So, you are going green, and have started to successfully build your own solar panels. The next logical step will be building the solar cells, as well, right?

Its a noble idea most certainly, but one that you need to give some careful consideration to. Sure, you would have bragging rights to say that you created everything yourself, but you need to be aware of what it takes to create a solar cell, and whether or not it will really save you money, as these days they can be purchased very inexpensively.

Each solar panel can have hundreds, if not thousands, of individual solar cells – and making even one of your own cells could potentially take an hour. Before you put forth the effort, think about buying a cell for less than a dollar instead.

But if you truly want to proceed with making your own solar cells, here are the materials you’ll need:

1) Copper sheet – half a square foot should do. 2) Two clip leads. 3) Micro-ammeter measuring between 10 and 50 microamperes. 4) Either an electric stove, or some type of heating plate to put on your gas stove. 5) A large jar or plastic bottle. 6) A few tablespoons of salt. 7) A bucket of water. Sandpaper. 9) To cut the copper, you’ll need metal shears.

First, clean the copper sheet with the sandpaper and wash both it and your hands before proceeding. Then, cut the sheet using the metal shears to the approximate size of your heating plate or stove.

With your copper piece cut, put it on your heating device and set the power to “high.” Wait for 30 minutes to pass so you get a blackened copper piece, and then wait another 20 minutes for it to cool so you can handle it properly.

Afterward, the oxide will have disappeared and your copper will be covered with black and red spots all over.

Then, cut another copper sheet that’s approximately the same size as your first one and make sure that they can both fit into your plastic bottle or jar without touching.

Using the negative terminal of your micro-ammeter, connect a lead to the copper you cooked. The positive terminal should then be connected to the raw or uncooked copper.

Now, pour the salt into the heated water you have, and pour them both into the bottle to fill it up just below the tops of the two copper sheets.

Finally, test your new solar cell to see if it produces current in the sunlight. You should be able to see at least 10-50 microamperes of current if you did it properly.

Since copper is so inefficient compared to silicon, you’d need 80,000 square meters of these cells to power a single 100-watt light bulb. So I’d highly recommend eBay for buying cheap, manufactured silicon solar cells.

If you're interested in making your own power at home, then why don't you Try Earth4Energy For Free? Also, have a look at our in-depth Earth4Energy Review. Thanks for visiting!

• Solar Power For Houses - A Project You Can Do Yourself by Davion W. If you want a great way to power up your home naturally, consider solar power for houses. By this, it means that you will be utilizing energy from the sun. This, indeed, is a great solution to the rising electricity costs as well as the poor health......
• Solar Panel Tracking Systems Tracking systems are performance boosters for a solar power system. They do so by adjusting the position of the solar panels to receive maximum Sun. Solar power tracking systems should be considered by anyone interested in boosting their energy production. The Sun changes daily, monthly, and seasonally the way......
• Solar Power House - Why Thin Film Solar Panels are Time Magazine's Invention of the Year by Mike Toll If you intend to construct a solar power house, of course you want to have the best power for the least cash. Although there was a time when it was expensive to create a sun power solar house, today with technological advancements it is becoming cheaper and......
• A Breakthrough In Solar Power Design New solar power design research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) could lead to higher powered, more affordable solar panels. With the help of computer simulations and various advanced chip-manufacturing methods, a team of physicists and engineers at MIT have discovered new ways of getting greater efficiency from......
• Solar Power Roof Vents: Can They Work For You? by Jim Martin Discover how solar power roof vents work and find out the advantages and disadvantages of using them, right here! Solar power roof vents: An introduction In the modern day world, most people are aware of the tremendous benefits that solar energy holds out as an energy resource.......

• Project - Multi-Use Solar Powered Outdoor Lanterns For $16. Since we are moving into an actual house in a month, we are very excited to have some outdoor space to call our own and to relax in. In our apartment building, we are not even allowed to put a plant on our stoop, never mind a chair or one......
• Solar-Powered Air Conditioner Ready For Prime Time? GreenCore Air Products has released their solar-powered air conditioning unit which can run off of a single 170 watt solar panel. I guess some people will be saying goodbye to that huge electric bill from cooling their house all summer! The unit runs on both direct solar power and the......
• Reader Question: Where Can I Find Good Eco-Friendly Bedding On A Budget? Reader Jen emailed the other day and said "I am searching for some bamboo sheets, and am trying to figure out the most eco-friendly way of getting them, as well as what brand has the most sustainable practices. Of course, price is a factor as well!" I emailed her back......
• Small Expenditures That Can Bust Your Budget It is amazing to me how people who are strapped for cash or just plain broke continue to purchase products and services that can cumulatively play a significant role in busting their budget.  Somehow, people have mentally morphed  these items from the "things I want" category to the "necessary" category.  Here are some......
• Five Points To Consider Before Buying DIY Solar Power Kits With energy bills skyrocketing, both businesses and homeowners are seeing solar power as a workable alternative. You can easily add this type of renewable energy to your system by purchasing a DIY solar power kit. That said, it's important that you be familiar with five important aspects before making such......