Want some small experiments to see how far solar panels have come in this day and age? Here’s a list of great ideas that you can easily do at home.
Rain Collector Solar Panels
If you can divert some of the water collected on the surface of the solar panels to a container, you will see how much power your solar panels can produce in these conditions. A rain collector can cost less than $10, and this way, you’ll make sure that rain will never stop your technology from running.
Solar-Powered Small River Lock and Gate
Another experiment with water and solar panels would be to use them as a lock/gate for small rivers or lakes. It should work like any other lock because it will just move water from one place to another and collecting its potential energy through the process. You might have to find out whether such application is permitted, though. Mounted correctly, you can generate a large amount of power.
Self-Sufficient Water Pumping System
Set up an autonomous water pumping system with two solar panels connected to a 12V pump and battery/inverter setup if you have the space. You are trying to work on replacing an electrical grid with something easy to make, even in times when you find yourself far away from civilization. This way, if you ever get lost or stuck in some area without electricity for months.
DIY Joy has tons more DIY solar panel ideas that you can have fun with at home. Check them out below.
Solar Thermal Copper Pipe Water Heater
Materials needed:
· ½-inch plywood (23 ¾-inch x 35 ¼-inch)
· ½-inch plywood (18-inch x 20-inch)
· 2 pieces of plywood 20 ¼-inch
· 2 pieces of plywood 35 ¼-inch
· 4 ⅜-inch square dowels
· 2 10-ft ½-inch copper pipe
· 90 degree elbows,16 ½-inch
· 2 pieces of plywood 20 ¼-inch
· 18 tube straps
· ½-inch threaded pipe adapter
· Garden hose PVC adapter
· ½-inch coupler
Homesteaders know about needing some quick hot water and only being near an uncontrolled temperature source. This do-it-yourself project will walk you through creating your own mobile hot water heater, powered by the sun’s rays.
It’s lightweight and includes handles so you can move it from place to place on the homestead as you need it. You’ll have hot water when you need it for anything from a cup of coffee to washing off lawn mats.
It’s a pour-through, meaning no tanks for storage, only as-needed usage, but that’s still a nifty trick and you could add some insulated tanks if you find use for larger amounts of hot water over a period of a few hours.
It only adds a few more minutes to the DIY and will just need a few minutes of maintenance daily for cleaning. In fact it’s easily customizable and you can also add timers, thermometers, and various other equipment for improvement.
Even in forty degree weather, this heater will provide water up to 150 degrees – effective for a farm, but be careful, because improper use or handling will get you third degree burns.
It uses copper tubing, which heats naturally with the strength of the sun. With a water hose connected to the converter, hot water will come out the other side.
There’s an additional video for building a stand for the water heater, but you can store it in a variety of ways, including using it in a table-like manner.
If you need professional solar panel and roofing services in Littleton, CO, you can always count on us at Roper Roofing and Solar. Contact us today to learn more about everything that we can do for you.
