Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Solar Power for your Home, 2E

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Very generic and almost all of the information is in this book can be found for free doing web searches. For example, the chapter on installations is nine pages long and has no specifics. It merely repeats to consult a qualified electrician and I already knew that!

The plus side is that it is well organized and concise.

This book contains very little actionable information for people who want to begin installing a basic solar power system. If you've never heard of solar power, then this book will provide a bird's eye view of the concepts involved. However, if you want to learn the basics AND obtain enough information to wire a couple of panels, a couple of batteries, and add the controller and inverter to the system, then you better look elsewhere because you are not going to find that level of detail in this book. If you've ever seen a television show about solar powered homes, then you have no need to read this book.

This is a great book on solar, lots of great references. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in solar. Its a bit lean on actually installing a solar power system on your home. But It is very adequate for anyone interested in having someone install solar on their home.

Not much in here you wouldn't already know from just watching TV. It does go on to say that mounting a wind generator to the roof of a house is creates a lot of noise. That's all I got out of it. I guess if you know nothing about solar power its worth a few bucks.

this may be just me but it didn't seem to have the information i was looking for , guess I'm not a complete idiot..go figure

...because it basically talked me out of converting my house to solar power. I'll convert eventually, or better yet build a solar home from scratch. But using the information in this guide I discovered that the electricity rates in the Midwest make solar or wind power pretty unattractive in 2009. This guide also helped me to reduce my energy bill, and has paid for itself time and time again. Highly recommended.

It was simply not as simple as I thought it might be. However, I have an electric expert as a friend, and between the two of us we can do the job.

Solar Power for Your Home
by David Hughes et al. Alpha Publishers 2010

Reviewed by: Dr. Joseph S. Maresca

This is an excellent guide for anyone planning to install
solar energy panels in a home or take advantage of the sale
of excess renewable power to the local electric company .
The work describes solar power functionality
and solar energy at work. The processes described are perfect
for communities and third world countries operating without
public utilities.

The process has a solar energy module consisting of a
charge controller,battery with an offshoot to a DC load
or AC load and an inverter for the AC load.
The payback for the solar system is through a federal tax
credit, solar rebates, selling power to the local utilities
or renewable energy credits.

There are several big initiatives going on right now like
the Million Solar Roofs Initiative. The American Recovery
Reinvestment Act is responsible for solar energy promotion
on federal buildings. Solar energy may be financed
through consumer loans, a 1st or 2nd mortgage, as well as
special federal programs like Title I loans.
Fannie Mae has a REEIL loan program.

Prebuilt solar homes are advertised at greenhomesforsale.
There are alternate solar panel designs like the solar panel
rack mounted at ground level.
Designers of solar systems must take into consideration
the sun's noontime height above the horizon and the seasonal
changes involving the sun repositioning. Solar panels
may be installed on a garage roof instead of the roof
of the home.

A residential solar system can cost $30T to $40T or $6 to $8.
per watt. Batteries may be needed for backup systems.
Inverters change DC to AC electricity. Air warmed in the
sunspace travels on its own throughout the home. Wing wells can
accelerate the natural breeze in the interior.

Both individuals and businesses generate excess renewable
energy which can be sold to the community as an additional revenue
source. The National Electric Code (NEC)for residential solar
power governs installations under Article 690. Homeowners must
remember to obtain adequate insurance coverage for the solar
installation and any customizations. The volume has an excellent
appendix with extensive drawings throughout and a section on
Energy Efficiency Resources throughout the USA.

This book would be an excellent acquisition for anyone
planning to build or implement solar energy panels on a
residential or industrial property. The cost of the
acquisition is modest at under $20.00. The book is recommended
highly to the readership.

I was hoping for more basics so I could learn more. too complicated for me.

The title is disparaging but the contents are excellent! Anyone considering attempting to learn about Solar Power should read this book. It has an excellent chart for determining what you should consider before you start your project. It is written in easy to understand language that a lay person can easily understand. I highly recommend it.