Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius: 50 Build-It-Yourself Projects
Reviewed by Robert Pritchett
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Author: Gavin D.J.
Harper
Publisher: TAB
Electronics
http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?cat=113&isbn=0071477721
Released: June 22,
2007
Pages: 196
$25 USD, $31 CND, £15 GBP, Û Euro
ISBN-13: 9780071477727
Audience:
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
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Strengths: Takes otherwise somewhat difficult to
grasp concepts into layman's terms.
Weaknesses: Chapter 1 could be excisedÉand some
projects don't fit the scope of the book title.
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Introduction
"Let the sun shine on your
evil side - and have a wicked amount of fun on your way to becoming a solar
energy master! In this guide, the popular Evil Genius format ramps up your
understanding of powerful, important, and environmentally friendly solar energy
- and shows you how to build real, practical solar energy projects you can use
in your home, yard - even on the road!
In "Solar Energy Projects for
the Evil Genius", high-tech guru Gavin Harper gives you everything you need
to build more than 50 thrilling solar energy projects. You'll find complete,
easy-to-follow plans, with clear diagrams and schematics, so you know exactly
what's involved before you begin.
á Illustrated
instructions and plans for 30 amazing pretested solar energy projects that
assume no prior experience with energy science
á Explanations
of the science and math behind each project
á Projects
that progress in difficulty - from simple ones that may inspire science fair
entries - all the way to converting a real home to solar energy
á Frustration-factor
removal-needed parts are listed, along with sources-plus all the tools you'll
need
Solar Energy Projects for the Evil
Genius provides you with complete plans, instructions, parts lists and sources
for:
á Crushed
berries solar cell
á Solar
"death ray"
á Solar
powered hot dog cooker
á Solar
furnace
á Sun-powered
refrigerator
á Camping
shower, oven, and more
á Hot
recipes for solar cooking
á Water
purifier
á Flashlight
á Garden
lights
á Solar
vehicle
á Environmentally
friendly robot"
What I Learned
If you write a book on a subject, stick to it. The first
chapter wastes a lot of time on the "Global Warming"ª mantra showing
that the author has drunk long and deeply of the Gaia Cult Kool-Aid, which
incidentally has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Solar projects!
The projects run about 50 in length, but some are obviously
extremely similar in scope and action, which makes me wonder why he didn't let
well enough alone. Once is enough
already.
And what, pray tell does making biodiesel (Project 50) have ANYTHING at all to do
with the sun?
Maybe the author should have made the title include "Mad" Genius, instead of the
"Evil" Genius!
Now that I've
vented my spleen, the other projects are pretty good and there is some great
wheat amongst the chaff that almost redeem the book and the author. Almost.
I did enjoy
reading up on the solar hot water collector though. And I did learn a few
things that I had glossed over or had forgotten in the past.
Conclusion
If you want to dip your toe into solar projects, here are
some pretty good ones here.
The idea is that you will go get your parts for the projects
from solarbotics.com
Recommendation
I was seriously thinking about becoming an affiliate for
Solarbotics, who is based up in Canada. After reading the book, not so much. I
even talked to them about it and they suggested I go get the books first. I
did. More to come in the series laterÉ
