How to Build a DIY Solar Generator in 5 Easy Steps? (2023)

Now that global warming is becoming a bigger problem, everyone is doing everything they can to reduce their carbon emissions. As a result, using organic products has become increasingly popular.

Since solar energy is plentiful, it is one of the cheapest sources of energy. That is why in this article you will learn how to build a DIY solar generator to get your own solar power source and save money on your electricity bills.

A DIY solar kit also comes in handy during power outages, as you no longer have to rely on the grid. It might even have enough energy to power your devices.

What will you need

Do-it-yourself solar generatorsYou have to do three things: collect energy from sunlight, store it somewhere, and convert it into usable electricity. So these are the necessary elements for a DIY generator:

solar panels

Solar panels can typically range from 200 to 400 watts, so determine your energy needs. The higher the power of your solar panel, the more expensive it will be, but it also takes up less space.

For example, if you have a 250 watt solar panel, 8 of them could generate 2 kWh of energy when fully exposed to the sun. But if you have a 400-watt solar panel, you only need five of them to produce the same amount.

if you want to make oneSolargeneratorthat you can take with you when camping, use portable and collapsible solar panels.

Solar charging rules

To prevent your batteries from draining on your solar panels, you need to use a solar charge controller. It only allows current to flow in one direction, which is towards the battery, and it acts as a valve to keep current from flowing back into the solar panel overnight.

It also prevents the battery from overcharging when it is fully charged.

Go for an MPPT charge controller as it can meet your battery voltage needs even if your solar panels have fluctuating voltage throughout the day.

batteries

There are two types of batteries, lead acid batteries and lithium ion batteries.

Lead acid batteries are cheaper and can be GEL or AGM but the best battery type would be Li-ion. LiFePO4 batteries are the safest type of lithium battery. A lithium battery may be more expensive, but its reliability and lifespan are better than any lead-acid battery. It is also a deep cycle battery.

Be sure to match the general voltage of your batteries with that of your inverter.

Investor

Since home appliances run on AC power, you need to convert the DC power from your battery to AC power using an inverter. But first you need to size your inverter. To do this, you need to calculate the power you want and divide it by the efficiency of your inverter.

So, for example, if you want to draw 600 watts of power and your inverter efficiency is 80%, you must use a 750VA inverter. With 850VA drives available, this is not a problem.

I tend to choose a pure sine wave inverter as its energy conversion is efficient and my power supply is clean.

AWG wires and a circuit breaker

We use AWG wire to connect your devices and switch for control and security.

For AWG wires, use the list below.

Use your device's amplifiers to find out which cables you need for this.

Size your circuit breaker by calculating the maximum continuous current output of your drive and multiplying it by 125%. If the result has a decimal place of 5 or more, round up. If not, round down. It will be the size of your breaker.

Procedure in HHow to build a DIY solar generator

When you have all the right materials, we're finally ready to build a solar generator, so let's get started, shall we?

Step 1: First prepare your batteries

Before building your own solar generator, you must first charge your batteries. This allows us to avoid over-discharging in our first use. To prolong the life of your batteries, do not let them discharge more than 70% of their full capacity.

Step 2: Connect your batteries

Since you may need a large amount of current, the battery's current output is high, so the AWG wires must also be large. You can use 3/0 or 1/0 wires to connect each battery. Connect your batteries in parallel so we can save voltage no matter how many batteries you have.

Step 3 - Connect your batteries, solar charge controller and solar panels.

The next connection you make is your batteries and solar charge controller. Therefore, connect the positive pole of your battery to the positive output of the solar charge controller. The same goes for the negatives.

If you have a battery bank, connect the positive terminal to one end of the battery bank.and the negative end to the opposite end to carry the balance.

Next is the solar panel connection. Connect your solar panels to the solar charge controller: plus to plus and minus to minus.

Step 4: Connect your battery to your inverter

After you have connected all these components, you can now connect your batteries to the inverter. Connect the positive pole to one end and the negative pole to the opposite end of the DC input.

Step 5 - Connect your inverter, circuit breaker and control panel

You can now use your own DIY solar generator. So first connect the AC output of your inverter to your switch. The switch ensures that we can protect our system in case of a short circuit or an overload.

Then plug the breaker into the desired port on your panel. Don't forget to disconnect the main line when connecting.

You are now ready to test your homemade solar generator.

Pro tip:

If you want a portable DIY solar generator, you need a box big enough to hold all the important components. Secure the batteries at one end to leave room for the other devices.

Place your solar charge controller indoors and tie your inverter and circuit breaker close to the outlet. Drill holes in your box for wiring, seal with silicone caulk, and your DIY solar generator kit is ready to go.

Just make sure the case is shockproof, durable and weatherproof.

Diploma

Did you like what you read today? Be sure to leave a comment and share it with your friends and family if you can. We'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

We all need to do our part to be eco-friendly with mother earth, which is why we're going to show you how to build a DIY solar generator that will allow you to generate electricity using alternative energy and reduce your use of fossil fuels.

Follow the DIY solar generator instructions above to start harnessing solar energy today. In the event of a power failure, your solar power storage and power plant will benefit you.