Mobile Solar Power Made Easy!: Mobile 12 volt off grid solar system design and installation. RV's, Vans, Cars and Boats! Do-it-yourself step by step instructions Kindle Edition

I’ll start with commenting that no book knowledge is bad, and that there is indeed useful information in this short handbook, but at the same time this is the worst book I’ve ever read. I’m a slow reader and read this cover-to-cover in about two hours.Short story - do not buy! I hope the following unbiased review is helpful to others:These are better books:Handbook: www.amazon.com/gp/product/1537622617/ (Primarily written for fixed installations, but does a good introduction)Bible: www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071790330/ (Written for yacht owners, but will translate well to your land yacht! The author has vast experience with mistakes that lead to common money-wasting pitfalls.)Something I found offensive in this handbook is that the author pointed to his sales website a half-dozen times to push online sales. I prefer to not pay for advertisement!Very basic topics are omitted and shouldn’t be:- safely integrating alternator backup charging. Relying on solar for a single mobile charging source leaves you one step away from battery destruction. Weather happens while mobile; winter and snowstorms, and prolonged cloudy days.- lacking geographic and seasonal available solar radiation considerations for system sizing.- doesn’t mention how to interpret solar panel specification datasheets for I-V behavior.- behaviors of battery chemistries, how they work, and topics like sulfation and overcharging.- temperature considerations with respect to batteries, solar panels or electronics.- no mention of Li-ion battery management systems?- battery rate of dischargeThe list of what basic/essential information is omitted could continue… …attached is a random sample of text to aid in your buying decision.This is a critical review, but I request the author allow it to stand unfettered as an unbiased review. I merely wanted a good handbook for my money.

This book is exactly what I've been looking for. I've read other books on this topic and watched a few YouTube videos, but still had questions. With his straightforward and easy-to-understand explanations and illustrations, Mr. Prowse tells you what components you need and what they do, how to size them, how to connect them, connection options, what gauge wire you need for maximum efficiency and safety, when where and how to place fuses, alternative components and procedures, and practically holds your hand through the process of building your system. It is a small, well-written, well illustrated book. No fluff and no getting bogged down in a lot of technical jargon. But he doesn't skimp on the basic knowledge you need to understand what you're doing. Just plain here's what you need, why you need it, and here's how to do it. And it is comprehensive; much more than my description indicates. Instead of an RV, I'll be using this knowledge to put together a system for a small cabin.

UPDATE TO PREVIOUS REVIEW FURTHER BELOW:Since my review of this book, I've completed my solar panel install and it works great! Although I did some things a little differently from the exact approach in this book, overall the book was a HUGE HELP. I continue to recommend it to anyone considering a solar power system. Even if you have someone else install a system, this book will help you determine exactly what you need and how it should be installed correctly. I've attached a couple photos of my installation. Thanks in large part to the knowledge gained from this book my system works extremely well. The book gave me the exact info I needed to build it all myself, and the moment I turned it on I could tell everything worked perfectly.ORIGINAL REVIEW:This book is the best guide I've ever seen for the person who wants to install their own solar power system, but might not have a lot of mechanical skills, time for research and study, and/or money. Will Prowse is an excellent, careful and accurate writer, with a no-nonsense style. He clearly and simply explains the entire process of building a solar power system, from component selection to every detail of installation. Having this book is like having a skilled advisor at your side, walking you through each step from start to finish. I've got many years of experience building and living with 12 volt DC power systems, and I have very carefully studied the options and choices involved with building a solar electric system for my "Class B" motor home. This book is what has finally convinced me that a system suited for my specific vehicle, and how I live in and travel with that vehicle, can be built easily and within my budget. More importantly, this book has given me the confidence to build it myself, and the knowledge to manage and maintain that system. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering building (or simply owning) a solar power system, whether it will be in a land vehicle, boat, or off-grid cabin. This book can get you through buying and building, to using your system, easily and in literally just days or even hours. It's a purchase I will never regret.

This is a great book! I knew exactly zero about solar systems and pretty much nothing about electricity but was able to successfully put together a solar system for my camper van that is working great and I now understand so much more about battery's, solar panels, amperage vs voltage vs watts ect. The book keeps it simple,and fun. There is some humor mixed in as well which for me is pretty cool to see, I have a hard time reading very sterile technical stuff. This guy manages to feed you a good helping of very technical stuff without it feeling mind numblingly boring.I highly recommend this . Get it in paperback because with that you also get kindle version. it's good to have a copy on hand in your RV just for quick reference when things go wrong.I read this in an afternoon then reread it another three times in the past couple months just to absorb it all. its an easy fun read and you learn a ton.

Great book for total beginners and experts alike.Full of useful little tips throughout the book (eg buying 2 x 40amp controllers rather than a single 80amp to save money). The supporting diagrams throughout the book are well drawn, very easy to understand and support the text very well.The only small change, and it is small, I would like to see is the inclusion of metric measurments in addition to those used in the US of A? Ok you can do these of page but it would really ice the cakeOveral though a very nice piece of work William.

Been watching your YouTube channel which is great, to gain knowledge to put small solar on my shed for lights and garden lights then for our timber garden building which has mains power.Your book has been really helpful and I recommend it to anyone. My only comment is I am in the uk so mains in 240v and I wanted to set up a 24v system. Cos you’re USA based you are 110v and the book is only 12v. It took me ages to realise (as a newcomer to building solar systems) that all your calcs could be halved or doubled for 24v vs 12v. Just a line in the book could have explained that.I also struggled to calculate the charge controller size I needed as I had 4 x 320w panels connecting to a 24v battery pack (2x12v, will be 4). Not sure I found that calculation in the book - 1280w / 24 = 53a. I kept using the amps from the panels to calculate which is 20a so almost bought a 30a charge controller.Highly recommend this book, it’s so good at explaining all the principles, and to be fair the book is for RVs so I can’t complain about not the right info for a heavy duty domestic set up. Will use the book for my boat!

Superbly written. Concise, accurate and gives you the confidence to get on board with your first system but then has the longevity to take you to a full blown array for a small house.Plenty of diagrams and instructions throughout. Worth subscribing to the YouTube channel the author has.Invaluable, I'm now waiting for another book but covering wind power!

Will what can I say, your book is great, well written and good rules of thumb for those who don’t understand the principles of Ohms Law. I will be moving to Brasil where on average we will have 8 hours of sun per day, this is why I am considering using 8 x 48 volt 100 Amp Hours Lead Acid Battery Banks with a 45% of energy expended cut off relay to prevent cell damage

Easy to read. All you need to know about DIY small 12volt/24volt solar PV installations. A great companion to his YouTube Channel.