Product Description

If you want to introduce alternative power supplies around the home and garden or even live totally off-grid in your boat, caravan or yurt and need a practical introduction to solar power and 12 volt supplies, here is an essential guide to the subject. Not only will it save you money, it will show you how to run your lights, laptop, DVDs and music, and even your tools and household products, from a simple 12 volt system.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28858 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Review
Michel Daniek is one of those people who makes you think that however much you care, and however much effort you make to do your bit for a better world, there's always that extra mile to go. Michel goes that extra mile, but he has the great gift of making it lively and fun. Both the man and this book are a real inspiration. --Chris Stewart, author of Driving Over Lemons

This book is unique. As far as I know no-one else has collected together a full range of the techniques you can use to live happily off the grid with solar electricity. At present it s mostly relevant to travellers and people living beyond the reach of the mains, but the day when it becomes important for all of us may be nearer than we think. --Patrick Whitefield, author of the Earth Care Manual

Michel Daniek lives by his convictions. He is a skilled mechanic, inventor, and designer a practical and intellectual multi-talent. Known affectionately to his friends as Solar Michel , he has helped many people in search for a more ecologically responsible lifestyle to power their lives by the sun. This book offers a delightfully entertaining and yet eminently practical read. As peak oil and rising fossil fuel prices make micro-generation more attractive to home-owners everywhere, this book offers a point of departure for people ready to go solar. --Daniel Christian Wahl, PhD

About the Author
Michel Daniek, was born 1964 in Giessen, Germany. On reaching 30 he found himself totally dissatisfied with the German way of life, bought himself a truck and left in search of other ways to live. During his travels he experimented with a small solar system in his truck and ever since has used solar energy in his day to day life.

Customer Reviews

OK...but looking dated.
12 Volt Solar Power is a good introduction and worth a peek if you don't know anything about the subject area. It is full of useful advice for the novice and an inspirational source for ideas covering a wide range of topics. However, I have think it is ready for an update to take into account some new technologies and left me feeling it does not really go far enough. A great starter but I wanted more, you can find out most of this stuff on the internet if you are prepared to work at it and this book should be more of a definative guide. I can live with the technically innacurate translation; I can live wth the inadequate advice for coversion of power tools but there is some advice that is very dangerous regarding recharging and "fixing" lead acid batteries. I am not a H&S expert and have the acid burns to prove it so beware!
I know I sound very negative given the 4 star rating. Buy, dream. enjoy. Check out the latest solutions and wear some safety glasses before you do any of this stuff though.

A great primer for going 12 Volt - not just solar
This review is for the original German version (a well-thumbed copy on my reference shelf).
I have been living off-grid with a 12 Volt system since 1995 and can honestly say that this book has been indispensable. A lot of the information applies to electricity, electronics, renewables and 12 volt in general, and can be viewed as an easy to understand basic course in those topics. This book first appeared in the German booklet series "Einfaelle statt Abfaelle", which loosely translates to "Ideas, not waste" (without the pun). In common with other booklets from that brilliant series, Michel's book inspires to be more self-reliant and creative, and to re-use, always keeping our beautiful planet in mind. The series is a perfect foundation course for any tinkerer, whether he/she drinks beer or anything else.

future power
thinking of setting up power production on a small scale? this book gives an ideal intro. practical ideas, simple explanations. bought one book for us in the Cornish countryside, one for friend going self-sufficient in Crete, one for boaties-need we say more?