Please allow me to pitch
@Will Prowse book!
Mobile Solar Power
Thank you for the suggestion, but the book is not what I'm looking for. Its valuable for what it is, but I consider it more of a beginners
practical guide specific to solar power. Its a valuable resource, but I'm looking for something a little broader and a little less basic.
I own the book, and value the book, and I'm sure I will use it extensively when I get around to actually building my system, its perfect for that, but right now I'm seeking something that gives me a bit more in depth conceptual understanding.
Will has a great ability to explain complex, dry subjects in a simple easy to understand and interesting way. What I am looking for are other resources that can supplement what I've learned from his videos and this forum, at a similar level to some of his more in depth or advanced videos (or probably slightly more in depth), and more broadly applicable to electricity and electronics in general.
I learned a lot first through
Will's videos and a bit from
his book, then found this forum and learned a ton from the smart, creative people here, I've read and reread the excellent
Marinehowto article on LFP and the
NordkynDesigns series on LFP and watched the
6 part marine electrical seminar from Pacific Yacht Systems. All of which I would highly recommend! And anytime I hear of a component I'm not familiar with I try to google it or youtube it and learn about it, but I've struggled to find resources that weave it all together (at least a level I can wrap my head around). In terms of solar basics, I've found
AM solar and
Amy at the AltE store have some good (basic) info.
I learned when I was about 6 years old by playing with all the experiments on one of those Radio Shack 100-in-1 kits. I think they would still be great for all ages to learn with, as most people learn better with a little hands-on while doing the reading.
Something like this:
I was actually kind of thinking that some kind of tinkering kit or some simple projects to learn would be good. Nothing compares to practical hands on experience and the knowledge gained through doing, and trying, and messing things up, and maybe eventually succeeding.