Solar That Really Works! – Full Content Details
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1 - Solar realities
- How is available solar measured?
- Solar anomalies and limitations
- Space and weight limitations
- Converter electrical systems
- Cabins
- Battery capacity
- Cooking and heating
- Energy-efficient appliances
- Water pumping
- Washing machines/dishwashers
- Television
- Computers
- Lighting
- Air conditioning
- What voltage?
- Mains-voltage via an inverter
- Costs
- Avoid cheap products
Chapter 2 - Electrical self-sufficiency
- Vehicle alternator charging
- The self-sufficient approach
- Jump starting
- Future for alternator charging
Chapter 3 - Solar modules
- Monocrystalline modules
- Polycrystalline modules
- Amorphous modules
- Solar cell development
- What solar modules really produce
- Shadow resistance
- Module placement
- Portable solar modules
- Buying solar generally
- Grid-connect solar modules for cabins and RVs
- MPPT regulators
- Solar module trends
Chapter 4 - Solar regulators and monitors
- MPPT regulators
- Buying a solar regulator
- Energy monitors - knowing the state of charge
- How energy monitoring works
Chapter 5 - Batteries and battery charging (general)
- Specialised batteries
- Lithium-iron (LiFePO4) batteries
- High current loads - caution
- How batteries are charged
- Typical battery charging sequence
- Equalisation
- Battery Management Systems
Chapter 6 - Batteries and battery charging (via alternators)
- Temperature controlled alternators
- Variable voltage alternators
- Identifying alternator type
- Battery-to-battery DC chargers
- Charging lithium-iron batteries
- Choosing a battery-to-battery charger
- Adding solar
- Need for buying caution
Chapter 7 - Generators and fuel-cells
- Safeguarding electrics
- Charging from an inverter generator
- How noisy?
- Diesel/LPG generators
- Fuel-cells
Chapter 8 - Inverter types
- Transformer- based inverters
- Adequate installation essential
- Switch-mode inverters.
- Paralleling inverters
- Wired in - or freestanding
- Automatic load sensing - ‘phantom loads’
- Safety - a buying consideration
Chapter 9 - Refrigerators
- Top or door opening?
- Electric-only
- Eutectic fridges
- Three-way fridges
- T-rating
- The choice
- Correct installation
Chapter 10 - Lighting
- Switching
- Halogen
- Fluorescent lights
- Light emitting diodes
- Colour temperature
- Light output
- Lumens
- Lux
- Light fittings for RVs
- The choice
Chapter 11 - Water and pumping
- Water pumps for RVs
- Pipe resistance
- Pressure tanks
- Constant pressure pumps
Chapter 12 - Computers and TV
- Television
- Computers
- Housing equipment
Chapter 13 - Communications
- Yagi Antennas
- Charging the phone
- Satellite phone
- High Frequency radio
- Personal locator beacon (PLB)
- CB radio
- Useful Telstra links:
Chapter 14 - Scaling the system
- Table 1 - Typical consumption - in watts
- Table 2.14
- Two solar approaches
- How many modules?
- Supplementing the battery
- Solar output - modules flat
- Solar output - modules angled
- Supplementing solar energy
- Winter use
- Electrical self-sufficiency
Chapter 15 - Example systems
- Watts the matter
- Example 1. Small cabin
- Example 2. Campervan (40 litre electric fridge)
- Example 3: Small motorhome (120 litre electric fridge)
- Example 4. Average caravan motorhome
- Example 5: Large caravan
- Example 6: Coach conversion (old 500 litre fridge)
- Example 7. Big fifth-wheel caravan - (low energy)
Chapter 16 - Extra-low voltage wiring
- The Victorian exception
- Safety
- Absolutes
- Wire tables
- Auto cable - a very real trap
- Current rating
- Specifying cables
- ISO Standard re voltage drop
- 12/24 volts - the choice
- Fixing inadequate wiring
- Which cable is which - colour coding
- Making connections
- Joining cables
- Fuses
- Circuit breakers
- Master switches
- Switches
- Twelve volt plugs and sockets
Chapter 17 - Low voltage wiring
- Relocatable premises
- Permanent connection exceptions
- Vital exceptions
- Power into the vehicle (socket outlets)
- Supply cables
- 10-15 amp adaptors
- Protecting against ‘dirty’ power
- Vehicle inlet socket
- Polarity and double pole switches
- Polarity testing
- Inverters
- Change-over switches
- Cabling
- Separation of Low and Extra-low voltage wiring
- Wiring protection
- Kitchens and bathrooms
- Certification
- Updating installations
Chapter 18 - Installing batteries
- Parallel connection
- Series connection
- Battery location and care
- Battery installation and ventilation
- Battery and cable protection
- Battery cables and connections
- Power posts
- Sizing main battery cables
- Safety precautions
Chapter 19 - Installing solar modules
- Placing modules
- Connecting loose modules
- Roof mounting
- Trailers/fifth-wheeler caravans
- Physical mountings (RVs)
- Cabins
- Interconnection for higher voltage/current
- Solar module cable sizing
- Series diodes
- Earthing
Chapter 20 - Installing the solar regulator
- Load measurement
- Current shunts
- Positive versus negative (shunt) sensing
Chapter 21 - Installing the fridge
- Example 1
- Example 2
Chapter 22 - Installing an inverter
- Connection sequence
Chapter 23 - Installing water systems
- Pressure tanks
Chapter 24 - Installing a voltage sensing relay
- Variable voltage alternator issues
Chapter 25 - Electrical converters
- Converter associated wiring issues
Chapter 26 - Compliance issues
- Electrical non-compliance
Chapter 27 - Fixing problems (general)
Chapter 28 - Living with solar
- Typical indications of a good system with lead acid or AGM batteries
- Typical indications of a system with lithium batteries
- Solar capacity versus battery capacity
- Training visitors
Chapter 29 - Walking the walk
- VW Kombi
- OKA
- Nissan Patrol and TVan
- Home and property
- Swimming pool
- Water pumping
- Church Point
Chapter 30 - Electricity - simply explained
- Electricity - simply explained
- General
- Electrical units and terms
Chapter 31 - Making contact
- This book’s publisher