Solar Panels

[Djaqaver]

I've been looking online. And all the guides I found looked like shit. I'd like to make one that actually looks somewhat proffesional

Any advice?

[Dr rocker]

For capturing electricity or heating water?

[Djaqaver]

electricity

[Vargus]

Ummm, what do you want? I have no doubt that homemade solar panels look like shit considering you need a fab facility to make them. :p

[Sentinel owl]

This is like asking "how do I make a good computer from scratch."

Well, first you get a lot of sand...

***

If you want to do solar electricity the DIY way, you should look into focused solar energy. Use a parabolic mirror (or an array of flat mirrors approximating a parabola) to focus solar energy on a Stirling engine.

[Mantikore]

yep, you wont be able to make proper photovoltaic cells. it involves bombardment of extremely high purity semiconducting material (silicon) with atomised electron and hole donors (could be anything, but usually Aluminium and phosophorus) in a precise manner to create pn junctions.

your best bet is to utilise the thermal properties of sunlight with a large Fresnel lens to drive a turbine. im thinking of buying one actually. so if you find a good supplier of one, tell me :)

[yawanur]

your best bet is to utilise the thermal properties of sunlight with a large Fresnel lens to drive a turbine. im thinking of buying one actually. so if you find a good supplier of one, tell me :)

got a pretty big one out of an old rear-projection, and I've seen one made for futzing around but not actually driving an engine. Link? I'm interested....;)