Solar Electricity Handbook 2014

European primary focus but U.S. conversion information which is not going to slow you down beyond some of the strange names or wording. KEEP IN MIND THAT like computers and phones TODAY'S $700 no contract phone that will do everything but put it's self on the charger; TOMORROW'S SOLAR ELECTRIC stuff will be cheaper better and more available. In 1965 you could have sold your $9 Casio F91W watch for Millions to the person who has everything but a super multifunction time piece that is small and easy to operate CONSIDER THE SNOB VALUE. All solar books are like refrigerated salad dressing. There is an expiration date and it is the day the words are put into the draft. There will be no up to date book available EVER. When I needed an education I looked at colleges basic engineering coursed and quickly discovered that they were many years behind technology. SO I went to work for a company that designed stuff using components right out of the super secret components suppliers newest stuff. This was 11 years of taking manufacturers courses and it never ends. 600 million years of paleontology study is overwritten each year. You can read paleontology books 3 years old but they will be proven more wrong daily in Montana China and South America. This book will help you in BASIC THINKING AND RATIONALE. as well as provide you with direction toward the future. Knowing the function of each element and the function of electricity when it comes to handling it is critical to understanding what is and what is not. MOST of the folks who master the simply explained elements of this book will know more than the sales person selling the equipment and the elements are simple to understand. There are some short comings explained below but for the most part this is the book to buy in 2014. Knowing the limitations of the components as well described here is important and pretty well covered in this book NORMALLY I only buy hardcover books but as you will see with this book 2015 will be a totally new game played with new rules and new toys. Buy the paper back like this one as next years one will be different in hundreds of ways that are important. Maybe not as well done so this is the place to start if you are looking at this seriously as considering spending money. For my money the effort is reducing consumption using things like COOL WHITE LED BARE ELEMENT BULBS is what I did and discovered that there is a way to get two for one function with them . Usable 0.1 watt or full on 4 watt light energy your eyes can use. Setting up a secondary solar system separate from the electric company using a smaller system and using commercial power for the heavy lifting is the way I want to go until the big numbers get sorted out or until my rich uncle forces me to do it "their way". The Electric companies who's main expense is infrastructure are scrambling to make up for the loss of revenue by directing new rules and even reverse metering to refund your power at wholesale prices while you pay retail prices for KWHs. ONE THING not totally clearly explained in the book is that electricity is a 4 dimensioned energy When I entered the aerospace industry the first thing I learned is that engineering technical writers fail to realize the folks using their documents do not know everything they do. When I got my chance I went to the functional test mechanics to see their approach and this changed everything. In nineteenth century Britain the second language taught was not French, It was German. If you went to Germany you had to know the language to survive. Like comparing apples to rocks. VOLTAGE efficiency usually increases with higher voltage and higher frequency of AC current. AMPERAGE is the amount of electrons passing by a particular point RESISTANCE AND REACTANCE Is loss where resistance that exists in all conductors that goes up in heat or refusal to pass current in the case of reactance loss. Reactance in a coil of single conductor wire is like a tension spring and at a resonant frequency can actually stop the flow of energy. TIME. is where you get into the hours factor but also is involved in the AMOUNT of heat emitted by resistance OVER TIME. (resistance loss goes up in heat) Keep the power flowing and the loss of energy is not likely to become greater; just the cost you pay. A current surge on a 70% too light wire for 1/10 second will not be noticed most of the time but long term will cause trouble. Big trouble. These 4 things are related to success and failure.

This handbook focuses on photovoltaic solar energy. It deals with virtually every current application from a simple solar powered service light to a complete grid tie-in home. It provides very thorough coverage from site preparation to equipment to safety. The book is supported with several web applications that are extremely helpful in assessing what you can expect from the sun at your site and how to maximize the energy you can collect. It is fairly up-to-date, but does not yet provide much information on Solar Shingles.

I have look into solar energy for a few years from different web suites. This book puts a lot of that together and has more information that I didn't think about. If someone was just getting into solar, this would be a good book to start with and use for reference later.

I felt like the book skimmed the surface of the information I was looking for. I would have liked to have had more detail on tying to the grid and how the transfer of power between the system and the grid works. More specific equipment information would be helpful. It has given me information from which I now need to take and do more research of the equipment needed. There are so many variables to a system that it's hard to cover every aspect.

The book was good with many great tips and design information, I learned a lot of basic information that will help me with my own system. The only problem with this kindle version is the design schematics are to small to see the details with out magnification.

It's just amazing about the details author goes into, from voltage, current based calculations to how all things work together, in all a very easy to understand text. Simply reading 4-5 pages each day, I've learned so many new things. Thanks to author for updating this book every year. Even though I'm only a hobbyist, the way author has presented and explained concepts is very easy to understand and clear in presentation. Must read book if your thoughts anytime go into solar based power.

This is the book to buy if you are new to solar or are modestly acquainted with it (as I am). It might even be useful for experienced folks, but I can't speak to that... It goes over how to plan for and set up a variety of systems from off-grid to grid-tie in systems. Information is not really presented in a super simple "doggie-pony-horsey" format, but I think it is simple enough for a reasonably talented do-it-yourselfer (again, like me). As an extra bonus, this book introduces you to a website that you can use to calculate your solar power generation capability for your area! LOVE IT! Well worth the price.

Excellent basic introduction to Photovoltaic systems, as well as broad introduction to different facets of PV systems! Also gave more indepth intro to sizing systems, components of different systems. Most enjoyable read!

I required how to design industrial projects which are greater than 10Kw.. But this book give me only basic information.

this book explains everything about solar electricity in a clear and easy to understand format. It discusses stand alone, combined and feedback systems along with their pros and cons. I bought it to evaluate whether to go 'off grid' or not and am still in the process of fact gathering. The book is a great help and has given me confidence to continue my quest. Recommended to anyone who is considering solar electric energy. Si vous parlez assez bien l'angalis, cette livre est facile a comprendre, bien clair et plein des bonnes conseilles sur le production d'electricite, soit pour vos propres besoins, soit pour le vendre a ERDF, soit un melange des deux. Il m'aide beaucoup sur le recherche pour mon projet et j'ai beaucoup plus de confiance maintenant.

Seems to be a great introduction to solar electricity generation on a domestic scale, for homes, sheds, boats and caravans. The sections on sizing your installation and surveying your site seem to be comprehensive enough to cover most DIY purposes. The instructions on installing a solar plant seem a little sketchy to me - perhaps they're comprehensive enough if you have a deeper grounding in electrical installation than I have or maybe I'm making more of it than I need to. The insolation tables are comprehensive for the UK, but I imagine that you might want to use the website for more localised information if you're based in America or Australia. I like Michael Boxall's style - the book is well laid out, the prose is clear and the headings are specific enough to allow you to skip big sections that don't apply to your goals.

Excellent. Informative and easy to understand

Gauteng water heating has used the book to provide information for our office staff who were quite new to solar power. They needed the technical info in a brief for minor customer quiries