If you have assumed that making solar panels is beyond your capabilities, guess what? It’s much simpler than you think. Taking the basic components and building your own solar panels that are durable and provide an adequate output of energy is not rocket science.
Solar cells were first invented in 1946. I know it’s hard to believe. They didn’t get a lot of attention then, we had fuel to burn and roads to drive. The most noteworthy early use for solar panels was when a solar powered satellite was launched by the USA in 1958. The six solar panels powered Vanguard 1′s radio transmitter for six years.
Solar cells are available from a wide variety of sources for as little as a dollar each. If your goal is to experiment on a small scale, you can even get a grab bag of damaged solar cells. If you want to make something that will actually be useful, you need to do your homework and buy cells with an appropriate output.
Making solar panels basically involves connecting several solar cells together and housing them in a structure that will protect them while still exposing them to full sunlight.
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