Handy Man Source

Do-it-yourself solar panels generate electricity by a phenomenon generally known as the photovoltaic effect. When photons reach the surface of a doped semiconductor, a small voltage (potential difference) appears across the electrodes. By connecting several semiconductors together, we can get power large enough for everyday use. You may have realized by now that the (semiconductor) material used is solely responsible for the efficiency of energy conversion -- from sunlight to electricity. As scientists discover better semiconductors and better production techniques, photovoltaic cells become cheaper to produce. And as the demand for solar panels increase, economies of scale drives the price of solar cells to the value we know today. Recently, many hobbyists are getting interested in building for themselves homemade solar panels. This … Read entire article »