Crimping a tab wire

HONESTLY, I BELIEVE that I have delayed far too long over this project of constructing my first solar panel, although I can make the excuse that I'm taking my time to study well so as to produce a good product. Well here I am, and I am convinced that after going through the entire process in pdf and video on my laptop, I can see only two major stumbling blocks for now. The first is that of testing each of my cells to verify that they are all in good condition and of high quality. The second issue has to do with crimping the tab wire that came with the solar cells pack. I HAVE SOUGHT to buy a copper sheet or plate with which I can construct a testing block, been to the scrap market and to the electrical shops around Ibadan. And I came up with an interesting result which is that (can you believe it?) there is no copper sheet to be found in Ibadan. Sure, I was offered some thick copper bars and heavy slabs, but all I need is a 5" by 7" 1/8" thick copper sheet which I hope to mount on a wooden slab for the testing of my solar cells. Anyway some guy who supplies electrical materials for the Department of Technology of University of Ibadan promises to get me something like that but I don't know how soon this will be. I might have to improvise if this proves difficult. THE ISSUE OF crimping my solar tabs becomes relevant when I was told that this is one of the ways by which I can build a durable and weather-proof solar panel. What I am supposed to do is to crimp each of the 200 plus tab wires which I have cut into size before I can begin to tin these tab wires with solder. This will eliminate the tension on my solar cells in case temperature differentials cause the assembled cells to expand and contract over the days and nights, weeks, months and years of use. I just managed to do one with my pin-nose pliers today and I think the result was good. But, hey, that was only ONE tab wire done out of over 200! God help me.... I must get all the remaining wires done tomorrow, come what may. Or does anyone have an idea how I can get this job done with less sweat?

Step by step, cell by cell

I want to share with you my experiences on a day to day basis as I engage in the activity of assembling my first solar panel here in Ibadan, Nigeria. Let me first assure you that I got some stuff on the technological know-how relating to this exercise several weeks ago. I have tried to study this documents and video over and over, and taken some notes. A couple of months back, I ordered for some solar cells online and they have arrived. I have also extracted all the other locally sourced materials and tools that I have to use to get myself a complete solar module that will last for the minimum specified period of 25 years. If I can do this for myself, I believe that it shouldnt be difficult for me to do it for my friends and associates. I might even be able to do it for my country and humankind. Anyway, I lay out all the tools and materials on the table. I guess I'm all set to go.

But am I really? I can almost feel the butterfly in my tummy as I consider what I have to go through. Will I be able to accomplish this strange task, considering that it is not particularly in a field that I am familiar with? It is true that I have initiated and pioneered some marvelous projects in the past and they turned out successfully. Like the Happy People Housing Cooperative which I started back in 1994 and which has blossomed into a growing housing community in Ibadan today. Anyway I have to face it that every new project has its own fears. Of course, I hate failure and since I'm hoping that this solar project will re-enact my entry into the big league, I know that I have to tread carefully so that the solar project will not fizzle out the way my catfish grow-out business, my laterite-cement brick production business and my environmental management project all did. What I'm about learning at this moment is that for every successful project, sometimes there might have been three failed projects. Although I am a man of faith, I am also conscious of the fact that mere faith without wisdom and some concrete action never accomplishes anything. So I want to invite you to join me closely as I take this course of constructing my first solar panel in the first few weeks, and later begin the mass production of solar panels in Nigeria, finally to create the first solar farm in Africa. I know you will like to be part of this experience. So I will be very happy if I can have your online presence and companionship as I go along, knowing that I'm not alone on this journey. Please be assured that I will be appreciating your comments, questions and possible suggestions to make this work more feasible. See you tomorrow