This second volume is a summary of what we have learned about operating this Solar Electric system. It is straightforward and applies to most solar electric systems.
Applications, Facing Associated Problems, and Living With It ,have both additions and updates from those chapters in Volume 1.
We have continued the practice of providing background for those related subjects that are included in the book.
We didn’t anticipate the increased costs and inflation caused by the problems of power deregulation. We missed all these increased costs so far as electricity from our solar system was concerned. Our electricity cost was fixed at the time we purchased the equipment. It keeps looking better every day. In addition to our solar electricity, our total Grid bill averages slightly more than a dollar per day throughout the year. Considering that this system was built to only satisfy the most critical electrical needs, this is remarkable. Read the book for a more complete understanding.
Imagine, the energy of sunlight shining down on us, with anywhere from 600 to 1,000 watts per hour, per square foot of sun-exposed surface, for 4 to 10 hours per day, even on rainy or cloudy days, is waiting to be converted for use in our homes, and ol’ Sol delivers it for FREE. It’s time to start using it. These two books are one story of How To Do It that works. Time to begin reading.
As a long time solar user, I have proven that solar applications are viable and will ultimately become widespread, If it will work in the Northwest, it should work anywhere. California’s Inter-tie Program, with the State sharing the cost, is another proof.
ISBN 0-939656-65-5, $31.95.
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Table of Contents
Preface.
Foreword.
Table of Contents.
Recap of Volume 1. The Book, Table of Contents
Projected Cost Analysis. Parts list. The Promise of Progress. Power Cells. Cost vs Inflation .Summary. Part 1.Operation.
Ch. 1 Operation and Maintenance. What To Do. Operation Manual. Visual Inspections. Inverter Interference. Operational Glitch. Battery Charging. Operating Manual. Purpose. TOC. Introduction. House Main Circuit Breaker Panel. System Block Diagram. Refrigerator-Freezer Operation From Solar Electricity. Motor Generators. Charging Batteries From Motor-Generators. Maintaining The Solar Electric System. To Water The Batteries. Deep Freeze With Grid Power Off. What To Use.
Ch. 2 Retrofitting. Electrical Modifications. Load Division. The Power Panel.
Ch. 3 Heating. Wood Heating. Wood Stove Particulars. Stove Operation. Blower Thermostat. Where To Put A Thermostat? Stove Hot Air Stack. Pellet Stoves. Wood Stove Fuel.
Ch. 4 Selling Back Electricity. Inter-Tie PV System. Requirements. Sine Wave Inverter. Manual System Disconnect Switch. Bi-Directional Metering. Payback Costs versus Time. Guerilla Solar. Hazards. Electrical Code Requirements. Local Requirements.
Ch. 5 Living With It. Solar Water Heating. Solar Electricity Battery Charging. Battery Charger. Energy Conservation. Energy Tips -Table of Contents. Part 2. Maintenance.
Ch. 6 Batteries. Mission of This System. Economy of Battery Charging. Battery Basics. Battery Freezing. Achieving Full Charge. Battery Box Heater. Battery Box. Battery Life. Battery Ageing. Sulfate Crystals.
Ch. 7 Solar System Failures. Emergencies Defined. Solar Electric Failures. Safety. Well Failures. Plumbing Problems. Emergencies External To Your System. Replacement Parts. Your Own System. Part 3. Applications.
Ch. 8 Well and Water Systems. About Solar Water Systems. Our Procedure. About Wells. Well Types. City and Well Water. About This Well. About Well Types. About Plumbing. Sterilizing A Well. Pressure Switch Problem. Electrical Supply. Emergency Well Use. What To Do? Other Problems. End Note.
Ch. 9 Auxiliary Loads. Load Diversion. Auxiliary Loads. Water Heaters. Thermo-junction Refrigeration. Other Low Voltage Options. Electric Heaters. Irrigation Wells.
Ch. 10 Conclusion. Unforeseen. Code changes.
Appendix A. Batteries and Inverters- Sandia Laboratory.
Appendix B. Websites. Books.
FebruDecember 13, 2008
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