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Product Description

FOLLOW THE SUN TO MORE EVIL FUN!

Let the sun shine on your evil side - and have a wicked amount of fun on your way to becoming a solar energy master! In this guide, the popular Evil Genius format ramps up your understanding of powerful, important, and environmentally friendly solar energy - and shows you how to build real, practical solar energy projects you can use in your home, yard - even on the road!

In Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius, high-tech guru Gavin Harper gives you everything you need to build more than 50 thrilling solar energy projects. You'll find complete, easy-to-follow plans, with clear diagrams and schematics, so you know exactly what's involved before you begin.

  • Illustrated instructions and plans for 30 amazing pretested solar energy projects that assume no prior experience with energy science
  • Explanations of the science and math behind each project
  • Projects that progress in difficulty - from simple ones that may inspire science fair entries - all the way to converting a real home to solar energy
  • Frustration-factor removal-needed parts are listed, along with sources-plus all the tools you'll need

Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius provides you with complete plans, instructions, parts lists, and sources for:

  • Crushed berries solar cell
  • Solar "death ray"
  • Solar powered hot dog cooker
  • Solar furnace
  • Sun-powered refrigerator
  • Camping shower, oven, and more
  • Hot recipes for solar cooking
  • Water purifier
  • Flashlight
  • Garden lights
  • Solar vehicle
  • Environmentally friendly robot
  • Much more!


About the Author
Gavin D. J. Harper is the author of 50 Awesome Auto Projects for the Evil Genius, Build Your Own Car PC, and Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius (all from McGraw-Hill), and has had work mentioned in the journal Science. Harper holds a BSc. (Hons) Technology from the Open University, has completed an MSc. Architecture: Advanced Environmental & Energy Studies, and is currently undertaking further Postgraduate study with the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, Loughborough University.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 196 pages
  • Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; 1 edition (June 22, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0071477721
  • ISBN-13: 978-0071477727
  • Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,511 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #2 in  Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Physics > Light
    #2 in  Books > Science > Physics > Light
    #4 in  Books > Science > Physics > Energy

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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting and timely entry in the Evil Genius series, July 22, 2007
By calvinnme "Texan refugee" (Fredericksburg, Va) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)      
This book provides the fundamentals of working with solar energy to the extent that you can build the projects included in the book. The projects range from simple science fair type projects to converting a home to run on solar electricity. This book follows the pattern of the other books in the series. There is a short section describing the theory of operation of each project followed by schematics, parts lists, and detailed instructions. All of the projects are the size of table-tops, but they can be enlarged to scale if needed.

The book begins by discussing the reasons to develop devices powered by solar energy. Economics and efficiency comparisons are made to standard energy sources. Among the projects discussed are two model solar water heating systems, a solar oven for cooking food, a basic solar water distiller, and a simple solar furnace. The solar furnace generates temperatures high enough that paper products can be ignited and low temperature metals can be liquified. Information is included on commercial solar furnaces. Next readers are shown how to build a simple thermoelectric generator that transforms heat into electricity. You are shown how to power the generator using the solar furnace from a previous chapter. Next readers are shown how to build a homemade photovoltaic cell using a copper sheet. Photovoltaic cells generate electricity directly from sunlight. This is followed by an advanced photovotaic cell construction project. Here you make a solar cell that uses photochemistry to mimic photosynthesis using photosensitive dyes that promise cheap solar electric power. The reader is taught how to build a solar engine, which is useful for tasks such as pumping water for storage and irrigation. Solar collector efficiency can be improved by tracking the sun, and to that end the author includes a simple electrical feedback system that tracks the sun across the sky. Also included are five or six smaller projects to more fully demonstrate the capabilities of solar energy. These include a rechargeable flashlight, special lights for illuminating a walkway, and simple solar cells. The following is the table of contents:

Chapter 1. Why solar?
Chapter 2. The Solar Resource
Chapter 3. Positioning Your Solar Devices
Chapter 4. Solar Heating
Chapter 5. Solar Cooling
Chapter 6. Solar Cooking
Chapter 7. Solar Stills
Chapter 8. Solar Collectors
Chapter 9. Solar Pumping
Chapter 10. Solar Photovoltaics
Chapter 11. Photochemical Solar Cells
Chapter 12. Solar Engines
Chapter 13. Solar Electrical Projects
Chapter 14. Tracking the Sun
Chapter 15. Solar Transport
Chapter 16. Solar Robotics?
Chapter 17. Solar Hydrogen Partnership
Chapter 18: Photosynthesis--Fuel from the Sun
Appendix A: Solar Projects on the Web
Appendix B: Supplier's Index

This book isn't by any means a textbook on solar engineering, but it is a great projects book to accompany the standard texts on the subject that almost never provide the kind of practical experience you can get by building the projects in this unique little book. If you want a good textbook to supplement this book of projects, I heartily recommend "Principles of Solar Engineering" by Goswami. That book has all of the mathematics and theory that really don't fit into this one. That text assumes little in the realm of mathematical maturity, but if you are lacking prior knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and thermal circuits, you might find yourself a bit lost.
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Increasing depth of understanding., October 29, 2007
By M. Scott (San Francisco Bay Area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I have been a solar electric and solar hot water installer for 3 years. I can design and install a system with ease and confidence, but the projects in this book increased my understanding to a whole new level. It was like learning about solar from the inside out. I always enjoy it when I can learn about something I know well from a different angle. Some of my friends bought the book for themselves after thumbing through my copy. I recommend this book for anyone who likes to have a hands on approach to solar in many different areas.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Solar Energy Great Genius!, October 22, 2007
By Doctor M. (Massachussets, USA) - See all my reviews
The author of this book was 19 years old when he published it. What an amazing 19 year old! He truly is a genius! My 15 year old daughter and I really enjoyed this book. One amazing project after another. Easy to understand instructions, easy to obtain materials--the author tells you how to order what you don't have--, and projects are easy to do. I especially liked the solar ice maker! I strongly recommend this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of Solar Experiments
I learned new things about solar energy. Did you know the sun does not rise in the east or even south of east in the continental USA? Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. Lynn

5.0 out of 5 stars Technology Education
Anything I can use in my Tech Ed classrom is worth getting. We need to teach Technology, not just Science! Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. Evans

1.0 out of 5 stars A Good try for a 19 year old author but sorely lacking in details
Though I must commend the author, who at 19 published this book, for his forward thinking and embrace of diy projects I found this book lacking. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bradohboy

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your time or your money
This book was a tremendous disappointment. The instructions are at best vague and are too general to be of much use to anybody. Read more
Published 8 months ago by GeckoMountain

4.0 out of 5 stars Stimulate Your Brain
This is a fun book for people who like to stimulate their brains and do fun things. Most of the projects can be completed without additional help, except maybe the money to... Read more
Published 9 months ago by WILLIAM MCLEAN

5.0 out of 5 stars Information
I am thank full to the author for sharing all that knowledge with us. Full of ideas and information on energy that has been around for a while but I was unaware of it.
Published 10 months ago by Francisco C. Ploneda

2.0 out of 5 stars Use Google instead.
If this book included instructions on how to actually build the projects it discusses, it would be worth buying. Read more
Published 11 months ago by QuantumRiver

1.0 out of 5 stars Just say "NO!" Then say it AGAIN!
According to another reviewer here: "Instructions were incomplete."

He is being highly charitable. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Random Violence

5.0 out of 5 stars Solar Projects
Excellent book. The only one that had exactly the information I was looking for.
Published 14 months ago by John C. Caranci

2.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing.
There was some interesting info about solar power. But, the "Projects" were very weak. Instructions were incomplete. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Thomas Moerman

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