Solar electricity handbook: a simple, practical guide to solar energy - how to design and install photovoltaic solar electric systems (2012 edition)
Who this book is aimed at
If you simply want to gain an understanding about how solar electricity works
then this handbook will provide you with everything you need to know.
If you are planning to install your own stand-alone solar power system, this
handbook is a comprehensive source of information that will help you
understand solar and guide you in the design and installation of your own solar
electric system.
Solar has a big application for integrating into electrical products: mobile
phones, laptop computers, portable radios. Even light electric cars can use solar
energy to provide some or all of their power requirements, depending on the
application. If you are a designer, looking to see how you can integrate solar into
your product, this book will give you a grounding in the technology that you will
need to get you started.
If you are specifically looking to install a grid-tie system, i.e. a solar energy
system that will feed electricity back into your local power grid, this book will
provide you with a good foundation and will allow you to carry out the design of
your system. You will still need to check the local planning laws and any other
local legislation surrounding the installation of solar energy systems, and you
will have to understand the building of electrical systems. In some countries, you
specifically need to be certified in order to carry out the physical installation of a
grid-tie system.
If you are planning to install larger, commercial–size systems, or if you are
hoping to install grid-tie solar systems professionally, then this book will serve
as a good introduction, but you will need to grow your knowledge further. This
book gives you the foundations you need in order to build this knowledge, but
there are special skills required when designing and implementing larger scale
solar systems that go far beyond what is required for smaller systems and are
beyond the scope of this book.
If you are planning your own solar installation, it will help if you have some DIY
skills. Whilst I include a chapter that explains the basics of electricity, a
familiarity with wiring is also of benefit for smaller projects and you will require
a thorough understanding of electrical systems
