Solar Generator Supplies

• Your first step to building a solar generator at home is to make all of your purchases. You will want to purchase a 12-volt solar panel from an RV or marine supplies store. These cost about $100 to $175. Then purchase a SunGuard 4-amp charge controller. These can be found by searching on Google for about $25, but be careful to only buy from reputable online retailers.
  
  Next get a 32-amp-hour sealed battery. These cost about $60 and can also be found online or at marine stores. Buy a DC input, which can be found at a car parts store, and a 175-watt DC to AC power inverter in order to convert DC power in the battery into AC power and run AC appliances. This will cost about $30. Buy a voltage meter in order to monitor the electrical load placed on your generator. Finally, grab some insulated wire and a drill if you don't have them.
  
  

Building Solar Generators

• Once you have purchased all of your material, you will want to decide what you want to place solar power generator in. There are a few options, including a battery box, a wooden crate or a plastic cooler.
  
  Drill a hole in the top of your box. It isn't too important where the hole is located. Now place the voltage meter on top of this hole. Connect the insulated wiring through the hole into the voltage meter on one side and down into the box onto the wing nut terminals on the battery. Always connect the negative pole first and touch only one wire at a time.
  
  Next, connect the power inverter to the battery. Make sure that the solar panel is properly wired, checking the manufacturer design and then connect the solar panel and the DC inlet to the battery, connecting the negative poles first. Close the lid of your solar panel generator box and and let it sit in direct sunlight in order to get a full charge.
  
  This solar generator should power a laptop, fan or small TV and will also run small appliances. The sunlight will be trapped by the generator and turned into 400-watt hours of energy.