Build Your Own Solar Powered Generator: Step by Step Instructions for Solar Power at a Fraction of the Cost
By Sue Merriam
1/5
()
About this ebook
When the power goes out, you need to be prepared. A solar powered generator is a great way to have electricity during an emergency, but buying one can be expensive. Fortunately, you can build your own solar powered generator for a fraction of the cost, often less than $300. This handy, step-by-step guide will show you how.
Related to Build Your Own Solar Powered Generator
Related ebooks
Build Your Own Small Solar Power System Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Power from the Sun: Achieving Energy Independence Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Solar Power Demystified: The Beginners Guide To Solar Power, Energy Independence And Lower Bills Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Guide to Basic Small Off Grid Alternative Power Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDo-it-Yourself Solar and Wind Energy System: DIY Off-grid and On-grid Solar Panel and Wind Turbine System Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Batteries for Domestic Power, but Were Afraid to ask Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDIY Free Home Energy Solutions: How to Design and Build Your own Domestic Free Energy Solution Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Build Your Own Direct Charging Plant Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSolar Power Your Home For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Solar Power for Sustainable Living: What to Consider Before Going the Do It Yourself Solar Route Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How To Install Solar Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPower Up! The Smart Guide to Home Solar Power: How to Make a Wise Solar Investment Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSolar & 12 Volt Power For Beginners Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Solar Electricity Basics: Powering Your Home or Office with Solar Energy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Solar Panels for Domestic Power, but Were Afraid to ask Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Off Grid Solar: A handbook for Photovoltaics with Lead-Acid or Lithium-Ion batteries Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Solar Electricity Generation System with a DIY Sun-Tracking Proposition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Consumer's Guide to Solar: Empowering People to Make Informed Choices Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Solar on my Roof Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEverything You Ever Wanted to Know About Wind Turbines for Domestic Power, but Were Afraid to Ask Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat (Watt) We Need to Know to Reduce Electricity Bills Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Install & Design Solar Panels Like a Professional Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDecoding the Installation of Solar Panels: 1st Edition: How to Create and Calculate Your Photovoltaic Systems for Any Application Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRenewable Energy Sources - Wind, Solar and Hydro Energy Edition : Environment Books for Kids | Children's Environment Books Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsElectricity - Your Common Sense Guide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Home & Garden For You
Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Small Apartment Hacks: 101 Ingenious DIY Solutions for Living, Organizing and Entertaining Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/540 Projects for Building Your Backyard Homestead: A Hands-on, Step-by-Step Sustainable-Living Guide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ultimate Guide: Decks, 5th Edition: 30 Projects to Plan, Design, and Build Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsElements of Style: Designing a Home & a Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Organization Hacks: Over 350 Simple Solutions to Organize Your Home in No Time! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/552 Prepper Projects: A Project a Week to Help You Prepare for the Unpredictable Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Nobody Wants Your Sh*t: The Art of Decluttering Before You Die Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Self-Sufficiency Handbook: Your Complete Guide to a Self-Sufficient Home, Garden, and Kitchen Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The New Bohemians Handbook: Come Home to Good Vibes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Classic Household Hints: Over 500 Old and New Tips for a Happier Home Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nuclear War Survival Skills: Lifesaving Nuclear Facts and Self-Help Instructions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Real Simple Organize Your Home Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Real Simple Method to Organize Every Room: And How to Keep It That Way Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Art of Frugal Hedonism: A Guide to Spending Less While Enjoying Everything More Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind: Dealing with Your House's Dirty Little Secrets Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Frugal Homesteader: Living the Good Life on Less Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Self-Sufficient Backyard Homestead Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Weekend Homesteader: A Twelve-Month Guide to Self-Sufficiency Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Build Your Own Solar Powered Generator
1 rating1 review
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5good
Book preview
Build Your Own Solar Powered Generator - Sue Merriam
Build Your Own Solar Powered Generator: Step by Step Instructions -
Solar Power at a Fraction of the Cost
by Rick Green and Sue Merriam
Copyright 2012 Rick Green and Susan Merriam
Smashwords Edition
Organic Gardening and Homesteading
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
First Glimpse: The Parts You Need and How They Fit Together
Introduction: So Why Invest in a Solar Power Generator?
Solar Power Basics
Electric Facts You Need to Know
Batteries Explained
Watts and Your Solar Panel
All About Charge Controllers
Voltage Revisited
Choosing the Right Battery
Inverters
Wiring 101
Building and Installing Your Solar Power Generator
Mounting Your Solar Panel
Wiring Your Solar Panel
The Right Tilt
Assembling Your Generator
In Conclusion
First Glimpse: The Parts You Need and How They Fit Together
In this book, we'll explain the different components of the solar generator, how they work and the step by step instructions you need for installing and assembling your generator, but for now, here is an upfront list of the parts you will need. A chart follows that shows how the main pieces fit together.
Solar Panel
Charge Controller
Inverter
Deep Cycle Marine Battery
Battery Case with Lid
Extra Wire that is about 14 gauge
Battery Cables and connectors
1-2 dozen, Plastic Tie Wraps
Electrical Tape
1 dozen Butt Connectors (Wire nuts will also work, but will not be as secure)
Plastic coated wire staples
Power drill
Tube of Caulk
Adjustable (Crescent) Wrench
Wire strippers/crimpers
14-gauge, low-voltage wire, 100 feet more or less, depending on the distance between your solar panel and your battery
Extension ladder to get on the roof
1 shelf bracket
6 galvanized hurricane straps
6 one-quarter, ¾ inch bolts
6 one-quarter-20 nuts
12 one-quarter lock washers
Tin snips
Hammer (for plastic coated wire staples)
Combination protractor and level (for getting your panel at the right angle)
Wire coat hanger or other strong piece of wire
Introduction: So Why Invest in a Solar Power Generator?
The weather is fairly moderate in Oklahoma, but every January, we get ice storms that coat the trees with ice, making heavy limbs break and fall on power lines, and leaving people without electricity, sometimes for days. That was the case about two years ago for Rick Green, who lives on rural property on the outskirts of a small town.
The power company was overwhelmed with fallen lines and couldn't get to Rick's place for two weeks. Two weeks without power would have forced many a person to abandon their home and either rent a motel room or stay with Aunt Bertha and her nine poodles.
Yet despite that Rick had no electricity for two weeks, he was able to have a few lights on every night and watch television. He also had enough power to recharge his cell phone and laptop. A wood burning stove kept his house tolerably warm, and every night he brought water home from work.
Rick has a solar power generator, providing him with backup electricity for the few appliances he finds crucial. Had he preferred, he could have had a generator run the well on his place every day for water, or