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

Solar That Really Works!

Solar that Really Works! covers the design, installation and use of solar in cabins, camper trailers, caravans, fifth wheelers, campervans and motor homes.

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