Comments for How To Build Solar Panels http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com We tested 11 solar panel kits so that you don't have to! Sun, 01 Aug 2010 07:18:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on DIY Solar Panel | How to Make Solar by SolarBerg http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1096 SolarBerg Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:47:59 +0000 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1096 Making solar panels is very similar to making silicon computer chips. They are baked and handled in 'clean rooms' (think guys in white smocks) and are very delicate. The process is very energy intensive (they are baked after all) and take a relatively long time. That's where the expense comes from. The next wave is thin film solar, which is made in a process much closer to commercial printing techniques. This is being promised as the future and they say the solar panels will cost a fraction of what they do now. Check out the main player in this technology: http://www.nanosolar.com/<br><b>References : </b><br> Making solar panels is very similar to making silicon computer chips. They are baked and handled in ‘clean rooms’ (think guys in white smocks) and are very delicate. The process is very energy intensive (they are baked after all) and take a relatively long time. That’s where the expense comes from.

The next wave is thin film solar, which is made in a process much closer to commercial printing techniques. This is being promised as the future and they say the solar panels will cost a fraction of what they do now. Check out the main player in this technology:
http://www.nanosolar.com/
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]]> Comment on DIY Solar Panel | How to Make Solar by roderick_young http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1095 roderick_young Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:45:59 +0000 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1095 First Solar recently announced that their costs to produce panels dropped below $1 per watt. I don't know how much of that is accounting tricks. Of course, that doesn't mean that they would sell panels for that price - any capitalistic company is expected to drive the price up to what the market will bear. Crystalline silicon panel producers are coming in at about $2.50/watt right now for the best of them. But again, the selling price is what the market will bear.<br><b>References : </b><br> First Solar recently announced that their costs to produce panels dropped below $1 per watt. I don’t know how much of that is accounting tricks. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they would sell panels for that price - any capitalistic company is expected to drive the price up to what the market will bear.

Crystalline silicon panel producers are coming in at about $2.50/watt right now for the best of them. But again, the selling price is what the market will bear.
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]]> Comment on DIY Solar Panel | How to Make Solar by Uncle Dud http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1094 Uncle Dud Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:43:59 +0000 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1094 Yes look at the processing involved. If we can get der fuhrer Obama out of the way we can automate the process and make them more cost effective. Did I say Obama sucks. Obama sucks!<br><b>References : </b><br> Yes look at the processing involved. If we can get der fuhrer Obama out of the way we can automate the process and make them more cost effective.
Did I say Obama sucks.
Obama sucks!
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]]> Comment on DIY Solar Panel | How to Make Solar by Hephaestus http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1093 Hephaestus Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:41:59 +0000 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1093 I never understood why Silicon is so expensive, it's the 2nd most abundant element in the Earth's crust and the 8th most abundant metalloid in the universe. I just look forward to when we start mining Ganymede, it has plenty of Silicate rock.<br><b>References : </b><br> I never understood why Silicon is so expensive, it’s the 2nd most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and the 8th most abundant metalloid in the universe.

I just look forward to when we start mining Ganymede, it has plenty of Silicate rock.
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]]> Comment on DIY Solar Panel | How to Make Solar by hipp5 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1092 hipp5 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:39:59 +0000 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1092 Unfortunately, yes. Solar panels require high-grade silicon which is very expensive. Also, volume sales aren't yet high enough to push down prices. Don't worry though, as people buy them and the technology matures it'll get cheaper. I remember DVD players costing $2000+. Now you can get one for less than $30.<br><b>References : </b><br> Unfortunately, yes. Solar panels require high-grade silicon which is very expensive. Also, volume sales aren’t yet high enough to push down prices. Don’t worry though, as people buy them and the technology matures it’ll get cheaper. I remember DVD players costing $2000+. Now you can get one for less than $30.
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]]> Comment on DIY Solar Panel | How to Make Solar by Anonymous http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1091 Anonymous Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:37:32 +0000 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/build-solar-panels/diy-solar-panel-how-to-make-solar#comment-1091 <b>How much does it cost a factory to make a solar panel?</b><br>Is it really necessary to make solar panels that expensive? How much does it cost a factory to make a solar panel?
Is it really necessary to make solar panels that expensive?

]]> Comment on How to build solar panel myself? by reball46 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/how-to-build-solar-panels/how-to-build-solar-panel-myself#comment-1085 reball46 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:01:59 +0000 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/how-to-build-solar-panels/how-to-build-solar-panel-myself#comment-1085 Ummm... google how to make solar panels. diy solar panels, When I saw your question, there was an ad on the side bar for making your own solar panels.<br><b>References : </b><br> Ummm… google how to make solar panels. diy solar panels, When I saw your question, there was an ad on the side bar for making your own solar panels.
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]]> Comment on How to build solar panel myself? by be safe and go http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/how-to-build-solar-panels/how-to-build-solar-panel-myself#comment-1084 be safe and go Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:51:59 +0000 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/how-to-build-solar-panels/how-to-build-solar-panel-myself#comment-1084 Mother Earths News is a good web site to get schematics for thing like this. They currently have a passive solar water heater on there web site and in the past they have had numerous designs and types. Excellent site for those who want to live more off the land.<br><b>References : </b><br> Mother Earths News is a good web site to get schematics for thing like this. They currently have a passive solar water heater on there web site and in the past they have had numerous designs and types. Excellent site for those who want to live more off the land.
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]]> Comment on How to build solar panel myself? by R8derMike http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/how-to-build-solar-panels/how-to-build-solar-panel-myself#comment-1083 R8derMike Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:23:59 +0000 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/how-to-build-solar-panels/how-to-build-solar-panel-myself#comment-1083 Check out this site: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/how-to-make-diy-cheap-inexpensive-solar-panels-ebay.php<br><b>References : </b><br> Check out this site:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/how-to-make-diy-cheap-inexpensive-solar-panels-ebay.php
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]]> Comment on How to build solar panel myself? by mrwizard9090 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/how-to-build-solar-panels/how-to-build-solar-panel-myself#comment-1082 mrwizard9090 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:35:59 +0000 http://www.how2buildsolarpanels.com/how-to-build-solar-panels/how-to-build-solar-panel-myself#comment-1082 depends on what type you are interested in. if electricity providing, you need carefully doped silicon and a lot of technology knowhow. if all you want to do is heat air, lumber, clear plastic, and sheet metal is all that is needed. 4X8 2 by 4 frame with a groove centered on the inside for sheet metal. air openings under metal at opposite ends. cover the air side with 4X8 plywood. you probably will have to add some supports for the metal. 4X8 sheet of clear plastic covers the top, and prevents re-radiation. add some ducts and blower.<br><b>References : </b><br> depends on what type you are interested in. if electricity providing, you need carefully doped silicon and a lot of technology knowhow.

if all you want to do is heat air, lumber, clear plastic, and sheet metal is all that is needed.

4X8 2 by 4 frame with a groove centered on the inside for sheet metal. air openings under metal at opposite ends. cover the air side with 4X8 plywood. you probably will have to add some supports for the metal.

4X8 sheet of clear plastic covers the top, and prevents re-radiation.

add some ducts and blower.
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