DIY Solar Projects Kindle Edition

This book is well done, featuring quality images for do it yourself projects, as well as specific materials used, measurments, etc.Most of this book is the basic projects you learn in a high school science class - however it gives it a fresh look and feel to coordinate with most home owners that are interested in saving money. I would like to point out that the author does a VERY good job of building these projects on a tight budget. Most of the things he builds are constructed from plywood, basic plexi glass, paints, caulking, etc. that you find at almost any home improvement warehouse. Personally, I would not spend the time, effort or money building these projects that will be going on my house (to hopefully remain there for the next twenty + years..) out of such cheap materials.With that being said - any basic carpenter/welder with tools can convert these projects (built from plywood) into aluminum, steel or composite cabinets. A few more dollars invested in the begging is money well spent over the course of many years. Trust me, if you build a solar collector out of basic CDX plywood, paint it black and attach to your roof, you will be regretting it in 3-5 years when the wood is splitting, peeling and the unit doesn't even work anymore because it produces more cold air than warm. With any solar collector, warm air in a small enclosed cabinet on cold morning makes condensation. These cabinets are all made of wood.. you see where I am going with this.Overall, this book is a great read, and fun to get a layout of projects in your mind. The author definitely knows what he is talking about. It is just aimed for a little bit more of a budget oriented builder.

This has got to be one of the finest books I have encountered on making solar energy a real part of your daily life. I should explain that. The projects in this book are NOT just about using solar electric panels, though that is part of the book. No, half of the book describes "how-to" projects to built solar collectors to add heat to your house.If you are looking for instructions on how to build a complete solar panel system for disconnecting from the grid, this ain't it. There is some practical knowledge of hooking up batteries, mounting panels, etc. But you need another book with more depth for that.I'm not sure why the one reviewer felt that this book only provided pictures of completed solar projects. That isn't the case at all. There are, in fact, some very detailed instructions on cutting the wooden pieces for some of the projects, materials lists, etc. Pictures demonstrating how to mount the devices, etc. are also included. If you are not comfortable around a table saw, or have never built anything out of wood, then this is likely not for you.These projects are important because these are not devices you can simply purchase on the internet: they are unique solar collection devices you must build yourself. But they are worth the trouble.

I was rather disappointed in this book. I expected more DIY projects that would help more people and instead I got "See this website for hiring someone to do this". The projects are not geared for the average person just wanting to power an off-grid location. However, if you are looking to build a solar kiln for drying wood or a solar oven built with aluminum foil, it's great.

still waiting for the energy crisis

This book is filled with various solar based projects. It is unlikely all will be used by one reader, but there is enough variation that if you have any interest in using the Sun, something will apply, The instructions and illustrations are top notch. This is not the book to get if you are trying to design something other than the projects given in the book as details of the designs are not provided.

If you like to tinker and want to make some cool gadgets to help save some energy, this is the book for you. The big color pictures are fantastic, along with the material lists and multiple examples of what to make. Ultimately I didn't make something from the book (yet) but used the info, along with ideas from builditsolar.com, to design and implement my own components. So far so good! If I have one criticism it's the staging of the DIY pictures. The studio where the projects are built is very antiseptic, and the tools used are brand new. Most of my tools are at least 30 years old and my shop is pretty cluttered, so it was hard to relate.

Excellently informative. After reading this book, you will never need to pay anyone to install your solar equipment again. As a newbie to solar power i have looked here and there for a DIY solar book till i bought this. It is glossy, descriptive and detailed in all sense of it.

Received as listed...

The book is very americanised and lots of the projects not really relevant so i was quite dissapointed,

Solar power is much more than just electricity generation, and this practical and well illustrated little manual explains with pictures, just how much anyone can do with Solar energy. A good read in a country where the sun is not so hot, but extremely valuable for well insolated places!

This is my kind of book, many useful & practical diagrams & photographs, even has lists of materials & tools required, along with guides to various resources.

Interesting and simple to understand. Good ideas in here.

excellent product and service