The Easy Guide to Solar Electric (Paperback)

~ (Author) "This book is designed to answer some of your questions about solar energy, such as, why would one choose solar energy over conventional energy?..." (more)
Key Phrases: New Mexico, Point Zero, Colonel Copper (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book is a simple and entertaining introduction to Solar Electric, a must for everybody who is interested in the photovoltaic process or who plans to live in a solar home. It is also a statement for clean energy and for an environmentally healthy lifestyle. The reader will be introduced to the basic electrical terms and the components of a solar system. Practical tips, including names and numbers, will give the reader some idea about reliable products and manufacturers. It comes complete with index, glossary, and charts.

From the Publisher

The first edition of this book found it's readers who apreciated the easy and funny style. This second edition is the fourth print and, with the rising interest in solar energy, will mostlikely require another printing in this year of 2001. The author seems to have his way of bringing a complex issue to the reader's attention. We received mail from people who just red it for the fun of it. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: Adi Solar Electric (August 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967189101
• ISBN-13: 978-0967189109
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,137,455 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Non-technical, entry-level solar electric book for beginners, August 24, 2000

By	Neil Milani (Raleigh, NC United States) - See all my reviews

I'm a technically-oriented, DIY person and I was looking for a solar electric book to help me with my small-scale, residential installation. I already have most of the background on photovoltaic systems and needed more of a "Here's-how-you-do-it" book. Although amusing and easily read, I found this book useful for someone who is starting to think about solar power and needs a light hand to make them feel more at ease about what a system will and will not do. This is not a book for someone needing a DIY guide or a "How-to" manual. It's not a bad book - just not useful for my needs.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introducion, December 13, 1999

By	Anna Flowers, author (Satellite Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews

I am a builder and owner of the Natural House. I reviewed Mr. Piepers book and found it an excellent introduction for entry level solar customers. My electrician says: "finally a book not clutterd with useless and too detailed information". Personally I like the humor in this book and give the book as a present to every home owner I build a house for. Thank you Mr. Pieper for the excellent work!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book for novices - like me!, June 8, 2005

By	blbkwrm (Midwest USA) - See all my reviews

This book is silly and that is what helps me past the confusion of amps and watts and volts and cables. This is my most recent education in electrical engineering since fifth grade (and fixing some lamps and switches) and I am so glad I got this book and the installation manual.
Want to avoid mistakes. Some people may not like silly stories and humorous nonfiction. But for some of us, the humor both is illustrative, gives time to digest the technical ideas.
Great beginning book, does not scare me away from solar electric and that's exactly what I hoped for.