Do it Yourself 12 Volt Solar Power

Michel Daniek is one of those people who makes you think that however much you care, and however much effort you make to do your bit for a better world, there's always that extra mile to go. Michel goes that extra mile, but he has the great gift of making it lively and fun. Both the man and this book are a real inspiration. Chris Stewart, author of Driving Over Lemons . This book is unique. As far as I know no-one else has collected together a full range of the techniques you can use to live happily off the grid with solar electricity. At present it s mostly relevant to travellers and people living beyond the reach of the mains, but the day when it becomes important for all of us may be nearer than we think. Patrick Whitefield, author of the Earth Care Manual. My partner and I let the sunshine into our lives earlier this year by installing a 12 volt solar system in our yurt. It launched the start of a wonderful time of discovery for us and the beginning of life off-grid. At the time we knew nothing about solar power and only a little bit about 12 volt from time spent fiddling about with vans. We are still refining our system and this book has already proved useful. Our aim is to live as independently as possible but also to be comfortable. Our main usage is lights, a laptop which we use for working, watching films and playing music, and occasional charging of phones, iPod, drills etc. It is immensely satisfying to be in control of our own energy supply. Earlier this year the office that I do voluntary work in was struck by a power cut during which everybody wandered around looking vague and wondering how to boil water. Back at the yurt, I put the kettle on the stove and carried on with my work using my mobile internet connection and laptop powered by the sun. That felt great! If, like me, the thought of ohms and amperes leaves you recoiling in horror at the memory of GCSE physics then this no-nonsense guide provides a useful, back-to-basics approach for the layperson. The book begins with a lesson in how electricity works and the main components of a DIY solar system. Daniek uses clear diagrams and terms that made sense even to me. The information does get more technical as the book progresses and I must confess that I lost it somewhere between Schottky-Diodes and Mosfet-Transistors, but then that isn't the point of this book, it is not a coffee table browse. This is a reference book that will help you trouble-shoot and get the best value for money from what you can find in skips and hidden in the back of the garage. It is also quirky and humorous in its refusal to conform; of course you can make a sun following system from a bicycle wheel, a pallet and the motor from a broken CD player! I am definitely going to use the idea of attaching a whisk to a portable drill. Daniek also debunks some important solar myths and gives practical tips as to how to avoid potentially damaging Electro Smog in your living space. This will be useful to anyone looking to install a solar system on a budget. Enjoy the sun. --Mary Lewis, Permaculture Magazine

This book is unique. As far as I know no-one else has collected together a full range of the techniques you can use to live happily off the grid with solar electricity. At present it s mostly relevant to travellers and people living beyond the reach of the mains, but the day when it becomes important for all of us may be nearer than we think. --Patrick Whitefield, author of the Earth Care Manual

My partner and I let the sunshine into our lives earlier this year by installing a 12 volt solar system in our yurt. It launched the start of a wonderful time of discovery for us and the beginning of life off-grid. At the time we knew nothing about solar power and only a little bit about 12 volt from time spent fiddling about with vans. We are still refining our system and this book has already proved useful. Our aim is to live as independently as possible but also to be comfortable. Our main usage is lights, a laptop which we use for working, watching films and playing music, and occasional charging of phones, iPod, drills etc. It is immensely satisfying to be in control of our own energy supply. Earlier this year the office that I do voluntary work in was struck by a power cut during which everybody wandered around looking vague and wondering how to boil water. Back at the yurt, I put the kettle on the stove and carried on with my work using my mobile internet connection and laptop powered by the sun. That felt great! If, like me, the thought of ohms and amperes leaves you recoiling in horror at the memory of GCSE physics then this no-nonsense guide provides a useful, back-to-basics approach for the layperson. The book begins with a lesson in how electricity works and the main components of a DIY solar system. Daniek uses clear diagrams and terms that made sense even to me. The information does get more technical as the book progresses and I must confess that I lost it somewhere between Schottky-Diodes and Mosfet-Transistors, but then that isn t the point of this book, it is not a coffee table browse. This is a reference book that will help you trouble-shoot and get the best value for money from what you can find in skips and hidden in the back of the garage. It is also quirky and humorous in its refusal to conform; of course you can make a sun following system from a bicycle wheel, a pallet and the motor from a broken CD player! I am definitely going to use the idea of attaching a whisk to a portable drill. Daniek also debunks some important solar myths and gives practical tips as to how to avoid potentially damaging Electro Smog in your living space. This will be useful to anyone looking to install a solar system on a budget. Enjoy the sun. --Mary Lewis, Permaculture Magazine