The world is facing a crisis due to the excessive use of resources. Electricity also needs to be conserved. So, making a solar bulb will be ideal to light up areas without using electricity. These bulbs will also save you the electricity charges and are a sustainable concept. These bulbs will provide you with almost 55 watts of power. You will need some common and easily available materials to make it and you are ready to brighten up your house, free of cost!
Let us see how you can make a zero energy solar bulb in a bottle, at home.
Difficulty Level : Easy
Time Required : 2 hours
Resources required :
- Bleach
- Filtered water
- Soda bottle (PET)
- Iron sheet (galvanized)
- Rubber sealant
- Sand paper
Estimated cost : $15 approx
Instructions :
1. Corrugated sheets :
Purchase a corrugated sheet or flat GI sheets from a hardware store. Cut them into separate pieces of 9 x 10 inches. From the centre of the corrugated or flat GI sheet, draw two concentric circles with a difference of at least 1 cm in their radius.
2. Cutting out the circles :
Cut the 1 cm difference along the radius. While you are cutting it make sure you are making bends and strips upwards. This should be done perpendicular to the flat or corrugated GI sheet. Use pliers to cut the sheets.
3. Soda bottle :
Take an empty PET soda bottle. With a sandpaper, rub the upper one-third portion of the soda bottle. This is the exact place where the GI sheet will be placed. If you rub the place better the rubber sealant will stick better to the bottle.
4. Insert the bottle into the GI sheet :
After you are done with scratching the upper third portion of the soda PET bottle, place the bottle inside the cut out portion of the corrugated or flat GI sheet. Make certain that you just insert the bottle till the upper third portion. Then take rubber sealant and apply it on the strip area, below and above. Wait till the area completely dries.
5. Fill water into the bottle :
After you fixed the soda bottle to the GI sheet, fill the PET bottle with filtered water and two capfuls of bleach. After you have filled the bottle place the original cap back on the soda bottle. After this the solar bulb made out of a soda bottle and GI sheet is ready to get installed.
6. Prepare to install the solar bulb :
Once you are done with creating the solar bulb, find a suitable place to hang it. Once you have decided on the area, make a hole in the roof according to the circumference of the bottle. After you have made a hole fix the solar bulb to the area. Make sure you will secire it the place firmly. You can use any fixing material to fix it.
7. Drill in holes on the GI sheet :
Take a drilling machine and drill in four holes on four sides of the solar bottle bulb. You will find many cordless drilling machines available in the hardware stores. You can also borrow it as you will just need to make four holes.
8. Use rubber sealant to make the last fixings :
Use rubber sealants to cover the rivets and also apply it on the edges of the GI sheet to prevent leakage and keep the soda bottle in place. Place a plastic cover on the cap of the bottle and cover it with rubber sealant.
Frequently asked questions :
Q: Where can I get the required ingredients to make the solar bulb?
A : You can get the necessary materials in hardware stores.
Quick tips :
You can use a Bosch lithium-ion cordless drilling machine to make the holes on the solar bulb.
Things to watch out for :
Be careful when you are working on cutting the sheets with pliers as the edges can be rough. They may cause a cut which can need immediate medical attention.
