Saturday 5 July 2025
This course runs from 10am to 4.00pm in Brighton.
This one-day course provides an introduction to integrating solar power,
with a project you can duplicate at home.
What will the course cover?
This course will involve a demonstration on how to create a small solar/battery or
grid set up and how to design and install on-grid photovoltaic energy systems.
This includes information on:
- PV solar panels and various wiring systems
- Different charge controllers
- Types of battery
- Inverters (both island and grid)
- DC direct use
There will be plenty of opportunity for Q&As throughout, as the course will discuss
and demonstrate each technology.
The course will cover the use of solar panels that are connected to the grid via a grid inverter. We will discuss the aspect and fitting of panels, the matching of panels to various grid inverters and the integration into home power systems.
We will also discuss the use of a grid diverter to reduce export and help with water
and/or space heating. See Andy’s article on the latest developments in solar here: Water and space heating from solar
Other technologies covered will be the various ways of integrating battery systems with grid based systems to divert export and to use power sharing with imports. Participants will learn about photovoltaic systems, from the basics of electricity, panel types, grid inverters, diverters, and power sharing battery systems. This builds up to decisions around designing a basic modular on-grid system.
Course extras
Prior to the course, participants will be sent a video which will introduce parts of Ohms law and an Ohms wheel sheet. Having a good understanding of this is vital for getting the most out of the course.
A list of recommended reading resources will also be sent prior to the course.
On the day participants will each receive a free copy of Wind & Solar Electricity: A practical DIY
guide by Andy Reynolds (4th edition).
Who is the course for?
This course is for anyone interested in learning how to make a small scale basic solar electric energy system.
It is suitable for complete beginners, provided you have studied the videos sent out before the course about Volts, Amps, and Watts (Ohms law) and you feel confident about changing the fuse in a 3 pin UK mains plug.
There is a lot of technical information being delivered in this short course, so understanding the pre-course material is key, and we will endeavor to support students in their comprehension through the day.
Course tutors
Andy Reynolds will lead this course, with assistance from Fran Pickering.
Andy Reynolds is a long-term practitioner in low-impact living and the associated technologies, who has been building and using wind and solar systems since the late 80s. He runs his home almost entirely from home-generated renewable energy and is the author of Wind & Solar Electricity: A practical DIY guide.
Fran Pickering has been a permaculture designer and tutor for 20 years who has over 16 years of close working with our ‘demonstration land site’. She has been designing and expanding personal resilience and self reliance throughout, and believes everyone can have better skills and capabilities, if encouraged and supported to learn.
‘I really valued Fran’s open teaching style which made room for the
interest and excitement of participants. I didn’t feel held to a strict
structure and there was plenty of room to diverge and discuss items
of interest.’
Venue
To be confirmed. Brighton & Hove, UK
Fees
- £260 – Sponsored/organisation rate
- £260– Individual income more than 25k/yr
- £210 – Individual income 18-25k/yr
- £160 – Individual income less than 18k/yr
- £110 – Individual, concessionary rate (check your eligibility)*
Concessions
We endeavour to make our courses and events affordable to all. Check your eligibility for the concessionary rate.
Concessionary places are limited. If there are none available when booking, please check back two weeks before the course/event as more may become available.
Booking
If you have completed the booking process but you haven’t received a confirmation email from us please contact us to check your booking has gone through.
If you are booking within two weeks of the event, or the event is nearly full, you will not have the option to pay BACS. Instead, you will need to pay immediately using a credit/debit card or PayPal.
Booking link