How to Find Used Solar Cells for Your Solar Powered System

Posted by green baby on March 20, 2009

Assembling the items you need to build your solar energy generator is one of the first things you do when starting a project, after you have read the do-it-yourself guide. So you start putting your shopping list together and find out that solar cells can be costly if you buy them new – no worries, with the right information you can find used solar cells. So keep reading and learn where to find those used solar cells that won’t cause pain in your wallet.

The cheapest place I’ve found for solar cells is EBay – home to just about anything you could possibly ever need. You can use other auction sites, but EBay is the most popular and as so will most likely have new and used solar cells. You don’t normally purchase solar cells individually; they are usually sold in batch/lots which drastically cuts the cost of homemade power systems.

Once you find solar cells for auction don’t be hasty and start bidding until you have investigated what you are bidding on. If there are pictures look for chips or cracks. Read the description. Don’t mistakenly bid a ‘new item’ price for used solar cells. If you aren’t sure, contact the auctioneer and ask. If the cells are cracked or chipped, that is okay, just don’t overpay for them.

Solar cells with cracks and chips can be used. The repairs aren’t difficult and it is worth the difference in the price. Also check to see if they are transparent. Transparent solar cells typically sell for more. It pays to read all of the information presented with the auction.

After browsing the online auctions, find out who installs solar energy in your town. Go visit them and ask them what they do with panels that are removed during upgrades or repairs. Most of the time they toss them out, their trash is your treasure. Offer to take them off their hands. You can salvage the used solar cells out of the old panels or luck up and be getting some panels you can repair.

Don’t give up if they don’t have any at the moment. Offer to leave your information and ask if they would call if they get in any. They probably will if saves on their garbage collection fees.

Finding your used solar cells should be paying off at this point. But keep going there’s another place to investigate. Your local county highway department’s maintenance department.

Make a visit to the actual shop, don’t try phoning, you’ll get passed from one person to the next. Once there ask them what they do when traffic signals that use solar cells are damaged. Of course you’re going to get the ‘in the trash pile’ answer. Ask if you can have them for recycling purposes. Once you get the okay, leave your information for future use. Again, you can salvage the solar cells from the damaged equipment.

Lastly, research retailers of solar cells and get some contact information. Explain that you are looking for damage or used solar cells. Offer to buy any that they have had to take back due to cracks or bad packing causing damage. They will probably be happy to give them to you for nothing more than shipping costs.

It might take a little research and looking around to find used solar cells, but it is doable. And what can be more rewarding than making your own solar energy generator with solar cells you paid next to nothing for?

Building a homemade solar powered system is now easier than ever with the help of Earth 4 Energy – with a complete step by step guide and videos. Find out the full info in my Earth4Energy review.

Further resources on Solar Power Systems can be found here: Solar Energy Systems.

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