The Solar Electricity Handbook 2009: A Simple, Practical Guide to Using Electric Solar Panels and Designing and Installing Photovoltaic Solar PV Systems [Paperback]

Michael Boxwell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

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 suppliers and on-line solar energy calculators that will simplify the cost analysis and design processes.

Why buy the Solar Electricity Handbook?

* The Handbook is a simple, practical guide to using electric photovoltaic panels.
* The book is suitable for enthusiastic novices and professionals.
* Clear examples, diagrams and example projects are given to demonstrate the true capabilities of these systems.
* The Handbook is updated yearly, providing a up-to-date reference for anyone planning to use electric photovoltaic technology.
* It is the most comprehensive book on solar electric systems available today.
* It is backed up by the most powerful online calculator tools available, to make your design and calculations as straightforward as possible.
* With comprehensive detail in the book for both North America and Europe, the Handbook provides you with information that is relevant to you and your project - whereever you live.

From the Publisher

The Solar Electricity Handbook 2010 Edition has been extensively updated with new chapters on grid-tie solar electricity, updated information, new diagrams and more information. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: Code Green Publishing (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1907215018
• ISBN-13: 978-1907215018
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #476,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book on solar power, September 1, 2009

By	Andy Hayes (South Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Solar Electricity Handbook 2009: A Simple, Practical Guide to Using Electric Solar Panels and Designing and Installing Photovoltaic Solar PV Systems (Paperback)

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.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what a solar energy book should be!, September 22, 2009

By	Gang Chen "LEEDSeries(dot)com, Bestselling Au... (ArchiteG(dot)com) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)

This review is from: The Solar Electricity Handbook 2009: A Simple, Practical Guide to Using Electric Solar Panels and Designing and Installing Photovoltaic Solar PV Systems (Paperback)

"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, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Author of "LEED GA Exam Guide," "Architectural Practice Simplified," "Planting Design Illustrated," and other books on various LEED exams, architecture, and landscape architecture

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction to Solar Power, September 28, 2009

By	James Cowdery "plastic maggot" (San Rafael, CA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Solar Electricity Handbook 2009: A Simple, Practical Guide to Using Electric Solar Panels and Designing and Installing Photovoltaic Solar PV Systems (Paperback)

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.