Simple Solar shed

[saltman]

I wanted to share a simple solution to getting power to your outbuildings. I installed this 67 watt panel along with two six volt batteries a controller and an inverter and wham power!

The entire thing cost me about a thousand bucks and I have enough power to run several lights, and a TV. I will use this small cabin as a place to stay while I am building my house and with the solar I no longer have to listen to the generator.

My next step is to run some electricity to my tractor/ carport.

 

[Buckeye_Jim]

I see the bread box water heater, what is the source of the water? Is your solar system also pumping water? How about a refigerator? Do you have a propane one?

Jim

 

[saltman]

To run my well pump I use my generator. They make a solar well pump and panels but I found out this after I had already bought my well pump and at 700 feet I am not changing it out until it stops working. I'll have a 10,000 gallon storage tank so I will not have to run the generator very often.

No refrigerator for the cabin. When I build my house it will have a propane refrigerator. I only stay out there for two days max so I simply use a cooler.

The "bread box" you see is actually the back side of my solar shower. It works great in the spring, fall and summer but it's a little chilly now at 3,300 feet even in Southern Ca.

 

[3RRL]

saltman,
Cool little shed you have there. It looks kinda like mine, except I'm not using it as a place to stay.
Where's your property at?

 

[T_HedMF1533]

saltman,
Can you post a materials list for your solar setup, and maybe where you got your supplies?

Thanks T.

 

[saltman]

I purchased everything from Backwoods Solar out of Sandpoint Idaho. Give them a call and they will set you up.

My property is about an hour east of my house in El Cajon, CA. Near Jacumba CA.

The shed/cabin started out as a place to keep my motorcycles but once I started building it I decided to add windows and a loft so it ended up more like a little cabin. I then built a shed for my tractor and my motorcycles.

Here is a photo of them as well as a few interior shots.

 

[Thomas]

Morning Saltman.
That's one comfortable looking setup also looks very peaceful...moon light for street light can't beat that.

 

[EddieWalker]

Saltman,

Nice cabin you have there. I've always had an intrest in small homes and cabins for nothing else than the amount of creativity that goes into making them livable. Storage, cooking and sleeping all take on a new meaning when you only have a few hundred square feet!!!!

Thanks for sharing the pictures,
Eddie

 

[wickedinhere]

Nice shed, what size is it? I am starting on a 12x12 building tomorrow to house my rc planes so i can get them out of the house.

 

[saltman]

The Tractor storage shed is 15x20 and the cabin/shed is 10x12 and a loft. It has a 12-12 pitch so there is a lot of room upstairs, the entire building is about 15 feet high. I wouldn't make yours near as high.. unless you plan on sleeping in the attic/ loft!! or need the space for storage.

I used 2x4 walls, 5/8 sheeting on the roof, 2x6 floor and ceiling joists. Everything is 16 inch on center and I built it on 4x6 skids.