Books for the Solar Professional

27 Mar 08 | Solar Electric, Solar Hot Water

There are several reference books about solar energy and wind energy on my book shelf that I refer to from time to time. I find it helpful, especially when I am dealing with a complicated design issue, to do a little research. These books offer guidance and theoretical information which can greatly improve design considerations.

de Winter, Francis, Et Al. Solar Collectors, Energy Storage and Materials, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1990. This book is a great resource for theoretical problems. Very technical with lots of Calculus and Physics base equations for heat transfer, storage, black body radiation, etc. I like to pick it up and peruse through it once in a while just to keep on my toes. More for engineers than for the run of the mill solar installer.
Lane, Thomas. Solar Hot Water Systems, lessons learned 1977 to today Gainesville, FL: Energy Conservation Services of North Florida, 2004. This is the bible on Solar Domestic Hot Water systems. There are a few pages devoted to space heating, but most of the book is for SDHW. Includes information on sizing, mounting of collectors, storage, pumps etc. If you are going to install a SDHW system, this book is a must
Solar Energy International. Photovoltaics Design and Installation Manual. Gabriola Island, BC Canada: New Society Publishers, 2004. Excellent PV installation manual, covers both grid connected and independent PV systems. Has chapters on system sizing, battery sizing, mounting, wiring, etc. Great resource for anyone getting into the PV end of the solar business.
Siegenthaler, John, PE. Modern Hydronic Heating for Residential and Light Commercial Buildings, 2nd edition. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Learning, Inc, 2004. Great reference book on any type of Hydronic Space heating. Good design resource for heat load sizing, heat loss calculations, radiant systems, etc. I bought this because I am getting more and more inquiries about space heating. I have yet to read this one cover to cover, but I am working on it.
NFPA. National Electrical code, 2008 edition. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 2008. I like to keep the latest edition of the NEC on hand and available. Section 680 deals with PV installations.
Small, Lloyd L. Analytic Geometry and Calculus. New York, NY: Appleton Century Crofts, Inc, 1953. This is an old college Calculus text book that I picked up at a used book store. It helps me remember some of the math if I have any questions or problems working on a calculus equation. Fortunately, almost everything can be plugged into an excel spread sheet and quickly calculated that way, but every once in a while I find myself scratching my head over something.

There are numerous other online sources that are also available. These are huge files and if you click on the link it will start downloading automatically, only use these links if you have high speed internet. They are well worth the trouble to download and read.

Of course, there are many, many other sources of reference material and I could probably write a book about solar books. However, these are the ones that I find most useful.

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