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Charlie Wing received his Ph.D. in oceanography from MIT, where he later worked as a research scientist. Since then his career has been explaining how things work--teaching physics at Bowdoin College, founding America’s first two do-it-yourself house-building schools (the Shelter Institute and Cornerstone), hosting a PBS series on energy conservation, and writing a dozen top-selling books on home building, home maintenance, and remodeling. Wing lived aboard a cruising sailboat for six years, during which time he wrote the first edition of this book on a solar-powered Macintosh computer. He is the author of four other IM books.

Introduction 1. Basic DC CircuitsWhat Electricity Is • Ohm's Law • Using Ohm's Law • Loads • Sources • Practice Problems2. DC MeasurementsAnalog Test Instruments • Digital Test Instruments • Digital vs. Analog Test Instruments • Homemade Testers • Troubleshooting3. BatteriesWhat Is a Battery? • A Few Messy Details • Electrical Model of Batteries • Monitoring Battery Health • Discharge Characteristics • Charging Characteristics • Charging Recommendations • Estimating Your Daily Load • Choosing a Battery Type • Optimum Depth of Discharge • Sizing the Alternator • Series vs. Parallel • Battery Boxes • ABYC Standards for Batteries4. AlternatorsA Galley Alternator • A Rotary Current Machine • Rectification • Controlling the Alternator • Type-P and Type-N Alternators • Powering the Voltage Regulator • Regulator Bypass Controls • Link 2000-R Charge Controller • Charging Setups • Alternator Installation • Troubleshooting5. BondingWhat Is Bonding? • Lightning Protection • Corrosion Protection • Stray-Current Protection • To Bond or Not to Bond • Sizing the Anode(s) • Testing Your Protection • Noncathodic Corrosion • The ABYC on Cathodic Protection6. DC Standards and PracticesWiring Diagrams • Marine Wire • ABYC DC Load Calculation • Allowable Conductor Amperage • Allowable Voltage Drop • Identification and Installation • Overcurrent Protection • Conductor Connections • Ignition Protection7. AC BasicsAlternating Current • Power Factor • AC Safety • Grounding • Conductor Identification • Transformers • AC Measurements • Troubleshooting AC Circuits • Checking Polarity8. Inverters and GeneratorsWhy Have AC Power? • Figuring Your AC Budget • Inverters • Transfer Switching • Generators • Troubleshooting Generators9. AC Standards and PracticesShore Power • Generator and Inverter Sources • Main Panelboard • AC Load Calculations • Overcurrent Protection • Approved Wire and Cable • Ampacity Tables • Conductor Installation • The Green Wire • Approved Shore-Power Circuits10. Conservation for LiveaboardsCosts per Kilowatt-Hour • Lighting Savings • Refrigeration Savings • Other Savings11. Solar PowerIs Solar for You? • How Photovoltaics Work • Photovoltaic Panels • Interpreting Specifications • Panel Orientation • Estimating Output • Mechanical Installation • Electrical Installation • Rules for Solar Success12.Wind PowerIs Wind Power for You? • Getting Power from the Wind • How Much Wind Is There? • Estimating Daily Output • Specifications • Electrical Installation • Mechanical Installation • Water Generators13. Installing ElectronicsAntennas • Antenna Cable and Connectors • Moisture Protection • VHF Radio • GPS and SSB • Radar • Receiver/Transmitter Installation • Harnessing Electrical Noise • Electrical Filters14. Do-it-Yourself Projects Passive Circuit Components • Active Circuit Components • ProjectsAppendicesOther Wiring Standards • English/Metric Conversions • Temperature Conversions • Power Conversions • Resistance of Copper Wire • Losses in Coaxial Cables • Wiring Color Codes • Useful Electrical Formulas • Identifying Resistors • Identifying Capacitors • Trigonometric TablesGlossaryIndex