Build Your Own Solar Panels

Solar power has come a long way since it was first introduced, and in the beginning it was discouraged by energy providers who were more concerned with making money than benefiting the environment. But times have changed, and now many major cities are faced with energy shortages during peak times and electric companies are encouraging people to conserve energy and even generate electricity themselves. Some of them are even offering rebates to households that generate their own electricity.

You can buy solar panels of all sizes and even complete kits from a home supply store, if you have the money. On the other hand, if you're a bit of a handyman, you could just build your own. They really aren't very complicated, and now that energy providers are encouraging home owners to use them rather than trying to keep the technology from them, information on how to build your own solar panels has become common knowledge. Get your hands on an eBook that tells you how to build your own solar panels - there are some really good ones out there that will tell you everything you need to know to build your own solar panels and how to hook them up. After that, all you need to do is gather the necessary materials and start your project. Building your own solar panels is a worthwhile and rewarding project, and it's less expensive than you might think. Large solar panel kits can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars, depending on how many panels you want.

The ability to generate electricity without relying on a municipal power company is especially important for people who live in rural areas. When you live far from a major city, power outages may happen during storms and may not be restored for several hours. With weather conditions becoming more extreme, power outages have been known to last for several days. Having an alternative source of electrical energy such as panels that can keep backup batteries charged at all times means that you'll have power in the case of an emergency and you won't have to rely on gas-powered generators to provide household power.

You can build your own ones from common materials that are easily found at hardware or building supply stores, and you might even already have some of the materials on hand. Once you know how to build your own solar panels you will be well equipped to expand your home's solar power generating abilities simply by building more panels and connecting them to the existing system. Generate your own electricity, save money and have peace of mind that in the event of an emergency, you won't be left in the dark!

DIY Solar Panels and Windmills Building Guides

Earth 4 Energy
Make your own solar panels or wind turbine.
More info here

Home Made Power Plant
There are some other guides for DIY wind and solar generators, but all of those that I've read don't get into the same details.
More info here