Outbuildings and why they're great. (Vanport)

User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 9227
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Outbuildings and why they're great. (Vanport)

#141

Post by Joeboy »

Stinsy wrote: Tue May 27, 2025 4:39 pm
Joeboy wrote: Tue May 27, 2025 4:36 pm I can't believe it has taken me the whole day to put this together. :whako:

Image
No rush! Take your time, check, double-check, get it right!
Aye, you are right. Hoping I've future proofed a little too. I forgot just how long it takes to build properly from single components. It's all good, belled it through so happy enough.

Away back down to Edinburgh tomorrow in EV for daughterly new lino going into kitchen. I'm not paying to have the old stuff pulled up!
16.65kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN
42kWh LFPO4 storage
73kWh V2H EV
7kW ASHP
200ltr HWT.
3G
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit
Moxi
Posts: 2693
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2021 3:46 pm

Re: Outbuildings and why they're great. (Vanport)

#142

Post by Moxi »

How old is the old Lino JB ? Lino used to contain asbestos so if it’s from before 1999 treat it with caution and be extra careful not to create dust just in case, should be as safe as houses and free from the asbestos but just in case.

Moxi
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 9227
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Outbuildings and why they're great. (Vanport)

#143

Post by Joeboy »

Moxi wrote: Tue May 27, 2025 6:53 pm How old is the old Lino JB ? Lino used to contain asbestos so if it’s from before 1999 treat it with caution and be extra careful not to create dust just in case, should be as safe as houses and free from the asbestos but just in case.

Moxi
Thanks Moxi, just old habits. It's a vinyl about 10 years old.
16.65kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN
42kWh LFPO4 storage
73kWh V2H EV
7kW ASHP
200ltr HWT.
3G
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 9227
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Outbuildings and why they're great. (Vanport)

#144

Post by Joeboy »

A few more bits & bobs bought.

Power did go on at £1,951

Bought so far
3 of 6"x6" posts 4.8mtr treated £105 (recycled)
14 bags postcrete £84
Timber & roofing materials £745
(7of 5.3 mtr galvinised roofing sheets (recycled)
25 of 150x20 3.4m boards (local sawmill)
18 of 4x2” 4.8m (local sawmill)
2 of 6x2” 6m) (local sawmill)
16 3'x2' dense concrete slabs £0 (recycled)
Fixings, wood preserver etc £240
Double gate hinges £60 (old stock)
Big brass padlock From Turkey £2
4 of 550W JA solar panels £300 (local private pallet deal)
30 of 2' x 2' slabs £30 (recycled)
Impact drill, battery, charger & masonary bit £90
Sharp sand, bits n bobs £10 (recycled)
300mm wood drill set £15
No5 70 & 80mm woodscrews £22
3 of solar PIR LED lights £30
Driver bits £5
More roofing screws & sealer £27
6mm DC cable, isolator & mc4's £76
M5 stainless washers £12
4.5" grinder replacement £40
2nd Vanport string DC isolator £12
Stainless Fixings £32
JB glands £8
More MC4's £8
DTU lite W S £41

Project cost to date £2,040

Two grand barrier passed. Hope to bring it in incl gates, shed & woodstore for £2,500. That will be a hell of a bargain if it comes in.

Fair bit of cloud and a smattering or two of rain yesterday but still managed a peak Wattage PB before the Victron throttled itself down..Will have to wait a bit for the new full day PB. Forecast isn't with us. Although 65kWh total generation on a hit & miss day is good enough the noo. :D

Victron 31.9kWh
Solaredge 28kWh
A matching 114% day Victron over Solaredge. That's up from 104.5% pre new string.

Image
16.65kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN
42kWh LFPO4 storage
73kWh V2H EV
7kW ASHP
200ltr HWT.
3G
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 9227
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Outbuildings and why they're great. (Vanport)

#145

Post by Joeboy »

The wiring upgrade is complete. 3 panel strings running on 4mm cable are combined at 2 separate JB's where it steps up to 6mm cable for the run to Victron solar controller.

As I was upgrading anyway and due to my meltdown of a connection the other week I've split the polarities all the way to the controller.

Cable is now aboveground so I can get into a few more slabs.

Image

Image

SWMBO had a wee job for me resurfacing a chest of drawers. Realised I could get a fast n dirty AC solution into the vanport so went for it. We are now 230AC in vanport and the big radio now lives there too. :D

Image

Image

Image

Hitting some reasonable peaks since adding the new string.

Image
16.65kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN
42kWh LFPO4 storage
73kWh V2H EV
7kW ASHP
200ltr HWT.
3G
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit
User avatar
Stinsy
Posts: 3696
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 1:09 pm

Re: Outbuildings and why they're great. (Vanport)

#146

Post by Stinsy »

Joeboy wrote: Fri May 30, 2025 12:29 pm The wiring upgrade is complete. 3 panel strings running on 4mm cable are combined at 2 separate JB's where it steps up to 6mm cable for the run to Victron solar controller.

As I was upgrading anyway and due to my meltdown of a connection the other week I've split the polarities all the way to the controller.

Cable is now aboveground so I can get into a few more slabs.

Image

Image

SWMBO had a wee job for me resurfacing a chest of drawers. Realised I could get a fast n dirty AC solution into the vanport so went for it. We are now 230AC in vanport and the big radio now lives there too. :D

Image

Image

Image

Hitting some reasonable peaks since adding the new string.

Image
Have you thought about adding a 16A commando "shore power" socket in the vanport?
12x 340W JA Solar panels (4.08kWp)
3x 380W JA Solar panels (1.14kWp)
6x 2.4kWh Pylontech batteries (14.4kWh)
LuxPower inverter/charger

(Artist formally known as ******, well it should be obvious enough to those for whom such things are important.)
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 9227
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Outbuildings and why they're great. (Vanport)

#147

Post by Joeboy »

Stinsy wrote: Fri May 30, 2025 12:48 pm
Joeboy wrote: Fri May 30, 2025 12:29 pm The wiring upgrade is complete. 3 panel strings running on 4mm cable are combined at 2 separate JB's where it steps up to 6mm cable for the run to Victron solar controller.

As I was upgrading anyway and due to my meltdown of a connection the other week I've split the polarities all the way to the controller.

Cable is now aboveground so I can get into a few more slabs.

Image

Image

SWMBO had a wee job for me resurfacing a chest of drawers. Realised I could get a fast n dirty AC solution into the vanport so went for it. We are now 230AC in vanport and the big radio now lives there too. :D

Image

Image

Image

Hitting some reasonable peaks since adding the new string.

Image

Have you thought about adding a 16A commando "shore power" socket in the vanport?
Oh yes, and a compressor and water too. :twisted:
Next week i'll lay some more slabs to extend the working area. Hoping for the Hoymiles DTU arrival too and if all is well i'll start moving the shed mounted panels aloft.
16.65kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN
42kWh LFPO4 storage
73kWh V2H EV
7kW ASHP
200ltr HWT.
3G
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit
Post Reply