3 Common Mistakes Hobbyists Make While Constructing Their First Solar Power Generator

If you are a beginner to DIY solar power generators and would like to start your first project, you are likel to make mistakes along the way. This is part of the learning process. But youcan shorten your learning curve dramatically if you can avoid three mistakes that almost every beginner encounter.

The amount of time saved will be pretty significant. You will be way ahead of your peers. You will also feel very proud to have completed a solar power project by yourself without major setbacks. If that looks good to you, read on.

Common mistake #1: Not Calculating the Size of Solar Panel Needed and the Size of Battery Bank

If you have any DIY experience before, this should be apparent to you. Yet a good proportion of us, beginners and experienced hobbyists alike, are guilty of this. Estimates and gut feel just wouldn’t make the cut.

Proper calculations need to be done even for the smallest, most insignificant step. After all, you’ll want to have sufficient solar cells and have battery banks large enough to store precious renewable energy, isn’t it?

Common mistake #2: Constructing A Flimsy Solar Panel Casing

Your solar panel is placed outdoor where it is exposed to the elements. Therefore it is important to design a solar panel casing that has enough structural support to brave the wind and precipitation. But most beginners have no clue. They have neither the design nor dimensions for a sturdy solar panel frame. As a result, many of them end up constructing flimsy frames that are easily damaged by a gust of strong wind. And it may already be obvious to you that solar cells are brittle (easily broken). Therefore you need to handle them with care. Your panel frame may also bend and break during site installation if it lacks strength.

Common mistake #3: Failure to Vapor-Proof Your Solar Panels

After many months, vapor tends to seep through many types of sealant. They corrode metallic parts and encourage mould to grow. This is the time when some of our DIY solar projects break down. Therefore it is important to buy the correct type of sealant to prevent vapor from getting into the recesses of your solar panel.

By knowing and avoiding these 3 pitfalls, you are already on the way to building a successful solar energy project. Although there are other pitfalls you might encounter, most of the mistakes can be corrected easily. They will not catapult the success of your project. So keep these points in mind while constructing your first solar panel.

By: John Greenspan

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John Greenspan is an avid DIY solar panels hobbyist and has had much experience building his own solar power generator as a hobby. Currently he spends his time writing to share with other hobbyists so that they may benefit from the experiences he had. Tags: DIY solar panels, solar power generator