As demand for solar panel installation has risen sharply, especially for installations larger than balcony power plants, the order books of solar companies are full. If you ask for a quote today, you may have to wait a while, if your request isn't simply postponed indefinitely. Another consequence of the solar boom is that some companies are charging very high prices for installations.

Yet there is an obvious and radical solution to the problem of excessive prices: Do it yourself, as the English say. The price of materials is currently affordable, and it's the ideal time for those who do the work themselves. They couldn't save more. Add to this the satisfaction of doing something useful, both economically and ecologically, and the pleasure of building yourself.

In this special issue, you'll find a wide selection of Elektor assemblies, from solar panel controllers to solar water heaters and solar panel orientation systems. The issue also contains practical information on solar panel installation and the technology behind them. Finally, there are a number of articles on the subject of balcony power plants, from how to install them to how to connect them to the Internet...

Contents

BASICS

• Dimensioning Photovoltaic Panel Arrays
  An introduction to photovoltaic energy and the commonest techniques,
  followed by simplified calculation models and setup guidelines.
• Light Sensor Technology
  Measuring daylight using LEDs.
• Solar Power Made Simple
  Solar charging with and without a controller.
• Cable Cross-sections and Energy Losses in Solar Systems
  Key considerations on the minimum values to respect for electrical
  current in solar panel cabling.
• Solar Modules
  Everything you always wanted to know about solar panels...
• Ideal Diode Controller
  Diode Circuits with Low Power Dissipation.

TIPS

• Tracking for Solar Modules
• zBot Solar/Battery Power Supply
• Solar Cell Array Charger with Regulator
• Solar Cell Voltage Regulator
• Solar-Powered Night Light
• Alternative Solar Battery Charger

PROJECTS

• Energy Logger
  Measuring and Recording Power Consumption.
• Tiny Solar Supply
  Sunlight In, 3.3 V Out.
• A Do-It-Yourself DTU
  Read Data from Small Inverters by μC.
• Solar Charger
  Portable energy for people on the move.
• Solar Thermal Energy Regulator
  Maximum power point tracking explored.
• 2-amp Maximum Power Tracking Charger
  Solar Power To The Max.
• Computer-driven Heliostat
  Follow the sun or the stars.
• Garden Lighting
  Using solar cells.
• Solar Panel Voltage Converter for IoT Devices
  Yes we CAN exploit indoor lighting.
• Travel Charger
  Free power in the mountains.
• Solar Cell Battery Charger/Monitor
  With protection against deep discharge.
• Solar-powered Battery Charger
  PIC12C671 avoids overcharging and deep charging.
• Converters for Photovoltaic Panels
  Contributed by TME (Transfer MultisortElektronik).
• Solar Charging Regulator
  For panels up to 53 watts.
• Solar-Powered Charger
  For lead-acid batteries.
• CAN Bus + Arduino for Solar PV Cell Monitoring
  Detect and locate serviceable panels in large arrays.
• Balcony Power Plant 2.0
  The latest: solar panels, installation and inverters