Solar electricity handbook: a simple, practical guide to solar energy - how to design and install photovoltaic Download PDF
Solar electricity handbook: a simple, practical guide to solar energy - how to design and install photovoltaic PDF
Picture Of The Book :
About Of The Book :
If you simply want to gain an understanding of 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, and 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 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 large-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 if you are planning a larger project such as powering a house with solar
Contents Of The Book :
- Introducing Solar Energy
Who this book is aimed at
The rapidly changing world of solar energy
Solar electricity and solar heating
The source of solar power
The principles of solar electricity
Understanding the terminology
Setting expectations for solar electricity
Why choose a solar electric system?
Cost-justifying solar
Solar power and wind power
Fuel cells
Grid-tied solar electric systems
Solar electricity and the environment
Environmental efficiency: comparing supply and demand
In conclusion
- A Brief Introduction to Electricity
Don’t panic
A brief introduction to electricity
How to measure electricity
The relationship between volts, amps, ohms, watts and watt-hours
Volts
Power
Energy
A word for non-electricians
In conclusion
- The Four Configurations for Solar Power
Stand-alone/off-grid
Examples of simple stand-alone systems
Grid-tie
An example of a grid-tie system
Grid-tie with power backup (grid interactive)
An example of a grid interactive system
Grid fallback
An example of a grid fallback system
Grid failover
How grid-tie systems differ from stand-alone
In conclusion
- Components of a Solar Electric System
Solar panels
Batteries
Controller
Inverter
Electrical devices
Connecting everything together
A stand-alone system
A grid-tie system using a single central inverter
A grid-tie system using multiple micro-inverters
In conclusion
- The Design Process
Short-cutting the design work
Solar energy and emotions
In conclusion
- Scoping the Project
Designing grid-tie or grid fallback systems
Comparing supply with demand
Fleshing out the scope
Producing a power analysis
A word of warning
When you are ready to proceed
Calculating inefficiencies
Adding the inefficiencies to our power analysis
When do you need to use the solar system?
Keeping it simple
Improving the scope
In conclusion
- Calculating Solar Energy
What is solar energy?
Why is this useful?
Calculating solar irradiance
Capturing more of the sun’s energy
The impact of tilting solar panels on solar irradiance
Calculating the optimum tilt for solar panels
Getting the best from solar panels at different times of the year
Positioning your solar panels
Using solar irradiance to work out how much energy a solar panel will
generate
Using solar irradiance to give you an approximate guide for the required
power capacity of your solar array
Solar panels and shade
Solar array power point efficiencies
The effects of temperature on solar panels
Temperature impact on solar performance in Austin, Texas during the
summer months
Working out an approximate cost
What if the figures do not add up?
Working out dimensions
In conclusion
- Surveying Your Site
What we want to achieve
What you will need
First impressions
Drawing a rough sketch of the site
Positioning the solar array
Roof-mounting
Ground-mounting
Pole-mounting
Splitting the solar array into several smaller arrays
Identifying the path of the sun across the sky
Shading
Professional tools for obstacle analysis
Cell phone applications
Using paper and pencil
Future proof your system
What if there are shading obstructions?
Positioning batteries, controllers and inverters
Cabling
Site survey for the holiday home
In conclusion
- Understanding the Components
How to use these chapters
Common components for all systems
Solar panels
Amorphous solar panels
Polycrystalline solar panels
Monocrystalline solar panels
Which solar panel technology is best?
What to look for when choosing a solar panel
Buying cheap solar panels
Second-hand solar PV panels
Fresnel lenses and mirrors
Solar panel mountings
Solar trackers
Solar array cables
Fuses and isolation switches
Ground fault protection
- Components for Grid-Tie systems
High voltage in-series
Low voltage systems
Micro-inverter systems
Grid-tie solar panels
Grid-tie inverters
Input voltage
Power rating
Power tracking
Multiple strings
Diagnostics and reporting information
Built-in safety
Installation options and operating environment
Buying from eBay
- Components for Stand-Alone Systems
Calculate your optimum voltage
Voltages and currents
What voltages can I run at?
