Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ncrlnk!ncrwic!encad!ensub!kehler
From: kehler@ensub.Wichita.NCR.COM (Kyle Ehler)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Solar Cells
Keywords: PV, Solar Cells, PV fabrication
Message-ID: <418@ensub.Wichita.NCR.COM>
Date: 14 Jan 91 16:42:24 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: NCR Corporation, Wichita, KS
Lines: 23



   With all the talk about solar cells, my lament is why are these cells still
  so expensive??   When I was in third grade I got a kit to build solar cells
  the kit came from bell labs.  It was complete including wafer, chemicals
  and instructions.  I never built them because I had no money for the electric
  furnace needed to bake the cells.  In the 25 or so years since, the kit has
  been lost... anyone else out there had one of these??  
    I remember much of the instruction book, making cells was not difficult
  and purity didnt seem to be a concern.  Today, with the treknological leaps
  and bounds in processing, is there such a thing as buying the wafers and
  doping/baking your own cells???
    I'm cheap, in the quest for inexpensive power I might be willing to trade
  labor for long-term investment in the purchase/fabrication of a PV array.
  (even if it is inefficient)
  
    One more drivel; a while back I messed around with Fresnel lenses and PV
  cells, I used a 12" fresnel on a 4" cell.  Positioned the lense just right
  will really multiply the output of the cell, only problem is the heat has 
  shattered a couple of my test jigs.  Liquid cooling of the cell helps, but
  the heat gain is just short of tremendous, remember roasting fire ants with
  a magnifier (try it with a 12" fresnel..poof*).  Perhaps the use of a UV
  or IR filter would help?.   -ke