This Book
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We undertook to build a solar electric system as an emergency electricity supply in place of a motor generator and still remain cost- competitive. Here it is. It doesn’t require engine maintenance, doesn’t require fuel storage, and above all, it is quiet. Although its purpose was as an emergency power source, it still generates electricity every day, so we use it. Our office and its computer are permanently connected to the solar system. There is an unforseen benefit, too. I did not consider at the time, how much gas an M.G. set would use, or how much I could legally ( safely) store on my residential property. This was reinforced when I learned that most areas allow only five gallons of gas storage on a residential property. What if the power was out for a week or more? That's a big plus for Solar Electricity. |
It would have been nice to have an emergency source of electricity during the East Coast Blackout, or the loss of power experienced by Hurricane Katrina and those following ( It just keeps happening). I wonder whether the Solar Panels could survive hurricane force winds, probably nothing would have, but for the thousands of households that were left without power- not blown away. a solar power source would have solved their problem.
Benefits:
No fuel storage problems. Doesn't run out of fuel. Battery bank provides electricity at night- recharges during the day.
No worry about running low on engine oil, or continually checking to make sure. An engine without oil freezes up and becomes a large paper weight.
No engine maintenance or repair problems.
Some electricity is available for use every day. Part of our house is permanently supplied from solar electricity.
It even works on cloudy days; it just takes a little longer for the batteries to reach full charge. I use the solar electricity even while the batteries charge.
When an electric blackout occurs, we don't have an energy blackout along with it. Some electricity is always available for heating controls, lighting, and communication, along with some appliance usage. We need some electricity all the time.
After the East Coast electricity blackout, the official report said that the Electric Power Grid System performed as designed: A fault is automatically disconnected from the grid to protect the system. The blackout-domino effect happened with too many overloads. We also learned that the System was reaching capacity and more of this kind of blackout could be expected. Aside from natural disasters, we have grown too big for the 30-year-old power system and major changes and additions will have to be made before we can eliminate effects such as blackouts.
Along with everyone else, losing all electricity is a major problem. Solar electricity has solved it for us, it can for you.
To our way of thinking, Solar Power has paid for itself many times over. During a blackout, we are still the only house in the neighborhood with lights and no heating problem. In the Northwest, that is something.
So much for justification.
Or you can take on the task yourself and build a system to satisfy both your needs and financial resources. That’s what this book is all about.
It’s all here, and like Ritchie’s other books, it was written from experience. To benefit from that experience, buy the book, then study it. It’s as simple as that.
Volume Two covers applications and maintenance of the system described in Volume One, although it is general enough to apply to any solar electric system.
Contents:
Preface.
Introduction.
Log of an adventure. Meeting a need. Scope of the book.
Ch.1. System Selection. What to choose? How big? Dollars versus Size. Feasibility. Capability.
Ch.2. Glossary. All the Solar and Electrical terms you need to know. Maintenance and repair.
Ch. 3. Preparation. Preparing people. Preparing the house. Why? Living With It.
Ch. 4. Basic Electricity. From the beginning. Water Analogy. No Electricity? Self-sustaining Electrical supply. Using The sun’s Energy. Recap. Safety. Electrical codes. Insulators. A simple Circuit. Ammeter. Voltmeter. Law of Electricity. Ohm”s Law. Power Law. Electromagnetism. An Electrical Meter. A Motor. Using An Electric Meter. A Multi-meter. Semiconductors. Photo-voltaics. Electrical Diagrams. Voltages and Currents. AC and DC Circuits. AC Circuits. AC Ohm’s Law. Air As A Conductor. Arcs. Lightning. Electric Welding. Switches. Review. Importance of Safety.
Ch. 5. System Details. Component Descriptions. How it all fits together.
Ch. 6. Batteries. What’s Available? Battery Selection. Battery Performance. Maintenance. Physical Aspects of Batteries. How Does A Battery Work?
Ch. 7. PV Panels and Arrays. Panel Ratings and Characteristics. Panel Specifications. Actual Performance. Making and Mounting an Array. Selecting The Proper Panel. Guarantees. Voltage and Current Requirements. Cost versus Capacity. Mounting an Array. Measuring Performance.
Ch.8. Motor Generators. Solar Backup Power. Increased System Capability. Introduction- Choice and Use of Generators. The Plan. Furnaces and Heat Pumps, Clothes Dryers. Furnace Operation With A Generator. Running Time. Extended Service. Long Term Service. Maintenance. Engines. Utilizing Generator Heat. Using A Generator In The House. Support for Your Emergency Generator. System Testing. Fuel Use and Storage. Safety. Generator size. Connecting A Generator To The Home. Transfer Switches. Load Reality. Wells, Power Equipment. Generator Power Output. Engine Noise.
Ch.9. Electrical Hardware. Terminals. Wire. Insulation. Liquid Tape. Electrical Boxes. Choice of components. Electrical Conduit. Flexible conduit. Fuses. Surge Protectors. Lightning Arresters. Thyristors.
Ch. 10. Performance. Metering Diagram. Caution. About Meters. Inverter Metering. Remote Meter Station. Power Measurements. Recording Wattmeter. Electronic Power Meters. Get Used To Using Meters.
Ch. 11. Maintenance and Troubleshooting. Troubleshooting. Troubleshooting Routine. Periodic Maintenance. Spare Parts.
Ch. 12. Potential Improvements. Selling Your Excess Electricity Adding More Batteries. Adding More PV Panels. Another Generator. Appliance Update. The Energy Efficient Home.
Ch. 13. What To Do With Excess Power? Heating Water. Pumping Water. Selling Back To The Grid.
Ch. 14. Living With It. Electrical Culture. Electrical Machinery. Excuses. Relative Energy Costs.
Bibliography.
Sources.
ISBN: 0-939656-88-4, $31.95.