How to work out what voltage you should be running at
How to calculate your current
Calculating cable thicknesses
Converting wire sizes:
Mixing and matching solar panels
Batteries
Types of batteries
Battery configurations
Battery lifespan
Holdover
Calculating how long a set of batteries will last
Second-hand batteries
Building your battery bank
Battery safety
Solar controller
Balancing the batteries
Allow for expansion
Maximum power point tracking
Ground fault protection
Backup power
Using multiple controllers
Inverters
Battery bank voltage
Power rating
Waveform
Installation options and operating environment
Ground fault protection
Cables
Battery cables
Appliance cabling
Plugs and sockets
Appliances
Lighting
Refrigeration
Microwave ovens
Televisions, DVDs, computer games consoles and music
Music systems
Dishwashers, washing machines and tumble dryers
Air conditioning systems
Reputable brand names
Solar panel manufacturers and brands
Solar controller and inverter manufacturers and brands
Battery manufacturers and brands
Shopping list for the holiday home
In conclusion
- Planning, regulations and approvals
National and international standards for solar components
Installation regulations
Getting your electricity supplier involved
Solar grants and selling your power
General information about grants, tax credits and feed-in tariffs
In conclusion
- Detailed Design
Safety is designed in
What is the worst that can happen with a solar installation?
Grounding your electrics
DC Electrics
AC electrics
High temperatures
Think safety
Solar array design
Solar array design – stand-alone systems
Solar array design – grid-tie systems with micro-inverters
Solar array design – grid-tie systems with a single inverter
Batteries
Controller
Inverter
Devices
Specifics for a grid fallback system
Circuit protection
Earthing (grounding)
DC circuit protection
AC circuit protection
Cable sizing and selection
Sizing your cables
Protecting cable runs
Designing your system to keep your cables runs as short as possible
Selecting solar cable
Controller cable
Battery interconnection cables
Some sample wiring diagrams
The holiday home wiring diagram
The next step
Solar frame mounting
Positioning batteries
Planning the installation
In conclusion
- Installation
Have you read the instructions?
Safety
Your First Aid kit
Chemical clean-up kit
Considering the general public
Working at height
Handling
Working with batteries
Gloves
Electrical safety
Assembling your toolkit
Preparing your site
Testing your solar panels
Installing the solar array
Cleaning the panels
Assembly and connections
Roof-mounting a solar array
Final wiring
Installing the batteries
Pre-installation
Positioning the batteries
Ventilation
Access
Insulation
Connections
Installing the control equipment
Installing a grid-tie system
Commissioning the system
Programming your solar controller
Testing your system
Charging up your batteries
Connecting your devices
In conclusion
- Troubleshooting
Keep safe
Common faults
Excessive power usage
Solutions
Insufficient power generation
Solutions
Damaged wiring/ poor connections
Weak battery
Changing batteries
Inverter issues
- Maintaining Your System
As required
Every month
Every three months
Every six months
Every year
At the start of each winter
- Internet Support
Tools available on the website
Online project analysis
Monthly insolation figures
Solar angle calculator
Solar resources
Questions and answers
Author online!
Solar articles
- A Final Word
- Appendix A – Crystalline Solar Panels and Shading
Types of obstruction
Designing shade-tolerant solar systems
Track the shade
Increasing the number of solar panels
Panel orientation
Choice of solar panel
Use micro-inverters
Design a parallel solar array
Design a multi-string solar array
Other options
If all else fails...
In conclusion
- Appendix B – Solar Insolation
Understanding this information
Solar insolation values – Australia
Solar insolation values – Canada
Solar insolation values – Ireland
Solar insolation values – New Zealand
Solar insolation values – United Kingdom
Solar insolation values – United States of America
- Appendix C – Typical Power Requirements
Household and office
Garden and DIY
Caravans, boats and recreational vehicles
- Appendix D – Living Off-Grid
A solar electric system in conjunction with grid electricity
- Appendix E – Other Solar Projects
Grid fallback system/ grid failover system
Portable solar power unit
Solar boat
Solar shed light
Solar electric bikes
- Appendix F – Building Your Own Solar Panels (and Why You Shouldn’t)
Information Of The Book :
Title: Solar electricity handbook: a simple, practical guide to solar energy - how to design and install photovoltaic Download PDF.
Language: English.
Size: 2,80 Mb.
Pages: 407.
Format: PDF.
Author: Michael Boxwell.