Mini Solar Panels

 
While mini solar panels are not able to provide enough power to lighten up the entire house, they are perfect for fulfilling your small power consumption needs such as charging a cell phone or a flashlight. Since mini solar panels are handy and portable, you can easily carry them with yourself while going out for a picnic, hiking, camping or for any other activity during which you will be away from an electricity outlet for a prolonged period of time.

One of the ways to get your hands on a cheap mini solar panel is to make it yourself at home. While this may sound a difficult task that requires professional skills, the fact is that you do not have to be an electrical engineer to make your own small solar panel. This article tells you how you can make your own small solar panel and configure it to provide the current and voltage you require.
 

How to Make a Cheap and Small Solar Panel?

For making a mini solar panel at home, you will need following items:
• A sheet of copper
• Metal cutter
• Electric copper wire
• A plastic bottle
• Solders or alligator clip leads
• Salt
• Stove
 

Procedure

First, cut the copper sheet with the help of a metal cutter into 2 equal pieces. Then, take one piece of copper sheet and wash it with the help of a cleanser to remove any grease from it. Now, clean it using a wire brush to remove any sulphide or rust. After drying the sheet, heat it on the stove using the highest settings for about 30 minutes.

As the cooper sheet starts to heat up, it will change its color. After heating it up for 30 minutes, the copper sheet will turn black in color. After that, turn off the stove and let the copper sheet cool naturally. Once it comes back to room temperature, scrub it lightly with your hands under running water. Do not scrub too hard, though. Some black spots will remain but they are fine.

Now, attach copper wires to both the sheets with the help of solders or alligator clip leads. Cut the plastic bottle into half, fill it with hot water and add salt to it. Now, slightly bend both the copper sheets and place them in the salt water, opposite to each other. Make sure that both the sheets do not touch each other and are not completely submerged in water.

Your mini solar cell is ready. Connect a small device with the help of a wire to test it.
 

What If You Cannot Do This?

While making a mini solar cell is simple, if you are unable to do it because of any reason such as being short of time, you do not like experimenting or you do not have any idea about the items used in making, you can simply buy it from the market. There are many stores that sell affordable mini solar panels. So, buy one if you do not want to get involved in the technical work yourself.