Cost of making own solar panel?

Question

Hi

Does anyone know how much it would cost to make your own solar panel, not one for heating water, but one that would provide electricity to rooms and appliances? And can it be done in the first place?

Answer 1

I researched this and I found your better off buying your panels. Their expensive to make. And also solar panels are great for heating water, but everyone says you need a turbine to produce enough elec. to run a house.

Answer 2

Seems mainly either heating water or for home light.

But his link might help

Answer 3

How handy are you with tools?   You could use an old, large satellite dish and cover it with mirrors focusing on the center post and build a Stirling Engine (simple design at howstuffworks.com) to collect the heat energy and turn it into mechanical energy.   Then just hook it up to a generator.  

Solar voltaic cells are a little beyond what most people can make at home I think.

Answer 4

You can assemble a phto-voltaic panel from bought out modules. You can do all the interconnecting, mechanical supports, battery, and an inverter to get 120 VAC.

Will cost a lot though. Depends on where you are.

Answer 5

It isn't possible to make a photovoltaic cell on your own, it is a complex manufacturing process involving materials that are not readily available to the consumer.