Is solar electricity as good as power from the "grid?"

Once it's converted (inverted) to 110/115 Volt AC, yes it is. The electricity will power up nearly every appliance you have in your home, office, boat or RV. Solar electricity is best with electronics and small appliances, rather than heavily drawing appliances such as wall/space heaters, full size (20 cubic foot) refrigerators, and large microwave ovens. The systems that are talked about in The People's Guide to Basic Solar Power CAN power up smaller refrigerators, such as 4 cubic foot apartment models, pretty easily, and some microwave ovens.

Why is solar electricity so expensive?

It isn't, or SHOULDN'T be. Because most of us know so little about electricity--and even many electricians know little about solar--we tend to leave developing and installing these systems up to "experts" who charge upwards of $50 an hour. The equipment itself is not inexpensive, but The People's Guide reveals little known sources of bargain components, even FREE solar panels. There are, in other words, ways around some of the costs, especially if all you want to do is power up a room in your house or a motorhome etc.

Where is solar electricity practical to use?

Anywhere the sun shines regularly. Even in San Francisco, a generally foggy city, solar panels are being installed on office rooftops. (Efficiency is compromised but not completely). Basic solar electricity would greatly enhance the lifestyles of the undeveloped nations' peoples, and our goal is to get this book out to them. Even in grid-connected homes in the city, solar can provide a supplemental and eventually almost free source of energy, especially when blackouts and outages are threatened.

Do I need to have an electrician help me install a small system?

Not necessarily. Instructions in The People's Guide should be clear enough to allow anyone who is somewhat handy with basic tools to install a system that is independent of already existing circuitry. Getting help is nothing to be ashamed of, and is certainly recommended if you plan to have a whole house system, or a grid intertie, or a subpanel--but these are not the primary focus of the book. Our systems are not "permanent" and somewhat portable, but they deliver safe and dependable power.

What makes you an authority on this subject?

See my biography!

I've never bought anything on the internet before, is it safe?

Paying through PayPal is one of the most secure, reliable ways to pay on the Internet. It is the payment service of choice for both eBay and Amazon's Marketplace.

How complicated is putting a solar electric system in my boat or RV?

It differs very little from installing a system in part of a house, small cabin or office. Your "house" (deep cycle) batteries will normally be charged via cable connections from the "under the hood" 12 volt battery, but when your alternator is not charging the battery and you are running appliances when stopped, your solar panel will be doing the charging to keep your batteries topped off.

How much will a solar electric system save me?

Once you have paid the upfront costs--$500-$1500 or so in the case of most of the small systems recommended--any electricity you generate is close to "free." There are, however, cost calculators to determine how long your investment actually amortizes. The potential exists to pay off, say, a $500 system in a matter of months, depending on the cost per kilowatt hour from your power company, which may range from 10-50 cents a kwh. Power prices are fluctuating wildly these days, one more reason to install a small system and wrestle some sanity in this vital resource.

Is solar electricity really as good as it sounds?

Amazingly, it is, but you'll only really know THAT after you have lived with it successfully for a few months or years as the author has