344
people found this helpful, as of 2023
ranked #68,082 most helpful
out of 571,544,897 reviews
★☆☆☆☆
Terrible book!
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 discharge
The 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.
January 2019 · Books · verified purchase