Food

Living

Outside

Play

Technology

Workshop

DIY Solar panels for RV or off grid

by aleutianwind on August 27, 2012

Table of Contents
DIY Solar panels for RV or off grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intro: DIY Solar panels for RV or off grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 1:

..................................................................................................................

Step 2:

..................................................................................................................

Step 3:

..................................................................................................................

Step 4:

..................................................................................................................

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Solar-panels-for-RV-or-off-grid/

Intro: DIY Solar panels for RV or off grid

This instructable is about a couple solar panels I made while traveling in our RV. I ordered 72 solar cells from ebay. It was a kit that came with cells, flux pen, and flat
buss wire. The glass came from a recycle store for 5 bucks. I got the epoxy encapsulate off ebay also. I added 3 more batteries to the RV system for extra storage. The 2
panels I made are 60 watt each. I added them to a store bought panel for a total of 240 watts. On a sunny day it has put out a steady 9+ amps.

Step 1:
I tested each cell before starting. Then soldered the tabs on. Be sure to put flux on all solder points. These were tabbed cells but i had to resolder a lot of them. Solder
them + to - in series. Be very carefull as they break easy.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Solar-panels-for-RV-or-off-grid/

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Solar-panels-for-RV-or-off-grid/

Step 2:
I arranged the cells along a straight edge and taped them. I left 1/8 inch gap between them.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Solar-panels-for-RV-or-off-grid/

Step 3:
I put a small dab of solder on all the points first then soldered the tabs to them. I tested them after soldering them together. I made strips of 9 cells each. Use 2 strips of
cardboard for moving and flipping the cell strings over. Be very carefull as they break very easy.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Solar-panels-for-RV-or-off-grid/

Step 4:
I layed the cell strips face down on the glass and soldered them together in series. I takes 36 cells for a 60 watt panel. I soldered the diode that came with the kit to the +
end of the series and added an old lamp cord. I then poured the epoxy encapsulate from ebay over everything and carefully spread it with a paint brush, then wait and
wait. It took 3 days for it to set up. I used a white garbage bag fit over the back, not really needed but it made a white background for the cells. My neighbor mounted
them on the roof for me and off we went. We can now dry camp for many days without running the generator. I will try and enter this in the OFF GRID contest. I you like it,
I could use all the votes I can get.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Solar-panels-for-RV-or-off-grid/

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Solar-panels-for-RV-or-off-grid/

Related Instructables

Making Solar
cells with no
Making a Solar
soldering points Panel without
usable by
Soldering
EARTHFORSOLAR(video) by
dkdls09

using Solar
Make Modular,
Cells, To make
Glass frame DIY Pocket-Sized
Solar Panels by
Solar Panel by
EARTHFORSOLARcp123127

Homemade 63
Watt Solar
Panel by
airsofter1

How to MAKE
PV Solar Panels
by VIRON

Advertisements

Comments
8 comments

Add Comment

Lethis195 says:

Jan 20, 2015. 10:07 AM REPLY

Can you make an ible of how you wired it to your RV?

moffett8 says:

Apr 21, 2013. 7:07 PM REPLY

I have one question about encapsulation. If you have glass or polycarbonate covering the pv cells, why do you need to encapsulate them if they are already
protected? It's like the pv cells are double encapsulated?

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Solar-panels-for-RV-or-off-grid/

Schmidty16 says:

Jan 20, 2013. 6:55 AM REPLY

isn't it a very pain staking process

scottlhollis says:

Jan 4, 2013. 2:40 PM REPLY

The DIY Solar panels here looks great, the prices of Solar panels is very high and you have to build it yourself in order to lower the price, just like it is
explained in this DIY Solar Panels Blog.

aleutianwind says:

Sep 7, 2012. 10:16 PM REPLY

I have totaled up the project and it came to 208 dollars total or 104 for each 60 watt panel for a total of 1.73 per watt. I used sylgard encapsulant from ebay
which is UV protected. My next panels will be encapsulated with a mat type encapuulate sold on ebay. much cheaper. As to the rolled panels it would take 4
0f them to get the power we have now and we don't have the roof space. The panels have been on our roof for 1 1/2 years, 22 states, over 21,000 miles and
show no wear. For a test I switched back and forth between my commercial panel to my homemade and the homemade puts out 1/2 amp more than the
store bought. So far we are very happy with the results and will build more when we decide to settle down. These panels were build in about 6 different RV
parks.

vincent7520 says:

Sep 6, 2012. 11:24 AM REPLY

Only one word to say it all : where do I vote ?...

finfan7 says:

Sep 6, 2012. 7:29 AM REPLY

Very nice build. I considered doing something like this but found the price was restrictive compared to buying one already made. How much did this cost to
build, if you don't mind my asking?

noahw says:

Aug 30, 2012. 11:24 AM REPLY

Beautiful solar panel build aleutianwind. I'm the creator of this contest and your Instructable hits the bulls eye for the type of project I was hoping the
challenge would inspire.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Solar-panels-for-RV-or-off-grid/