Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual

by Solar Energy International

Book Overview

A comprehensive training resource for producing electric power from the sun. Producing electricity from the sun using photovoltaic (PV) systems has become a major industry worldwide. But designing, installing and maintaining such systems requires knowledge and training, and there have been few easily accessible, comprehensive guides to the subject. Now, with Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual , a world-class solar energy training and education...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0865715203
• ISBN13: 9780865715202
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: New Society Publishers
• Length: 317 Pages
• Weight: 2.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.4" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

An excellent study text.

The Solar PV Design and Review text is an excellent source for detailed information needed for real life work in solar energy. It is well written and organized, with exercises to help test yourself. As with all written material, it will quickly become dated with respect to references and NEC code. But the basic technical information will remain sound. This text is frequently used in the NABCEP Certificate of Knowledge training.

Best book on setting up with solar power

There is no such thing as a perfect book, but I have read all of those other books on solar. None of them tell you how to setup a system. This one does. It comes as close to perfect as you they get.

Not just fluff

Get into the ins and outs of PV installation. This book is actually too complicated for the casual observer since there are a lot of variables to designing a workable cost efficient (well, hopefully not costing more than need be) PV system. For instance, a materials list for a 12 volt DC battery and charge controller system consist of about 80 lines. Each with their own numbers!

Well written and lots of data

Includes lots of general data and instructions. Does not compare details of panels from different manufacturers and may be somewhat dated.

Good for DIY, PV self study, and high school tech prep

This is the textbook SEI uses for its PV Design and Installation Workshop. It's also well-suited for DIYers who have some electrical experience, and students in high school tech prep-level courses. Readers without any technical background may benefit by taking a PV or circuits course concurrently. The math is limited to arithmetic, and there are many useful tables, graphs, diagrams, and exercises that substitute for algebra. The section titled "The Photovoltaic Reaction" on p. 48 isn't entirely accurate, but this material isn't needed to design and install the systems described in the manual.