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A comprehensive training resource for producing electric power from the sun. Producing electricity from the sun using photovoltaic (PV) systems has become a major industry worldwide. But designing, installing and maintaining such systems requires knowledge and training, and there have been few easily accessible, comprehensive guides to the subject. (Last updated in 2007). The book contains an overview of photovoltaic electricity and a detailed description of PV system components, including PV modules, batteries, controllers and inverters. It also includes chapters on sizing photovoltaic systems, analyzing sites and installing PV systems, as well as detailed appendices on PV system maintenance, troubleshooting and solar insolation data for over 300 sites around the world. Used worldwide as the textbook in SEI's PV Design & Installation workshops, topics covered include: The basics of solar electricity PV applications and system components Solar site analysis and mounting Stand-alone and PV/generator hybrid system sizing Utility-interactive PV systems Component specification, system costs and economics Case studies and safety issues This book is our previous publication adopted widely in the industry and for solar electric training in years past. There is still a lot of useful information in this book especially on battery-based solar PV systems, but if you are interested in our updated publication and most recent industry standards and information please check out our newer Solar Electric Handbook: Photovoltaic Fundamentals and Applications - Textbook / eBook Bundle. Review: Very good primer on Solar Photovoltaics - It's a great primer on all the components and installation considerations. Don't expect any profound mathematics or electrical theory. Has a lot of nice charts, diagrams, appendices and illustrations. Only think is it's a bit dated - came out in 2007 as far as I can tell and the PV industry has continued exploding with new products, materials, approaches etc. which this book does not cover ( how could it - the changes have taken place post-publication). If they print a newer version I'm sure it will be a real 'gem' but this one is still top notch in most respects. Review: a book for solar installations.... - good book, short read for being a installation manual, read from front to back in 9 hours. I did like the layout, but this is a base application book assuming you have no knowledge in almost any electronics. I am a computer science expert so DC current is easy for me, what gets me is this is a book assuming you are going to buy all the individual components and put them together as per individual manuals...I wanted a book with a break down of how to make my own components, ie. Lightning arrestors, charge controllers, or water heater collectors...this has none of that, this assumes you will buy the better quality components from somewhere else, and does not tell you the best ones to buy, for some lawsuit things.... anyway a good read, very on target... worth 30$$$ will
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,092,963 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #78 in Solar Energy #1,363 in Home Design & Construction (Books) #1,661 in Environmental Science (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 297 Reviews |
M**G
Very good primer on Solar Photovoltaics
It's a great primer on all the components and installation considerations. Don't expect any profound mathematics or electrical theory. Has a lot of nice charts, diagrams, appendices and illustrations. Only think is it's a bit dated - came out in 2007 as far as I can tell and the PV industry has continued exploding with new products, materials, approaches etc. which this book does not cover ( how could it - the changes have taken place post-publication). If they print a newer version I'm sure it will be a real 'gem' but this one is still top notch in most respects.
W**S
a book for solar installations....
good book, short read for being a installation manual, read from front to back in 9 hours. I did like the layout, but this is a base application book assuming you have no knowledge in almost any electronics. I am a computer science expert so DC current is easy for me, what gets me is this is a book assuming you are going to buy all the individual components and put them together as per individual manuals...I wanted a book with a break down of how to make my own components, ie. Lightning arrestors, charge controllers, or water heater collectors...this has none of that, this assumes you will buy the better quality components from somewhere else, and does not tell you the best ones to buy, for some lawsuit things.... anyway a good read, very on target... worth 30$$$ will
G**N
A lot of good info, but is a bit overpriced for true content.
In many of the "Official Solar" websites, this is "THE" most recommended book on solar, and probably it was "The Book" for years while this science was still pretty new. It is a good book, it has a lot of useful tables and general info, and does offer many good suggestions and recommendations. If you buy this book, and are pretty new in this field, this will be helpful to you. Though all the above is true, this book is quite over priced for what you get, but as with nearly all text books and manuals for use type of stuff, you do tend to get ripped on cost a bit. It should be no more than a $25 book.....however that may be.... This book is probably still going to be the "standard" upon which most other non-engineering level books are measured by for some time. Though overpriced (IMHO), you will not regret having used this book. I have read it through more than twice, and the author has a good way of expressing the info so nearly anyone can understand it: good man! enjoy.
A**R
Outstanding reference
This book got me thru the design and installation of a complete off-grid system for my lake cottage. The process of site evaluation, system component selection, wiring, etc. is complex, but with a lot of study and this book, I ended up very happy with the results. Everything you need to know is here. I recommend it for anyone who is starting with little PV knowledge and wants to end up with a whole house system.
A**R
Perfect
Everything received quickly and of good quality. In total, everything that was announced arrived in perfect condition.
E**1
The Best of The Best
I have been in the renewable energy field for some time now and have used many products for instructional purposes, but this is the best. It has all the material needed to get people here in the IBEW up and running for the installation and design of solar systems. I have used this book since taking the train the trainer course using the same book and feel it does more to explain the things you run into everyday in the field.
T**R
Lite in content and heavy in tables.
I am interested in designing and installing a DIY solar panel system for our home, so I purchased this book hoping that it would be packed with useful information for realizing such a project. Unfortunately I found it to be rather "lite" (if you have done any type of electrical wiring beforehand) and not quite up to date. 80 whole pages are wasted with "insolation" tables and "sun charts" covering sample locations around the world .. from Alabama to Afghanistan .. an immense waste of space and trees. Otherwise, it is a well organized basic textbook with many worksheets, examples and diagrams. To improve the value of this textbook I recommend that the publisher 1) simply includes a link to the "insolation" tables available elsewhere on the Web, 2) incldues additional and current data on the available component alternatives and a means for evaluating these alternatives in the design process, and 3) raises the assumed level of the audience addressed by this textbook.
A**I
Muy prรกctico
Buen libro prรกctico para iniciarse en el mundo de la electricidad fotovoltaica. En inglรฉs, pero si eso no es problema, muy recomendable.
J**E
Excellent
A fantastic read and easy to follow design book. You are taken through basic principles to more sophisticated design examples highly rate this book
A**R
Four Stars
God of all books on solar energy
K**K
Awesome book with very helpful introduction into the topic!
Great to read and very helpful to get a quick and easy overview. Examples and calculations are amazingly helpful. As an engineer an easy and nice read ;)
G**E
Good Read
Good read
V**L
Five Stars
Covers it all fairly comprehensively
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3 days ago
1 month ago