| Solar panels are expensive but are good converters | | | | sheets are heated. Continue heating even when blank |
| of solar energy to home or business use of | | | | flakes can be seen forming on top of the sheet. |
| electricity. Contrary to the usual layman's belief that | | | | Then a black layer of cupric oxide is observed and |
| these cells are too technologically advanced to be | | | | should be allowed to be heated for more than thirty |
| prepared at home, a lot of budding scientists have | | | | minutes to ensure that the black coating will become |
| experimented on ways to make solar panels that are | | | | thicker and will easily flake off from the original |
| inexpensive and yet efficient enough to create | | | | copper sheet. You will know if the sheet is not |
| electrical energy. These solar cells might not be | | | | cooked well because the black coating will just stick |
| efficient enough to light up the whole house, but | | | | to the original sheet. The heat should be turned low |
| they can be used to heat some water or to energize | | | | then off. |
| some lights. | | | | After the heating process, you should allow the |
| To make solar panels, look for a copper sheet. It can | | | | burner and the sheet to cool off by themselves. Do |
| be more easily acquired than silicon; besides, like | | | | not come too near the sheet because some bits of |
| silicon, copper has photoelectric capabilities. | | | | hot copper might come off the sheet and give off |
| Approximately one-half square foot of copper sheet | | | | sparks of tiny metal dust. After the sheet has |
| is necessary, but since the hardware sells large | | | | cooled, you should lightly brush some of the small bits |
| sheets, then you can still store the remaining part of | | | | of copper that are stuck in the sheet. The red layer |
| the sheet or make more cells. | | | | will be the one used for the solar panels. |
| It is quite easy to make solar panels. You will need a | | | | You should cut a similar size of copper sheet and |
| decent stove to create the cells. An electric one with | | | | bend them together lightly. Arrange them in a plastic |
| hot plates instead of coils would be perfect but not a | | | | bottle but do not allow them to touch each other. |
| must. The copper sheet should be cut to fit the | | | | Attach one alligator clip lead to the heated copper |
| burner. The sheet and your hands should be washed | | | | sheet and one to the unheated sheet. The lead from |
| in soap and water to eliminate dirt or other materials. | | | | the heated plate should then be attached to the |
| The copper sheet should be brushed with a copper | | | | positive point of a micro-ammeter with 10 to 50 mA |
| wire or sandpaper. This will ensure that light corrosion | | | | capacity; the other lead should be at the negative |
| is eliminated. After the sheet has dried, this should be | | | | point. |
| placed on top of the stove burner and the heat | | | | Make a salt solution and add to the jar without |
| turned on to the highest capacity that the stove can | | | | wetting the leads. One inch of the copper sheets |
| make. | | | | should not be soaked in the solution. You can now |
| Watch the copper sheet heat up, but make sure you | | | | bring this to where the sun can be seen, and the |
| don't touch it. Orange or red colors will appear as the | | | | solar panel ammeter will show activity. |