Article: There are a few different types of solar cells to buy, and most good options are either made in the United States, China, or Japan. However, the best cost-to-efficiency option is most likely polycrystalline cells. The number of cells you should buy depends on the amount of energy you're looking to produce. The specs should be listed when you purchase the cells. Make sure to buy extras. These cells are extremely fragile. Cells can most easily be bought online through websites like Ebay, but you may be able to purchase some from your local hardware store. It may be necessary to clean wax off of the cells, if the manufacturer ships them in wax. To do this, dip them in hot, but not boiling, water. Each cell shouldn't cost more than $1.30 per watt. You will need a thin board made out of a non-conductive material, such as glass, plastic, or wood, to attach the cells to. Lay out the cells in the arrangement you will use, then measure the dimensions and cut a board to that size. Leave an extra inch or two at both ends of the board. This space will be used for the wires that connect the rows together. Wood is a more common backing material to choose because it's easier to drill through. You'll need to drill holes in it for the cell wires to pass through. When you look at your polycrystalline cells, you'll see a large number of small lines going in one direction (the long distance) and two larger lines going in the other direction (the short distance). You will need to connect tabbing wire to run down the two larger lines and connect to the back of the next cell in the array. Measure the length of that larger line, double the length, and then cut two pieces for each cell. Using a flux pen, run 2-3 lines of flux down the length of each cell strip, or group of three squares. Make sure to do this on the back of the cells. This will keep the heat of the soldering from causing oxidation. Use a soldering iron to melt a thin coat of solder onto the back of the cell strips. This step is not necessary if you purchase pre-soldered tabbing, which is often a better option because it cuts time in half, heats up the cells only once, and wastes less solder. However, it's more expensive. Heat the first half of a piece of tabbing wire with a soldering iron. Then bond the wire's end to a cell. Repeat this bonding process for each cell.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Purchase the cells. Measure and cut a backing board. Measure and cut all of your tabbing wire. Flux the work area. Solder the tabbing. Bond the wire to the cells.