[Dummies 01] • Photovoltaic Design and Installation For Dummies by Mayfield, Ryan -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Table of Contents Introduction

About This Book Conventions Used in This Book What You’re Not to Read Foolish Assumptions How This Book Is Organized Icons Used in This Book Where to Go from Here

Part 1: Here Comes the Sun: Shedding Some Light on PV Systems

Chapter 1: The Photovoltaic Revolution

Peeking into the Past, Present, and Future of PV Installations Introducing PV Components and Systems Knowing Your Electricity A-B-Cs Solar Resource 101 Surveying a PV System Site Delving into PV System Details Sizing a PV System Bringing a PV System to Life Introducing the Sections of Code You Need to Know

Chapter 2: Checking Out Common Components and Systems

Introducing the Components That Make Up PV Systems Differentiating between PV System Types Figuring Out the Right System Type for Any Situation

Chapter 3: Powering through Electricity Basics

Going with the Flow: Current May the (Electromotive) Force Be with You: Voltage Making a Stop: Resistance Connecting Current, Voltage, and Resistance with Ohm’s Law Pondering Power and Energy Wrapping Together Current, Voltage, Resistance, Power, and Energy Another Electricity Concept: Circuit Configurations

Chapter 4: Warming Up to the Solar Resource

High (Or Low) Energy: Solar Radiation Examining the Effects of the Sun’s Path on the Earth Positioning PV Modules to Make the Most of the Solar Resource

Chapter 5: Properly Selecting a Site for a PV System

Setting the Stage for a Site Survey Picture This: Documenting Your Entire Site Survey with Digital Photos Collecting Basic Information during a Site Survey Measuring Information in Degrees Exploring Shading-Analysis Tools Interpreting the Data and Bringing It All Together

Part 2: Digging into Complete System Details

Chapter 6: PV Modules: From Sand to Electricity

Creating Solar Electricity: It All Starts with a Cell Reviewing Common Types of PV Modules Pointing Out Electrical Specifications on PV Modules Surveying Test Conditions for PV Modules Relating Current and Voltage in IV Curves

Chapter 7: The Basics of Batteries

The Fundamentals of Battery Anatomy and Operation Comparing Different Types of Batteries Comprehending Battery Capacity Specifying Batteries

Chapter 8: Keeping Current and Voltage in Check: Charge Controllers

The Essentials of Charge Controllers Maximum Power Point Tracking Technology Pulse-Width Modulation Technology Specifying a Charge Controller

Chapter 9: Inverters: AC (From) DC

Getting the Goods on Grid-Direct Inverters Investigating Battery-Based Inverters Specifying Any Inverter

Chapter 10: Staying Secure: Wiring and Safety Components

Defining the Circuits in a PV System Checking Out Types of Conductors Considering Kinds of Conduit Delving into Disconnects Perusing Overcurrent Protection Devices Focusing on Ground Fault Protection Looking at the Basics of Labels

Part 3: Sizing a PV System

Chapter 11: Sizing a Grid-Direct System

First Things First: Evaluating the Budget and the Available Array Area Estimating the Site’s Annual Energy Production Sizing the Array to Meet Your Client’s Energy Consumption Getting Ready to Match an Inverter to an Array Matching Power Values for an Array and an Inverter Coming Up with the Right Voltage Values for Your Array and Inverter Bringing It All Together: Combining Your Power and Voltage Information One Last Check: The Inverter’s Maximum Current Input

Chapter 12: Sizing a Battery-Based System

Get Loaded: Looking at Loads in a Battery-Based System Sizing the Battery Bank Sizing the PV Array Sizing the Charge Controller Sizing the Inverter Incorporating a Generator

Chapter 13: Sizing Conductors, Conduit, and Safety Components

Conductor Sizing 101 Sizing Conduit Sizing Overcurrent Protection Devices and Disconnects

Part 4: Installing a PV System

Chapter 14: The Permitting Process

Obtaining Permits before You Install a PV System Not Just Pretty Pictures: Creating Drawing Sets

Chapter 15: Staying Safe Anytime You Work on a PV System

Getting a Grip on General Construction Site Safety Looking at Ladder Safety Raising the Issue of Rooftop Safety Examining Electrical Safety Charging Ahead with Battery Safety

Chapter 16: Assembling the Mechanical Parts

Surveying PV Array Mounting Methods Considering Loading When You Mount an Array on a Roof Properly Attaching an Array to a Roof Supporting Ground and Top-of-Pole Mounting

Chapter 17: Integrating the Electrical Elements

Location Is Everything: Knowing Where to Place Electrical Equipment Working on Wiring Bonding Yourself to Grounding Connecting to the Utility

Chapter 18: Commissioning, Inspecting, and Maintaining a PV System

Making a List and Checking It Twice: Preparing for Commissioning Start ’Er Up: The Commissioning Process Arming Yourself for Inspection Issues Surveying System Maintenance

Part 5: The Part of Tens

Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Avoid Common Code Mistakes

Providing Proper Working Clearance Supplying the Right Structural Support Keeping Water out of Buildings with Flashing Ensuring All Conductors Have the Necessary Ratings Managing the Conductors on Modules Selecting the Correct Conduit Locating the Disconnects Grounding the Equipment Grounding the System Labeling the System Properly

Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Maximize Energy Production for Your Clients

Select the Right Site Orient the Array Correctly Configure the Array Properly Work within the Limits of the Utility Voltage Choose the Correct Inverter Size Conductors Appropriately Keep the Components Cool Advise Clients to Monitor Their System Clean the Array Periodically Inspect the Array Annually

Index About the Author Connect with Dummies End User License Agreement

← Prev
Back
Next →

← Prev
Back
Next →