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Solar Books provides the technically correct, up-to-date information for anyone wanting to design and install stand-alone or grid connected solar for homes or properties.
If you find this site useful you will find our books even more so. They are all available in a number of formats designed to make them as useful as possible as reference guides for all your travels. As well as a paperback version there are versions for Kindle, Nook, Kobo and for all Apple devices.
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Featured article
Electric Vehicle Batteries
Electric vehicle batteries
Electric vehicles were commonly used from 1880 or so. Their increased use was limited by inefficent electric vehicle batteries. This also limited speed to only 35 km/h (22 mph). Their range was about 100 km (62 mph). It also awaited adequate control technology. (See also Electric Vehicle History)
Pic: Edison Battery Archives
From 1970 onward, technology improved dramatically. AGM batteries increased driving range slightly. Otherwise, electric vehicle batteries remained almost unchanged. Most provided about 33 watt-hours per kilogram.
Nickel Hydride
In 1991, the USA launched its Advanced Battery Consortium. This resulted in the nickel hydride (NiMH) battery. This initially doubled energy – to 68 Wh/kg. That has since doubled.
Early nickel hydride (NiMH) battery. Pic: ecomento.com
While having greater energy density, NiMH’s have low charging efficiency. Moreover, they are costly. Furthermore, they tend to self-discharge. There is also hydrogen loss. Nevertheless, they still power hybrid vehicles. Honda and Toyota use them. read more…
Electric Vehicle Batteries
Electric vehicle batteries
Electric vehicles were commonly used from 1880 or so. Their increased use was limited by inefficent electric vehicle batteries. This also limited speed to only 35 km/h (22 mph). Their range was about 100 km (62 mph). It also awaited adequate control technology. (See also Electric Vehicle History)
Pic: Edison Battery Archives
From 1970 onward, technology improved dramatically. AGM batteries increased driving range slightly. Otherwise, electric vehicle batteries remained almost unchanged. Most provided about 33 watt-hours per kilogram.
Nickel Hydride
In 1991, the USA launched its Advanced Battery Consortium. This resulted in the nickel hydride (NiMH) battery. This initially doubled energy – to 68 Wh/kg. That has since doubled.
Early nickel hydride (NiMH) battery. Pic: ecomento.com
While having greater energy density, NiMH’s have low charging efficiency. Moreover, they are costly. Furthermore, they tend to self-discharge. There is also hydrogen loss. Nevertheless, they still power hybrid vehicles. Honda and Toyota use them. read more…
Electric Vehicle Batteries
Electric vehicle batteries
Electric vehicles were commonly used from 1880 or so. Their increased use was limited by inefficent electric vehicle batteries. This also limited speed to only 35 km/h (22 mph). Their range was about 100 km (62 mph). It also awaited adequate control technology. (See also Electric Vehicle History)
Pic: Edison Battery Archives
From 1970 onward, technology improved dramatically. AGM batteries increased driving range slightly. Otherwise, electric vehicle batteries remained almost unchanged. Most provided about 33 watt-hours per kilogram.
Nickel Hydride
In 1991, the USA launched its Advanced Battery Consortium. This resulted in the nickel hydride (NiMH) battery. This initially doubled energy – to 68 Wh/kg. That has since doubled.
Early nickel hydride (NiMH) battery. Pic: ecomento.com
While having greater energy density, NiMH’s have low charging efficiency. Moreover, they are costly. Furthermore, they tend to self-discharge. There is also hydrogen loss. Nevertheless, they still power hybrid vehicles. Honda and Toyota use them. read more…
Articles by category
Home systems
RV systems
Batteries
- 12 volts dc from 24 volts dc
- AGM batteries for travel trailers – they are still worth using
- Are Lithium-ion Batteries Worth Their Price – homes and properties
- Australian Battery Breakthrough
- Baghdad battery myth
- Battery capacity for home and property
- Battery capacity required for cabins and RVs
- Battery charging and battery chargers – how to do it properly
- Battery ventilation is vital – why take any risk?
- Best Batteries for Solar Power Storage
- Blade fuse problems in travel trailers – they may burn or melt
- Connecting travel trailer batteries – there’s no magic way of doing it!
- Dc-dc charging – how to speed alternator charging
- Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
- Electric Vehicle Batteries
- Electrical converter problems in travel trailers – problems when used for free camping
- Electrolysis corrosion in vehicles – how to find and fix it
- Fast battery charging from generators – cheap, effective and relatively simply
- Generator Battery Charging – Quickly and Deeply
- How long can lead acid batteries last
- How to tell travel trailer battery charge – energy monitoring explained
- Imported RV electrics
- Interconnecting batteries in parallel or series – here’s how and why
- Lead acid batteries for travel trailers – they are still a good buy
- LiFePO4 jump starters really do work – they power other things too
- Lighting for travel trailers – it makes every sense to install LEDs
- Lithium batteries for travel trailers
- Lithium battery rival
- Lithium battery safety in travel trailers – are they all the same?
