How To Install Solar (ePub)

NOTE: This book is about solar power installations in the country INDIA. Except for the AC wiring, all other content is universal (in both northern and southern hemispheres).

Solar energy may be free, abundant and renewable but solar power is not. The money needed to generate the latter is quite the opposite. If you do not plan carefully, you may end up paying more than what utility power would have cost. The solar power options for escaping frequent power cuts can be quite different from the ones for eliminating or reducing the electricity bill. If you know what to choose, then a home solar power installation will be easy enough that you can do it yourself. However, it will not be so simple that anyone can do it. A lead-acid battery stores so much energy that if not handled properly it can maim or kill a person. Did you know that a 100-AH lead-acid battery can only provide 50 AH of backup power? Solar panels generate very high amperes of current that they pose an unusual fire hazard that conventional fire-fighting techniques are useless or counterproductive. In a home with a solar power system, all family members need to be briefed about its usage, maintenance and safety. The usage will have to change during rainy season. There is quite a lot to learn and remember. That is where this richly illustrated book can help. Even though it has been written for Indian home-owners and electricians, anyone can read this book and understand what it has to say. Specifically, How To Install Solar provides:

1. an easy introduction to electricity and solar power
2. affordable solar power options for home-owners
3. important information to be aware of before and after installing solar power
4. steps for installing a cheap DC power system using a solar charge controller that can i) cost less than ₹6000 ii) run light loads such as DC lights or a DC fan
5. steps for installing an affordable AC power backup system using a solar inverter that can i) cost less than ₹30,000 ii) run selected AC loads directly on solar power iii) provide a few hours' backup during power cuts
6. an extensive FAQs section based on online posts/reviews published by solar power users

Thanks to a government-imposed lockdown, the author was forced to install a solar inverter on his own and do its AC wiring without an electrician. This book is the result of what he had learned before and after the installation. He will spare you the hassle, the confusion and the mistakes. Even electricians are not fully aware of everything there is to know. There is a lot of misinformation online. There are unscrupulous parts suppliers online and offline. If you are planning to do a solar power installation yourself, then this book will definitely help you. If you are planning to choose a professional solar power installer, this book will help you specify exactly what kind of solar power system you want and ensure that they install it properly.