How to Build a Low-Tech Solar Panel?

#1

Post by danielg0 » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 9:30 AM UTC

How to Build a Low-Tech Solar Panel?
solar.lowtechmagazine.com

Re: How to Build a Low-Tech Solar Panel?

#2

Post by dmos62 » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 2:36 PM UTC

I really enjoy this magazine.

Re: How to Build a Low-Tech Solar Panel?

#3

Post by gene-h » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 2:45 PM UTC

It's a cute approach, but perovskite solar cells can probably do much better. Perovskite solar cells can be made at close to room temperature, use relatively common elements, and can be made fairly thin. The current efficiency record for perovskite solar cells is 25.6%[0].

[0]https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/04/06/unist-epfl-claim-25-6...

Re: How to Build a Low-Tech Solar Panel?

#4

Post by johnklos » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 2:49 PM UTC

Why is it never surprising when we hear stories like how Edison bought a thermoelectric generator company (Clamonds’s Improved Thermopile) and ceased development.

How much human progress is hampered by the desire of some to profit, no matter the cost to the world?

Re: How to Build a Low-Tech Solar Panel?

#5

Post by Uninen » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 2:50 PM UTC

"This website runs on a solar powered server located in Barcelona, and will go off-line during longer periods of bad weather." - https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/power.html

What a lovely idea.

Re: How to Build a Low-Tech Solar Panel?

#6

Post by opwieurposiu » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 2:51 PM UTC

I put some used PV panels on my shed's roof and wired them up to the bottom element of my electric water heater. This cut my household electric use in half. Not connected to the grid so no expensive permits needed.

Re: How to Build a Low-Tech Solar Panel?

#7

Post by Kliment » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 2:51 PM UTC

gene-h wrote: post #3

It's a cute approach, but perovskite solar cells can probably do much better. Perovskite solar cells can be made at close to room temperature, use relatively common elements, and can be made fairly thin. The current efficiency record for perovskite solar cells is 25.6%[0]. [0] https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/04/06/unist-epfl-claim-25-6...

Yeah, that's a really promising material for both efficiency and manufacturing cost. It's unfortunate it's so toxic.

Re: How to Build a Low-Tech Solar Panel?

#8

Post by kamranjon » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 3:00 PM UTC

gene-h wrote: post #3

It's a cute approach, but perovskite solar cells can probably do much better. Perovskite solar cells can be made at close to room temperature, use relatively common elements, and can be made fairly thin. The current efficiency record for perovskite solar cells is 25.6%[0]. [0] https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/04/06/unist-epfl-claim-25-6...

The purpose of the article was to explore diy manufacturing of pv cells. I don't think this korean/swiss collaboration on high efficiency perovskite solar cells is within the reach of your backyard fabricator.

Re: How to Build a Low-Tech Solar Panel?

#9

Post by kitd » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 3:04 PM UTC

Uninen wrote: post #5

"This website runs on a solar powered server located in Barcelona, and will go off-line during longer periods of bad weather." - https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/power.html What a lovely idea.

I feel a backup wind generator could solve much of that problem.

Re: How to Build a Low-Tech Solar Panel?

#10

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 3:08 PM UTC

gene-h wrote: post #3

It's a cute approach, but perovskite solar cells can probably do much better. Perovskite solar cells can be made at close to room temperature, use relatively common elements, and can be made fairly thin. The current efficiency record for perovskite solar cells is 25.6%[0]. [0] https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/04/06/unist-epfl-claim-25-6...

[deleted]