| A DIY solar panel project is easy and inexpensive to | | | | could easily power our homes and offices for free. |
| do. Photovoltaic cells are made of special materials | | | | Modern solar cells available for DIY solar cell projects |
| called semiconductors such as silicon, which is currently | | | | are around 15-20% effective, but that is enough for an |
| the most commonly used material. A photovoltaic cell | | | | entire families needs. Here are some advantages solar |
| is a device that converts light directly into electricity by | | | | power |
| the photovoltaic effect, when they are used for DIY | | | | - Free power |
| solar power projects they are called solar cells. | | | | - Cheap and easy to build |
| Photovoltaic cells are becoming more common | | | | - Good for the environment |
| everyday, they are widely used in calculators and are | | | | Why pay thousands? A do it yourself solar power |
| increasingly being used to power traffic signs, among | | | | project can be done for under $200. All you do is build |
| hundreds of other uses. Satellites use solar power and | | | | a box (panel) with a glass top, out of readily available |
| were directly responsible for the development of | | | | materials for the solar cells, which are surprisingly |
| inexpensive and effective solar cells for use in do it | | | | affordable, put the cells in the box and do the wiring. |
| yourself solar panels. | | | | There are plenty of good manuals available for your |
| On a bright, sunny day, the sun shines approximately | | | | DIY solar panels, the best have video instructions to go |
| 1,000 watts of energy per square meter of the planet's | | | | along with other step by step instructions. |
| surface, and if we could collect all of that energy we | | | | |