| | |  | Sustainable Housing | Home » » Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual | | | | | | | Product Promotions: | | | | | Description: | | 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 provider—Solar Energy International (SEI)—has made available the critical information to successfully design, install and maintain PV systems. The book contains an overview of photovoltaic electricity and a detailed description of PV system components, including PV modules, batteries, controllers and inverters. It also includes chapters on sizing photovoltaic systems, analyzing sites and installing PV systems, as well as detailed appendices on PV system maintenance, troubleshooting and solar insolation data for over 300 sites around the world. Used worldwide as the textbook in SEI’s PV Design & Installation workshops, topics covered include: The basics of solar electricity
PV applications and system components
Solar site analysis and mounting
Stand-alone and PV/generator hybrid system sizing
Utility-interactive PV systems
Component specification, system costs and economics
Case studies and safety issues Photovoltaics guarantees that those wanting to learn the skills of tapping the sun’s energy can do so with confidence. Solar Energy International (SEI) has the nonprofit mission to respond to the need for renewable energy education. Based in Carbondale, Colorado, and active around the world, SEI is a link between people and renewable energy resources, providing information, education and training to people who want to shape a sustainable future. SEI is recognized by the National Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) as dedicated independent provider of PV training programs that may be used toward attaining PV certification. Also, SEI is recognized as an Accredited Institution to offer PV training by the Institute for Sustainable Power (ISP).
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Solar Energy International | | Paperback:
| 336 pages | | Publisher:
| New Society Publishers | | Publication Date:
| September 01, 2004 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0865715203 | | Product Length:
| 10.91 inches | | Product Width:
| 8.45 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.83 inches | | Product Weight:
| 2.03 pounds | | Package Length:
| 10.7 inches | | Package Width:
| 8.2 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.0 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.4 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 51 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 51 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
113 of 117 found the following review helpful:
 Lite in content and heavy in tables.Nov 26, 2006
By Tzar Igor
"Tzar Igor"
I am interested in designing and installing a DIY solar panel system for our home, so I purchased this book hoping that it would be packed with useful information for realizing such a project. Unfortunately I found it to be rather "lite" (if you have done any type of electrical wiring beforehand) and not quite up to date. 80 whole pages are wasted with "insolation" tables and "sun charts" covering sample locations around the world .. from Alabama to Afghanistan .. an immense waste of space and trees.
Otherwise, it is a well organized basic textbook with many worksheets, examples and diagrams.
To improve the value of this textbook I recommend that the publisher
1) simply includes a link to the "insolation" tables available elsewhere on the Web,
2) incldues additional and current data on the available component alternatives and a means for evaluating these alternatives in the design process, and
3) raises the assumed level of the audience addressed by this textbook.
58 of 59 found the following review helpful:
Great ReferenceAug 22, 2005
By W. Phillips
"Practical Man"
After the first few pages I knew that this was a good reference. Being a DIY person I found that this book did an excellent job expaining the theory and gave examples of practical application. Things were explained in laymans terms and all aspects of materials to use and the installation process were covered. At the end of every chapter there are questions to test your understanding of the material. These questions can be easily adopted to designing your own system. If you are considering installing a system yourself make this the first book you buy.
31 of 32 found the following review helpful:
Too much unnecessary informationMar 22, 2007
By Kenneth Clive
As a book writer and a teacher, I was expecting to find step by step instructions on selecting, purchasing and installing pv panels. The book has a lot of charts and graphs that have value only as additional information in an appendix. I am fairly knowledgeable on similar do-it-yourself projects but found this book quite disappointing.
26 of 27 found the following review helpful:
So So SolarMay 13, 2007
By W. Nichols
Not a bad book, but it gives itself way too much credit by billing itself as a "Design and Installation Manual". This 315 page book could be condensed into a 50 page useful book entitled "A Basic Introduction to Considerations in Photovoltaic Design and Installation". It's choppy to read, and it has a lot of filler, generalities, and truisms. Expect a lot of this: "The major aspects of installing the photovoltaic array are choosing the most applicable mounting systems and making a proper installation". Some of the electrical theory is questionable. Still, it's the best book I've found, which means there is a great opportunity for a knowledgable PV systems integrator who can write well and put together a comprehensive, well-written text on the subject.
19 of 20 found the following review helpful:
 Not much depthDec 26, 2006
By Michael W. Mauser
The 70 pages of solar data was a definite waste of paper. I just went to the referenced website and downloaded the data plus additional temperature data for my site so I could better estimate panel derating during the summer. The book mentions the need to derate expected panel performance in several places but doesn't provide the data or worksheets to do this. I also found the discussion on wiring dissimilar modules to be misleading and incomplete. My impression of the book is that is was a compilation of notes from several different instructors and probably makes a good textbook/workbook but definitely falls short of being a good stand-alone installation manual. The best design and installation information I have found is free at the Sandia Labs website (www.sandia.gov/pv). This and other websites and resources are listed in the book. I did learn a few things reading the book and I expect the worksheets may come in handy.
See all 51 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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