How To Build A Generator To Power A Home
In this modern society, electricity makes life a lot easier. Most of the things we use for our daily living depend on electricity to work.
If you are keen on tapping renewable energy sources to save on money or to prepare for emergencies, we have the best solution for you.
A DIY generator is a tool that can convert one type of energy into another—for example, solar energy into electricity.
How to build a generator to power a home is no rocket science. However, you need to be familiar with the principles of power generation.
Generating Power
The electricity that we use come from some other source of energy. The power from electric distribution companies is commonly generated from fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum).
Other major categories of energy for power generation are nuclear energy and renewable energy sources.
Renewable energy sources include biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar. Biomass energy sources include wood and wood waste, municipal solid waste, landfill gas and biogas, ethanol, and biodiesel.
These renewable energy sources can be tapped using generators that you can build at home.
In this article, we will guide you on making your own solar-powered generator.
Most solar panels are made of crystalline silicon wafers, each measuring six inches square. The electrons in the silicon wafers move when the sun rays hit the material’s surface, therefore producing electrical current.
A single full-sized solar panel has 60 silicon wafers. However, you can also make a smaller solar panel, depending on the purpose of your DIY generator.
How To Build A Generator From Scratch
To make a home built power generator using solar panels, you need to have basic electrical skills.
You can start making solar panels once you have purchased silicone wafers (available online). Also, you will need a wooden baseboard, a battery, and a charge controller.
- Drill holes in your wooden board so that the wires for each silicone wafer or cell can pass through. This wooden board will serve as the backing of your solar panel.
- Attach wire to the solar cells.
- Link each of the solar cells together.
- Attach each solar cell to the backing individually. This way, it will be convenient to replace a cell if it gets damaged.
- Connect your solar panel to a battery pack and charge controller. The battery will store excess energy while the charge controller will manage the amount of electricity that flows through the battery.
There are also solar panel kits available in the market. These kits include all the materials you need to use for installation.
Install your solar panels on the roof so that it gets a good amount of sunlight. If you wish to connect your solar power system to the grid, you have to consult an electrician and the distribution company.
Conclusion
There are many sources of energy around us; hence there are also several ways on how to build a generator to power a home.
Having your very own power generator is one step closer to self-reliance and off-grid independence.