- Lithium-iron batteries in RVs – they are safe to use
- RV Alternator Charging Problems
- RV Batteries
- RV electrical wiring – twin-wire or chassis return – here’s why twin-wire is usually better
- RV Fuel cells – great idea, but cost is too high
- Variable voltage alternator problems with travel trailers – how to fix
- What Peukert really meant – but is so often misunderstood
Legal & Compliance
Health & Safety
General
- Travel trailer air conditioning – here’s how
- Travel trailer design need for change
- Travel trailer facts and opinions – the nonsense so often on travel trailer forums
- Travel trailer suspension – it is mostly misunderstood
- 10 Tips for RVing Around Australia
- All solar house – self-building an off-grid all solar house
- Are Lithium-ion Batteries Worth Their Price – homes and properties
- Australian RV Road Rules – Summary
- Baghdad battery myth
- Buy a New RV in 5 Steps
- Buying used travel trailers – what to check
- Choosing a Travel Trailer Tow Vehicle
- Choosing the right interior fittings for an Australian RV
- Convert to your own all solar home
- Driving across Africa – in 1956/60 the very last time it was possible
- Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
- Electric Vehicle History
- Electric Vehicle Home Charging
- Electric Vehicle Motors
- Electrolysis corrosion in vehicles – how to find and fix it
- Energy and Power
- Ensuring Successful Solar Projects
- Fuel savers do not work – almost all are scams
- Generators for Cabins and RVs
- Generators for Home and Property Systems
- Going off the grid
- Have portable solar in your rented home
- How much solar capacity do I need?
- How much solar energy available?
- How much solar input – here’s how to find out
- How to free camp legally in Australia
- How to stop paying for electricity
- Inverters for Homes and Properties
- Is a 4 wheel drive needed for motorhomes
- Is Napisan a Safe Toilet Chemical?
- Lightning risk in RVs – how to reduce that risk
- Living with solar – how make it all work
- Napisan and Look-Alikes safe for Septic Tanks – a professor’s view
- Our Solar Equipped RVs
- Overhung Travel Trailer Hitches
- Problems with stand-alone solar – much applies also to RVs
- Quietening travel trailer water pumps – easy and cheap to do
- Retarding rust electronically – claims are exaggerated
- RV fault issues – who is responsible?
- RV forum common sense – a rare commodity?
- RV Layout – How to Choose the Best
- RV Solar and Alternator Charging
- RV Solar Basics
- RV Toilets – Which is Best?
- Safe toilet chemicals – can Napisan be used in septic tanks?
Electric Vehicles
Recent articles
Electric Vehicle Batteries
The market for quickly-rechargeable, light and compact batteries is huge. One or another battery will eventually evolve. When it does, electric-only vehicles are likely to have a range unthinkable using fossil-fuels. Moreover, in the meantime, hybrids are an excellent compromise. Furthermore, see also Electric Vehicles – Hybrids.
Electric Vehicle Home Charging
Many existing home grid-connect solar systems have excess capacity outside peak periods. Solar energy fed in during the day can be re-drawn during off-peak periods, for much the same price, to charge an electric car. This is because many grid networks have excess capacity outside peak periods. Furthermore, such charging extends battery life: all dislike ongoing deep discharges.
Electric Vehicle Motors
Electric vehicle motors AC/DC Electric vehicle motors use one or other of the two main kinds of electricity: alternating current and direct current. Both are effective as electric vehicle motors. Alternating Current...
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
Globally, there is move to electric vehicles. Apart from minor rubber tyre particles they are virtually emission free.They are also about 80% efficient. If, however, their electricity is from fossil-fuelled power stations, their emissions are similar to year 2020 petrol-fuelled (or hybrid) vehicles.
Solar Success explains how to design and build home and property systems that ensures affordable solar success first and every time.
Making renewable solar energy work effectively involves more than purchasing lots of solar panels. It’s a process that involves reduced consumption, energy efficiency and effective use of technology. This book covers all those topics and more.
Whether you’re building a new home or adding solar to an existing structure, this is the one book you can’t afford to be without.
Solar Success book explains how to design and build home and property systems that ensures affordable solar success first and every time.
Whether you’re building a new home or adding solar to an existing structure, this is the one book you can’t afford to be without.
Caravan & Motorhome Electrics is the totally rewritten successor to the original globally selling Motorhome Electrics. The book’s content now also covers every aspect of designing, installing and fault finding of the electrics in fifth wheel and conventional travel trailers, camper trailers and motorhomes.
Solar That Really Works! explains, in clear English, every detail of designing and installing solar in boats, camper trailers, travel trailers and motorhomes. It is up-to-date, valid globally and technically accurate. Like all of Collyn Rivers’ books it is written in plain English.
Want to find out more? Our books cover all these topics and a lot more. Click on a book to find out more.
Solar Success book explains how to design and build home and property systems that ensures affordable solar success first and every time.
Solar That Really Works! explains every detail of designing and installing solar in boats, camper trailers, travel trailers and motorhomes.
Caravan & Motorhome Electrics covers every aspect of designing, installing and fault finding of the electrics in fifth wheel and conventional travel trailers, camper trailers and motorhomes.
Solar Success is a unique, plain English, complete guide to understanding, designing and installing stand-alone and grid connect solar for homes and properties anywhere in the world.
Collyn Rivers has done it again! – if you need to know anything about motorhome electrics, then this book is for you…
Collyn must be, without doubt, the foremost authority in Australia on this subject.
Collyn is an accomplished engineer who knows how to design and build successful systems. It is refreshing to see practical advice written in plain language when there is so little solar information around. . . this is an essential text . . . you won’t find a better guide.
Collyn Rivers has put his encyclopaedic knowledge into print . . . there is virtually no issue he hasn’t covered. Certainly his engineering background is a superb credential but best of all Collyn has done it all himself.