Solar That Really Works! – Full Content Details

  • 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
    • Inverters
      • 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
      • What is electricity?
      • General
      • Electrical units and terms
  • Chapter 31
    • Making contact
      • Useful sites
      • This book’s publisher