Backyard Solar: Off-Grid Electrical Applications

The projects shared in this book are intended to give you an insight into the multiple ways you can use solar to power your life without using the local utility grid.

Contents:
Introduction
What You Can Power Off-Grid
Solar Panels
The Problem with Connecting Directly to a Load
The LM2596 Buck Converter Solution
Building Solar-Powered Applications
Resources Available
Solar Panels Available
Batteries Available
How to Determine Battery Charge
Inverters Available
Basic Solar Application Configurations
Powering AC Appliances and Equipment
Volts, Current and Watts Revisited
Applications You Can Create
Components Required
Powering AC Appliances and Equipment
Estimated Costs for Components

Solar Powered Applications in This Book
APP1 – Stabilize Solar Output with a Buck Converter
APP2 - Voltage Divider Using Resistors Various
APP3 – LED Lighting 20 mA
APP4 – Old LED Landscape Lights 200mA
APP5 – DC Fan (0.2A)
APP6 – DC Desk Lamp 383 mA
APP7 – Cell Phone Charger 400mA/0.4A
APP8 – TOOL: 18V Battery Charger 417mA/0.417A
APP9 – DVD Player 500mA/0.5A
APP10 – 32" Flat Screen Television .0.5A (400W inverter capability 5.8A)
APP11 – AM-FM Radio 850mA/0.85A
APP12 – DC Fan 120Vac 50/60 Hz adapted to 5Vdc 1A
APP13 – TOOL: Two Speed Rotary Tool 900mA/0.9A to 1.2A
APP14 – DC Motor 1.25A
APP15 – Wide Screen Display 120Vac 50-60 Hz 58W 1.5A
APP16 – Electric Hand Mixer 1.5A
APP17 – Cordless Limb Cutter 2.0A
APP18 – Computer 2.3A
APP19 – Blender 3.0A
APP20 – TOOL: Paint Sprayer 3.33A
APP21 – TOOL: Electric Sabre Saw 3.9A
APP22 – TOOL: Drill Master Power Angle Grinder 4.3A
APP23 – DVD Player 4.8A
APP24 – TOOL: Electric Drill 5.0A
APP25 – TOOL: Electric Drill 6.0A
APP26 – TOOL: Electric Air Blower 120Vac 7.5A
APP27 – TOOL: Angle Grinder 7.5A
APP28 – TOOL: Limb Cutter Chair Saw 120Vac 8 amps
APP29 – Coffee Maker 8.8A
APP30 – Electric Floor Heater 11.67A
APP31 – TOOL: Circular Saw 12.0A
APP32 – Electric Air Heater 12.5A
APP33 – TOOL: Heat Gun 12.5A
APP34 – TOOL: Electric Pressure Washer 13.0A
APP35 – TOOL: Electric Chain Saw 120Vac 15 amps