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Making A Homemade Solar Power Generator
By George Sykes

It is possible to make one's own solar power generator using parts that are readily available from a local hardware store and the whole thing should not cost more than five hundred dollars. A homemade solar power generator is wonderful in the event of a power outage and enables a person to have a life outside of the power grid. Using the solar power generator to produce electricity one may power up a computer, modem, VCR, TV, camera, lights as well as DC appliances and is ideal for use in a cabin, boat, tent or when traveling around the world. There are certain steps one needs to follow in order to build one's own solar power generator.

Steps For Making A Homemade Solar Power Generator

The first thing to do is to buy a small solar panel that may cost about one hundred dollars and a sixteen volt solar panel would be preferable to a twelve volt one and it may be found at an RV or marine supplies store. The next item one would need is a battery and it should be a deep cycle 12 volt lead/acid or gel battery and the deep cycle battery is useful for continuous use as opposed to the cranking battery used in automobiles. For another ten dollars, one would be able to acquire a battery box to contain the battery and for another twenty-five dollars one can buy a 12 volt DC meter.

Along with that, one would need a DC input which would be enough to power DC appliances and costs about ten dollars. For AC appliances, one would require an inverter that converts DC to AC power and one may pick up this item for about fifty dollars though there are many more powerful ones available but what is important is the number of watts that are required. The meter needs to be attached to the DC input and for this one would require a drill. The wires used should be insulated for attaching the meter to the wingnut terminals on the battery. Finally, on would need to put the solar panel out in the sun and a dead battery may take anywhere from five to eight hours to charge while a weak battery would require one to three hours to charge. Once completed, the solar power generator would be able to run a radio, fans as well as small wattage lights all night. In addition, such a system could be added on to with bigger panels, inverters as well as batteries.

Author Details:
George Sykes writes for various web sites writing articles about environmental issues and green energy such as solar power.

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