Product Description
The Solar Electricity Handbook is a practical and straightforward guide to using electric solar panels. Assuming no previous knowledge of solar panels, the book explains how solar panels work, how they can be used and explains the steps you need to take to successfully design and install a solar electric system from scratch using photovoltaic solar panels. Accompanying this book is a solar resource website containing lots of useful information, lists of supplier… More >>
This book is a great introductory book for someone thinking about taking on a small to medium size solar project. The book starts from fundamentals and does not assume any prior knowledge. It clearly explains theoretical concepts which are required later to help the designer.
For a solar project to be successful a considerable amount of thinking and planning needs to be done up front. The author leads the reader through the design process and discusses the various options that a designer is presented with. Attempting to make decisions without this information could prove to be very expensive making the book a complete bargain. The book uses the example of a vacation house installation to explain how decisions could be made for a particular project.
In addition to the design and installation guidance, the book includes quite a bit of useful data for the US and UK reader.
– Solar Insulation values
– Latitude and Sun height charts
– Typical Power Consumption figures
In conclusion, the book is an excellent purchase for anyone contemplating taking on a solar electricity project. The information is presented clearly and is well organised. It is not intimidating for the beginner but also provides useful reference information for the more experienced.
Rating: 5 / 5
“The Solar Electricity Handbook 2009” is a small size but very comprehensive book on solar energy.
Many of the existing books on solar energy just talk around the subject but do not give you any real substance. “The Solar Electricity Handbook 2009” is different: It gives you all the information you need in plain and simple English. It covers introduction to solar energy, designing solar electric systems (calculating solar energy, surveying your site, component selection and costing, detailed design, installation, trouble shooting, maintaining your system, etc. It includes 2 sections (10 chapters), a very detail “Table of Contents” so you can locate the information you need quickly, and very useful appendixes: Information on related support website, Table of Solar Insolation and Table of Latitude and Sun Height for most if not all of the cities in North America and the UK (I can even find the small city in California that I lives in on the Table), Typical Power Requirements for household and office appliances and devices, Information on Living Off Grid and Other Solar Projects, and a helpful Index at the end.
“The Solar Electricity Handbook 2009” has 150 pages and some simple and straight-forward line diagrams. It gives you most if not all the information you need to design and install your own solar system. It is what a solar energy book should be!
Gang Chen, President, ArchiteG, Inc.
AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Real Estate Broker (DRE# 01232392)
Bestselling Author of books on LEED, Architecture and Landscape Architecture
Rating: 5 / 5
As a newbie to solar power, I was worried that this book would be too technical for me, but I have been pleasantly surprised. I bought this book along with another one and this is definately the best for its clear descriptions, level of detail and general readability.
The book gives a lot of practical advice and from the very beginning it is obvious that the author knows what he is talking about. The book covers the subject very well and I feel confident that I will be able to install my off-grid solar electric system easily based on the practical experience shown in this book. The authors web site also provides a lot of really useful information including a superb project calculator that should be the first stop for anyone considering solar power.
Highly recommended.
Rating: 5 / 5
I love this book! The information is unbiased and to the point. It explains what solar electricity systems are currently available and how they work. It lists the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy components and systems and walks you through how to select, cost, implement and maintain the best system for your needs.
It’s associated web site provides nifty calculators which do all the complicated math for you.
It explains electricity and solar electricity so simply and concisely that I am planning to use it to teach my 10 year old daughter about electricity.
Rating: 5 / 5