Solar Power for Beginners: How to Design and Install the Best Solar Power System for Your Home (DIY Solar Power)

As somebody who served 5 years on our town's Alternative Energy Committee, we'd worked with the power companies to install massive solar arrays on many town-owned buildings, but I've always been hesitant to pull the trigger on a solar array for our home because, due to that same experience, I'm aware how lopsided and restricting all the "we'll install solar on your roof for free" programs really are. (News flash: NOTHING is ever free … the power company makes a KILLING while you get peanuts). We've attempted to size out a solar array for our nice, large south-facing roof, but every installer in the planet keeps shoving "get the tax credits for free" programs at us and jacking up the price of solar panels you can buy direct-from-manufacturer for 1/6th the price.We also want a system that will work when the grid goes down, which means no tax credits, or needing a way to switch from street-power to battery backup sytem. Having served on the Alternative Energy Committee, I'm familiar with some of the jargon (south-facing roof, calculating solar need, etc.), but not other jargon (I am NOT an engineer). So when I spotted "SOLAR POWER FOR BEGINNERS: How to Design and Install the Best Solar Power System for Your Home" I grabbed it on a whim.The book is organized logically, with lots of diagrams. The writing is about as straightforward as a book about highly technical information can get, with the easier topics very simple, and the more technical aspects explained step-by-step. You are not going to read through anything but the first few chapters of this book "for pleasure." It's more of a step-by-step guide that you'll use as you muddle your way through each step. I did do many of the exercises, including dig out my old energy bill and calculate my need, estimate my available roof space, etc. There are lots of buy-direct links to find some of the equipment referenced, which are really helpful.My only complaints are that:a) It doesn't talk about off-grid hookup, including sizing a battery array, maintenance, calculating loss, or how to hook it up.b) Once you go to install the brackets and panels onto your roof, there may be additional installation information you may need to know about, such as structural defects in your roof that may need reinforcing, or issues with older electrical systems, which were not given as much discussion as I would have preferred (this was often an issue when retrofitting aging town-owned buildings with solar systems). I think these issues go beyond this book, but it would have been nice to have the issues raised so the reader is aware of it and knows to do additional research.I suspect that most of the D.I.Y. people who want to read this book and install their own solar array themselves are interested in off-grid since otherwise the power company will come and install it for free (in exchange for a 20-year "buyback" agreement and no off-grid). Maybe they'll rectify this and add this information in a future edition? But other than that significant gripe, I'm still going to give this book 5-stars because the solar installation guys did nothing but espouse gobbly-gook and all the other D.I.Y. off-grid solar books waste time talking about "SHTF" and very little talk about how to power an average, everyday house NOW and not just bare-minimum after TEOTWAWKI. Thanks to this book I now know how to calculate about 80% of what I need, which is about 50% more than I knew before.Recommend even with the above-noted shortcoming.

The book begins with some very basic rules and terms. While these rules and terms are important to learn before setting up your own home for solar energy, they can be glossed over the first time your read the book.Yes, if you intend to diy your green home, you should read this book more than once, and refer to it over and over again. That's not to say that you should avoid asking your local home depot employees questions, but if you read this book first, you'll know exactly what to ask them, and you'll actually understand what they tell you.After the basics, there's some great information about panel size and orientation. This helps you understand how many panels you need, where to place them, and whether or not you can go full solar or just offset your standard electricity bill.The book further explains the need for an inverter, how it works, and how to calculate ideal ratios.I personally appreciated the list of manufacturers of solar panels and inverters, and how they accumulate and distribute energy to the home.Overall, this is a solid, little textbook, which provides all the information needed for someone who already knows a little about electricity and solar energy. For those who know absolutely nothing about electricity and solar energy, it does teach just enough to allow the neophyte the confidence to either ask a professional and understand the answers, or do their own research.The information provided in the the book does become more clear as it is read and reread, and the practical applications from the knowledge provided will also become more clear as one begins to actually buy and connect their panels.

Very easy and simple to understand

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. It’s a good book but not great due to the reference tables and charts in the book very difficult to read due to print and size. There were a few typos as well but overall a decent read for understanding solar panel properties, layout, charge and installation. It can be better and I am currently looking for a better reference book.

Very good

Nice informative reference

This book is very good for the DIYer. Great information, the font of the letters is large enough for older eyes to see and it's packed with so much info on how to set up many different solar power systems. I'm setting up a medium sized power back up system and using this book makes it much easier.I definitely recommend it as one to add to your solar library.Be aware, the authors did over use the word "hence". But still a very good book.

Used this for a beginning understanding of solar power