Backyard Solar: Off-Grid Electrical Applications

By Robert C. Brenner

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

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert C. Brenner
• Release date: Nov 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9780929535357

Robert C. Brenner

Robert Brenner is an engineer, consultant, college professor, historical genealogist, and professional speaker with extensive experience in research and information publishing. A retired naval officer with distinguished service in both nuclear submarines and microelectronic research and development, he holds a bachelor's degree (BSEE) and two master's degrees (MSEE, MSSM). He was recognized a Very High Speed Integrated Circuit (VHSIC) microelectronics pioneer by the DOD and served four years in R&D at TRW after a 23-year Navy career.He is the author of 56 books including Going Solar: a Homeowner’s Experience, Power Up! The Smart Guide to Home Solar Power: How to Make a Wise Solar Investment, How to Construct (and Use) the 45W Harbor Freight Solar Kit, Supernatural & Strange Happenings in the Bible, and Supernatural & Strange Happenings in the Family. In addition, he has written over 275 articles including over 50 articles for Survival Life.com and Survivorpedia.He taught computer technology and engineering subjects at the community college, university, and graduate school levels and has been a guest speaker at over 50 national conferences and symposiums. He is an avid supporter of solar technology and learns by doing. A futurist, he enjoys the challenge of research and is currently sharing his findings through his writing and public presentations. Professor Brenner can be reached at [e-mail].

Book preview

APPLICATION NOTE

BACKYARD SOLAR

Off-Grid Electrical Applications

Robert C. Brenner, MSEE

ISBN 978-0-929535-35-7

©2023 All rights reserved. All contents and information herein are the sole property of Brenner Information Group. Reproduction, translation, or republishing of all or any part of this work is not authorized. Brief quotations of the material in this book may be used provided full prominent credit is given as follows: "From Backyard Solar: Off-Grid Electrical Applications by Robert C. Brenner." For larger excerpts or reprint rights, contact the publisher ([e-mail]).

Notice: This book is for information only. Do not attempt to build a solar circuit unless you have experience with electricity. Experiment with low power DC applications only.

Notice: This book is for your personal enjoyment only. A lot of hard work and substantial time and expense are behind its creation. If you would like to share this book with another person, please donate for an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please donate for your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author and the financial investment that made this research eBook possible.

NOTICE: Fair Use Copyright Disclaimer``

Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, research, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Any use of copyrighted material is done for research, comment, or educational purposes. The publisher does not endorse any product, place, or person inferred by creators of copyrighted material presented herein for criticism, comment, research, or educational purposes under the Fair Use allowance quoted above.

CAUTION

Electricity is marvelous, but it can be dangerous if handled carelessly. Respect it, deal with it carefully, and electricity will give you a lifetime of service. When constructing and operating the applications to follow, review and follow all cautions, warnings, and other notes published in the manuals for each of the components mentioned.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Building Solar-Powered Applications

Here Are Solar Power Applications You Can Make

More Useful Data

Summary

About the Author

Other Books by This Author

INTRODUCTION

What You Can Power Off-Grid

Solar Panels

The Problem with Connecting Directly to a Load

The LM2596 Buck Converter Solution

Our sun impacts everything here on earth. The earth acts like a huge sponge and a virtual expressway for incoming solar radiation. Most of this sun-generated solar radiation bounces off earth’s ionosphere and travels on into deep space. However, some of this radiation washes over our earth and electrically affects certain solid materials (such as silicon). We can use the electricity produced in the silicon to get DC to energize devices we use.

Silicon is a good conductor of electricity and