This book is a down-to-earth guide to getting it right first time.
The great majority of it is applicable world-wide.

Preface

Running caravan electrics from solar energy is neither difficult nor complicated. Planning is relatively simple, and anyone comfortable with basic tools can do it.

To make it work we must know how much solar energy is available where and when. We need to know what can be run from that energy - and what cannot. And what is needed to make this happen. Get this right and it works superbly - get it wrong and it doesn't.

Chapter 1
	Solar realities
	Solar energy can be used to add a bit more energy each day to previously-charged batteries - allowing a few more days stay on that remote site. Or it may be set up to enable you to stay away from mains power for as long as you like. Surprisingly, this second, self-sufficient, way costs not that much more. And batteries then last for years.
	Where can solar energy be used?
	What happens when it's cloudy?
	Fridges - electric only, or gas electric?
	The logical choice of the above
	How to choose energy-efficient appliances
	What size TV is practicable
	Water pumps
	The choice of lighting
	Microwave ovens
	The voltage decision - 12 or 240.

Chapter 2
	Caravan batteries - why systems may disappoint
	Here's why batteries run down sooner than expected. And why they may need replacing at frequent intervals.
	Battery limitations
	Charging more deeply
	The solar solution
	Choosing and buying batteries
	Installing batteries

Chapter 3
	The charging solution - solar alone may suffice.
	Vehicle charging (alone) limits the energy you can put it. Constant overly-discharging shortens battery life.

Chapter 4
	Solar modules - what they produce, and how to use them.
	Solar modules usually produce a fair bit less than people expect. This chapter explains what they really produce.
	Mounting the modules - roof mounting, or have then loose?
	Module orientation. Best facing the sun, but ongoing adjustment is tedious. For caravans its simpler to compensate for the loss. Here's what's required.
	Buying solar modules
	There's two main types - here's which to buy. Don't get talked into paying for after-sales service - modules either work or they don't. Almost all do. Those that don't are under very long warranties anyway.

Chapter 5
	Solar regulators & monitors
	These units control the input from solar modules to ensure batteries are charged quickly and deeply but never over-charged.
	Monitoring the state of (battery) charge
	Programming a solar regulator
	Buying a solar regulator
	Housing the regulator

Chapter 6
	Generators - here's how to choose
	The main need is back-up for an electric-only fridge - it's often the only need if you don't have air conditioning.
	How to choose
	DC generators - an increasingly popular approach.

Chapter 7
	Inverters - using mains-appliances away from the mains
	Decide first if you really need an inverter. Most people buy them to drive a microwave oven and then, having 240 volts available, use mains appliances. But you don't have to follow this route. . .
	Inverter types
	How big?
	Wired in - or free-standing
	Automatic load sensing
	Phantom loads
	Buying an inverter
	Housing an inverter

Chapter 8 (This chapter can save you thousands of dollars!)
	Refrigerators - caravanning's biggest energy user
	Electric-only refrigerators are energy-guzzlers - for caravans, gas/electric is usually better by far.
	The choice of types
	Chest or door opening
	Eutectic fridges
	Gas/electric
	Buying a fridge
	Installing a fridge

Chapter 9
	Lighting - choosing the right lights saves energy and cash
	At present there are only two realistic choices: fluorescent or halogen…
	The above compared
	Twelve-volt fluorescent
	Compact fluorescent globes
	Halogen
	Light emitting diode lighting - the way of the future
	How much light do I need?
	Placing the fittings
	Switching

Chapter 10
	Computers & TVs - readily usable if kept small
	But even if turned off, both continue to draw electrical power. Here's why and how to avoid it.
	Low-voltage conversion
	Housing this equipment

Chapter 11
	Communications - keeping in touch (on solar power)
	HF radio and satellite phones
	CB radio
	Email on the road

Chapter 12
	Sizing the system
	Complete working details of how to start designing your own system. Fill in the numbers and you'll have the right answers.
	Eight typical systems from tent trailers to large caravans. Here's what they are likely to have - and how much energy they typically use.

Chapter 13
	How many modules?
	Here's how to determine how much module capacity you need for various loads and amounts of sun.

Chapter 14
	What size battery
	Whilst it's hard to have too many solar modules this is not true of batteries. Too much may be worse than too little.
	Microwave ovens are battery killers
	Recommended battery capacity for different types of tent trailer/caravan.

Chapter 15
	What size inverter
	A microwave oven really needs a 1600 watt inverter. If you don't have a microwave, you'll probably get by with 25-500 watts - or no inverter at all.
	How to pick the right size
	There's a big price range - but here paying top dollars also buys safety.

Chapter 16
	The likely cost - current prices for various systems
	Prices vary - it pays to shop around
	What things should cost.

Chapter 17
	Installing the bits
	Legal requirements
	Mounting modules
	Connecting modules
	How to take a cable through the roof
	Solar regulators
	Batteries
	Battery configurations
	Access for maintenance
	Inverters
	Loose modules
	Twelve volt plugs and sockets
	Charging via the towing vehicle
	Towing vehicle solar module/battery mounting.

Chapter 18
	Making connections - straightforward, but there's a few traps
	Voltage drop
	Typical caravan wiring
	Earth return systems
	Wire sizes
	Auto cable - great stuff - but picking the intended size can be a huge trap!
	Which cable is which
	Masking connections
	Circuit breakers and fuses
	Connecting solar modules
	Series diodes
	Battery connections
	Connecting an inverter
	Adjusting an inverter
	Connecting loose modules
	Picking the right cable sizes

Chapter 19
	Typical systems
	Tent trailer/very small caravan (gas/electric fridge)
	Tent trailer/very small caravan (40-70 litre electric chest fridge)
	Small caravan (gas fridge plus inverter)
	Medium/large caravan - gas/electric fridge
	Caravans generally - (110-litre electric-only fridge)
	Large caravans - (220-litre electric-only fridge) - not recommended for solar

Chapter 20
	Fixing up problems
	Caravan battery not adequately charging
	Batteries only last a year
	Batteries appear to fully charge, but go flat increasingly sooner
	Electric fridge works fine on 240 volts - but not 12 volts
	Electric fridge cuts out after only three or four hours
	Fuses keep blowing for no apparent cause
	Halogen globes fail prematurely
	Solar regulator seems intermittent
	Batteries overcharging despite solar regulation

Chapter 21
	Living with solar
	A correctly working solar system may not appear to generate any more energy in summer than in winter. But there is not necessarily anything wrong. The power's there to use - it's just that you are not using it!

Chapter 22
	Technical terms explained
	Electrical Units
	General
	'Only two people know what electricity is. God was said to be one' - but who was the other? Lord Kelvin explains!
	Contacts
	Where to buy what from whom
	Useful Internet sites
	Mostly international - but here's also a few top Aussie sites well worth your time