Off Grid Solar Power: How to Design and Install a Mobile Solar System for RVs, Vans, Boats and Tiny Homes (DIY Solar Power)

I read this author's comprehensive book on home solar power and found it user friendly and extremely informative. I am happy to say this book on mobile solar power is equally comprehensive. So if you are are curious about solar power or want the knowledge necessary to install your own mobile system, this is the perfect guide. It explains the principles in easy to follow language. It gives you everything you need to know to evaluate your power needs and the basics to decide if solar power is something for you to pursue. It is also a comprehensive guide for making installation decisions. If you are considering mobile solar power, read this first to make informed decisions.

If you are looking at any form of off-grid solar, this book is almost a must read. It lucidly explains all the details, starting with a basic introduction to electricity, enough to really comprehend all you need regarding your solar plans. The only areas where I think you might want to expand beyond what the book offers is to be very sure that solar thermal is not an option you should be considering. In the right places it is very powerful for 95% efficiency wins out over 22% efficiency any day. In some cases, you might want both. The other area is batteries. I am not wild about Lithium Ion for stationary applications, and the book does not discuss other battery technolgies in depth, but there are tubular gel batteries, NiFe batteries, coming soon Seasalt batters, and a number of other options which actually way outperform LiIon. Some have life expectancies double or triple that of Lithium Ion. Also, I think the book should include some more information on the sustainability/recyclability issue, which is becoming bigger by the day. One example is CdTe thin film technology. CdTe is so potentially toxic, you might find yourself stuck with a huge recycling problem when all is said and done. Having said that, in all of the basic considerations for planning off-grid solar this book is an absolutely solid place to start to the point that even if newer options come along the knowledge from this book will help you evaluate them much more easily.

It has very good information. I would definitely recommend. Some of the information is easily online but it is nice to have it organized in a book.

In looking for more information around Solar Power and the flexibility it offers, Mobile Solar Power provided great instruction. This book offers everything from a beginner level introduction, to how to crimp a cable, and ends at troubleshooting and maintenance. While most engineers have a difficult time staying out of the techno-babble, the authors have been able to take a complex subject and help guide the reader learn about solar power. The book takes them to the point of full installation after they have planned, sized, and designed their system in a very simple manner with great examples. One of the main things I enjoyed about this book, was that the authors did not tell you what to purchase, size, or install. Instead they showed the reader how to determine and size what they need for the application they were wanting. This applied to off-grid, on-grid, RVs, houses, and even boats. The information in these pages apply to any type of design imaginable at a very easy to understand level. I am very pleased to add this book to my reference library and will be used frequently for my different needs and applications.

Most of the information here is basic. Its adequate to help you size your system. But it really dropped the ball on helping me to choose the inverter and types of panels. Let alone instruction or resources for installation. I do not recommend this book.

Five stars was easy, given that this particular book goes through every single step in detail. And the best part of it is that it does it in a way that's easy for myself to understand. My son is an aspiring electrician who's just finishing up trade school and has started an apprenticeship. I let him review parts of this book as I was reading it and bounced some ideas off of him, and the best part is, he was absolutely thrilled that the book included so much technical knowledge and in a way again that was easy for myself to understand, and yet he looked at and immediately knew what was being talked about. I can firmly recommend this book to everybody who is looking to install a solar setup for their tiny house for their cabin or even full size house and or RV! I can firmly recommend this book to everybody who is looking to install a solar setup for their tiny house for their cabin or even for their home it'll work for everything it's amazing. Thank you! When does the hardcopy come out!

Great book for someone who is not too familiar with solar power this book offers plenty of how to use and self DIY options to build your own set ups and how to maintain them. This book also provides other alternatives such as wind, power, and water power solutions.

The principle of installing one's own power source from the sunlight is excellent and should save a lot of money and carbon over the years. The components, issues, principles and procedures are explained, with helpful photos. A solar array could be fitted to a house, cabin, car, boat or other vehicle. I particularly like the emphasis on safety - what to wear, when not to do the work, how to make sure you have what you need, when to ask for help. Some points the authors might address in the next book - I looked to see if there was an update to my edition, and there isn't. In Ireland, the law requires all electrical work to be carried out by a qualified and registered electrician. The book assumes we are doing the work personally. I feel we should be advised to check for legality. On 82% the advice is that if we're not comfortable installing the system we've bought on a house roof, it's time to call a professional. We're also recommended to get a pro to test the system before it goes into use, and to check it occasionally over the years. How many pros are going to be willing to do this, when they did not get the job of buying the parts and installing the system? They would want to inspect every item, fastening point and circuit before signing off on this. How long would they keep you waiting? At an early point, 14%, the diagrams for on grid and off grid have the opposite labelling. This is a minor error, easily seen by the reader, but it means I can't, as a non expert, guarantee the accuracy of all the other diagram labels. In Ireland, UK and other places, we now have the option to generate solar power at home and sell it into the grid if we generate more than needed. This requires extra circuit equipment and can be a source of income for farms, householders etc. Even though the theme is off-grid power, I feel it deserves a mention. With vehicles and boats especially, I would warn that black panels could get scorching hot on a sunny day and should not be touched once installed. The book will be helpful for student electricians; and for householders, farmers, boat owners etc. who are thinking of getting a solar array. They will understand the benefits and drawbacks, and will be able to talk to building contractors or electricians with some degree of understanding. I am not qualified to say whether the book is all anyone would need to install solar panels. I read a Kindle version. This is an unbiased review.

Good read. Taught me alot

Maybe one day when I can afford to I am hoping to take the house off the grid completely. I am unsure if it's legal in the UK but I know that rural areas and farms can so I don't see why not. I will one day own the house when the worst happens to a relative I am looking after and I know I can't afford to pay gas and electric. So I plan to use inheritance to put solar panels on the house with a small wind turbine and a petrol and gas dual fuel generator. This book helps a lot. I am trained to level 2 as an electrician so that helps a lot and I have a Bsc in vehicles and transport. My dissertation was "Alternative fuels for vehicles" so it helps that I know a lot of stuff explained. This book does have a lot of calculations for working out how much power you will get from how many solar panels and how much power you get from different times of year or light and where your home is positioned. My home is lucky to be south facing. I have already worked out what I need but this book will help. It also gives advice for RVs and mobile homes. It's a useful book but some math knowledge would be useful to work out what is needed. Going off grid you need to calculate all the stuff you use that uses a lot of power such as kettles, microwaves, cookers, hobs, washing machines or dryers which all use a high wattage. Plus you need to have a fully charged battery bank for night time use or winter. I also plan on coming off gas and using a heat pump to heat the radiators and the water. That will probably use 1500kw when it is on. I will need around 5000 watts from the he solar panels to run the house and the high watt appliances can't be all on at once. Good book though.

Good publication all round. Easy to read, diagrams Easy to follow. A good reference book.

worth the purchase

a very clear easy to understand solar book