cells are joined to the copper wire using solder. The copper wires carry the current, which the solar cells have produced, to either an inverter, or batteries or to the grid. Sometimes the tabbing wire lifts of the backing board or cell, you can use the solder to stick it back down again.

Soldering Flux

Flux is needed to ensure the tabbing wire sticks to the cells. A flux pen is very good for this as it is just the right width. You run the pen over the area where you want the wire to be assembled and then with the aid of a soldering iron, the tabbing wire is secured in position.

UV Protector

Both the plywood and the wooden frame should be treated with a UV protector. This will protect your solar panel from the sun's UV light which has a tendency to rot wood very quickly.

Volt Meter

The volt meter is used to test each cells output as it is assembled to the board. The more solar cells you add so the more volts you will produce.

To find out about the best way to build a solar panel take a look at how to Build a Solar Panel on a shoe string.