residential weekend course

wind & solar electricity

venue: Redfield Community, Bucks

Run some or all of your household appliances from a wind and solar system. With the advent of the feed-in tariff one would imagine that build-your-own would be pointless. However, the requirement for an MCS-accredited installer means that you are paying their fees up front only to be repaid over the next 25 years. For small systems this makes the whole feed-in tariff system financially pointless for those who have an aptitude for practical application and so can do it themselves. The course gives information on both technologies for use separately or in a joint system, depending on your site. An overview of the basic principles and technologies offers participants the theoretical knowledge and practical application required to design and install small renewable energy systems. The emphasis will be on how things work and what it is practicable to do, and participants will have the opportunity to discuss their own projects. No previous electrical knowledge is necessary. We will be doing lots of twisting wires together, experiments, and applying theory.

  • Electricity: what is it? How to work out consumption
  • Sizing systems, system voltage and co-powering
  • Circuit design including cable sizes, connections, fuses and batteries
  • Battery care, maintenance, charging, second-hand units, construction, and housing
  • Recycled system components
  • Inverters – converting battery power to 240V AC for off grid systems
  • Grid tie inverters, wind and solar applications
  • Practical and economic applications and usage – how much can I expect to generate?
  • Solar panel mounting, direction and inclination
  • Solar tracking, home made trackers
  • Wind turbine towers and correct siting for optimum performance
  • Maintenance issues
  • Feed-in tariff and metering
  • Planning permission
  • Health and safety issues
  • Getting started

The tutor is Andy Reynolds, author of our book Wind & Solar Electricity: a practical DIY guide. A copy of the book is included in the course fee.

dates: see 'book online' below

more on wind           more on solar


how to book:
  

if you can't open the booking form, you need Acrobat Reader - it's free
arrive:
  
Friday evening at 6.30 for dinner at 7.30
depart:
  
Sunday after lunch (served at 1.00)
directions:
  
click here for directions by bicycle, public transport and car
what to bring:
  
pen and notebook; towel (meals and bedding are provided)
NO DOGS PLEASE
let us know:
  
if you are vegan or have any food allergies, or any special needs
accommodation:
  
3-4 people sharing single-sex rooms
prices:
  
£190 high-waged; £170 waged;
£150 student / unwaged
Refundable up to two weeks prior to course (minus £30 admin fee)
No refunds for cancellations within two weeks of course
car sharing:
  
visit our car sharing forum to offer or request a lift
 

 

 

 

assembling and erecting a small wind turbine and mast

 

 

 

 

 

wiring and testing a photovoltaic panel

 

 

 

 

 

 

a 240-volt lamp powered by an inverter from a 12-volt battery, with an amp meter showing the current that is drawn from the battery; you'll get to have a go at this on the course