European Union Forums

[NoblyBrilliant]

I want to do a science project where I create my own solar panels out of different materials to see which one will produce the greatest amount of energy. Is this a realistic topic if it has to be done before Thanksgiving? If so, how do I make the solar panels? How do I measure/convert the energy? Please help!

[Gatherer]

You might be able to manage solar panels to warm water.
This would be used, for example, in a home to reduce energy needed by the hot water heater.

Other types of solar panels, such as those that make electricity, you would not be able to make at home.

[Nimble]

you can macgyver extremely inefficient solar cells but it probably wont be worth it

[YoungWarrior]

Unless you know how to grow silicon crystals and slice them wafer thin in a controlled environment, you wont be making any solar cells.

You can make some of the make shift solar cells out of the deposite formed on copper when super heated. There are some tutorials online that explain how to do it,.

Your best bet would be to buy solar cells which are made from different processes and test them.
example
monocrystalline solar cell
polycrystalline cell
amorphous cell (not realy a cell, but a piece)
there are many other types of cells. Just contact someone and ask for a cell for school, they are about $2 a piece.

Then get a good multimeter from radio shack and do all of your testing on the same day.

[BarbaraJBlackman]

Your best bet is making solar water heating panels. You could make them out of copper, PVC, and garden hose, and compare which gets hotter. Check out this site for ideas. http://www.builditsolar.com/

Avoid the scams out there saying you can build your own panel for $200 to power your whole house. You can't. There are some free instructions on the You Build It site that are legit.

[Strong]

Search "DIY" solar panels and google and you will come up with some DIY kits. If you need more information on solar panels and the different technologies, we just wrote a White Paper: Residential Solar Technology Made Simple that can be found here: http://www.moonworkshome.com/home-impro ... de-Simple/

I hope this helps. Don't hesitate to reach out with any further questions.