Overview

The Solar Electricity Handbook - 2016 Edition, is a simple, practical guide to using electric solar panels and designing and installing photovoltaic PV systems. Now in its tenth edition, the book assumes no previous knowledge of solar electric systems. The book explains how solar panels work and how they can be used. It explains the advantages of solar energy and the drawbacks that you need to take into account when designing a solar power system. As well as explaining the underlying principles, it provides a step-by-step guide so that you can successfully design and install a photovoltaic solar system from scratch. Unlike many guides, The Solar Electricity Handbook explains the principles behind the technology, allowing the reader to design solar energy systems with confidence. The book has been used all around the world, designing systems as diverse as providing entire African villages with electricity, powering vending machines, building grid-tied systems for housing, building a one-off solar electric car and creating lighting for an allotment shed. Accompanying the book is a website that provides solar calculators and online tools to help simplify the solar design process, including a unique database of sunlight values for every major town and city in every country in the world that has been created specifically for this book in conjunction with NASA. Readers can also get in touch with the author directly to ask questions and get further support with their solar projects.

Full Product Details

Author:   Michael Boxwell
Publisher:   Greenstream Publishing
Imprint:   Greenstream Publishing
Edition:   New edition
Dimensions:   Width: 19.10cm , Height: 2.10cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.794kg
ISBN:  

9781907670589

ISBN 10:   1907670580
Pages:   248
Publication Date:   11 April 2016
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Introducing Solar Energy- Who this book is aimed at- The rapidly changing world of solar energy- Solar electricity and solar heating- The source of solar power- The principles of solar electricity- Understanding the terminology- Setting expectations for solar electricity- Why choose a solar electric system?- Cost-justifying solar- Solar power and wind power- Fuel cells- Solar electricity and the environment- In conclusionMaking and saving money with solar- The ever rising cost of energy- Installing electricity to a new building- Subsidies, grants and other financial incentives- In ConclusionA Brief Introduction to Electricity- Don't panic- A brief introduction to electricity- How to measure electricity- The relationship between volts, amps, ohms, watts and watt-hours- Low current and high current systems- A word for non-electricians- In conclusionThe Four Configurations for Solar Power- Stand-alone/off-grid- Grid-tie- Grid-tie with power backup (grid interactive)- Grid fallback- How grid-tie systems differ from stand-alone- In conclusionComponents of a Solar Electric System- Solar panels- Batteries- Controller- Inverter- Electrical devices- Connecting everything together- In conclusionThe Design Process- Short-cutting the design work- Solar energy and emotions- In conclusionScoping the Project- Designing grid-tie or grid fallback systems- Fleshing out the scope- Producing a power analysis- When you are ready to proceed- Calculating inefficiencies- When do you need to use the solar system?- Keeping it simple- Improving the scope- In conclusionCalculating Solar Energy- What is solar energy?- Solar panels and shade- Solar array power point efficiencies- The effects of temperature on solar panels- Working out an approximate cost- Working out dimensions- In conclusionSurveying Your Site- What we want to achieve- First impressions- Positioning the solar array- Identifying the path of the sun across the sky- Shading- Positioning batteries, controllers and inverters- Cabling- Site survey for the holiday home- In conclusionUnderstanding the Components- Common components for all systems- Solar panels- Solar panel mountings- Solar array cables- Solar array connectors- Fuses and isolation switches- The importance of using the correct cables, connectors and isolation switches- Ground fault protectionComponents for Grid-Tie systems- Grid-tie solar panels- Grid-tie inverters- Components for Stand-Alone Systems- Calculate your optimum voltage- How to calculate your current- Calculating cable thicknesses- Mixing and matching solar panels- Batteries- Solar controller- Inverters- Cables- Plugs and sockets- Appliances- Reputable brand names- Shopping list for the holiday home- In conclusionPlanning, regulations and approvals- National and international standards for solar components- Installation regulations- Getting your electricity supplier involved- In conclusionDetailed Design- Safety is designed in- Solar array design- BatteriesSpecifics for a grid fallback system- Circuit protection- Cable sizing and selection- Some sample wiring diagrams- The next step- Solar frame mounting- Positioning batteries- Planning the installation- In conclusionInstallation- Have you read the instructions?- Safety- Assembling your toolkit- Preparing your site- Testing your solar panels- Installing the solar array- Installing the batteries- Installing the control equipment- Installing a grid-tie system- Commissioning the system- Charging up your batteries- Connecting your devices- In conclusionTroubleshooting- Keep safe- Common faults- Excessive power usage- Insufficient power generation- Damaged wiring/ poor connections- Weak batteryInverter issues- Maintaining Your SystemInternet Support- Tools available on the websiteAppendix A - Typical Power Requirements- Household and office- Garden and DIY- Caravans, boats and recreational vehiclesAppendix B - Living Off-Grid- A solar electric system in conjunction with grid electricity- Grid Fallback and Grid Failover systemsA Final WordIndex

Reviews

Customer Reviews and Quotes: Best solar book I've read, out of four ; I thought I knew what I was doing but I learned a lot ; The greatest Solar Reference book ever published ; Great book for newbies and people who need a refresher! ; Incredible Book of Solar knowledge

Author Information

Michael Boxwell has been designing solar energy systems since the mid 1990s. Initially integrating solar energy into products such as vending machines and portable computers, Michael went on to designing larger systems, including on-building solar and a solar energy systems capable of providing power to entire rural communities in Africa and South America. Michael's most recent solar projects include designing a full-length solar roof for a forthcoming electric car to be launched in 2016 and a solar battery system for residential use. He currently leads a research and development team developing new solar technologies and is based in the United Kingdom.

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