If you are having trouble paying your power bill then you might want to think about using solar energy as a power source for your home appliances and other devices. Buying commercially made solar panels can be very expensive and is usually way beyond the entry-level range for people new to solar power. Professional solar panel installations can cost thousands of dollars.

But you'll be glad to know that you can learn to make them for yourself for drastically cheaper. Once you know how to construct solar panels, they're really not that hard to build. You definitely don't have to be a mechanical engineer to make one for yourself.

You will need:

• Plywood
• Wood
• Solar cells
• Wires
• Silicon sealant
• Plexiglas sheet
• A detailed instruction guide

First off, you will use a sheet of plywood as the backboard to lay solar cells. The size of the plywood sheet will be the size of the finished solar panel. The cells are normally placed to rows across the backboard.

The cells are then connected to each other with wires. The wires run through holes behind each cell and then the backboard is reinforced with another piece of plywood. Then you will need to build a small wood frame around the outside of the plywood backboard. This frame should be higher than the cells so there's a gap between the cells and the plexiglas which will be placed on top. Finally, you want to seal the edges with silicon sealant.

Alternatively, you can purchase a guide that shows you how to create your own solar panels. There are some really good ones out there that you can download for cheap. These guides are usually easy to follow and come with detailed instructions that show you step-by-step how to make solar power easily. They not only teach you how to make solar panels, but they also shows you how to install them on your roof and hook them up to your electrical system.

For detailed directions, go to http://www.squidoo.com/solarcabin for step-by-step pictures and a video guide on how to make solar power.