Outbuildings and why they're great. (Vanport)

[Joeboy]

Fresh home PB's

70kWh generation
75kWh Export

I can't expect more than that until I rework and add the new string.

I think I'll get the panel mounting timbers cut,treated and added to the roof before I depart for Turkey on Thursday. Treated timbers screwed through from the underside of the corrugated roofing high points. Looks like there could be 10 panels up there 6 existing reworked and 4 new added.

Also utilising the van solar PV. Cooking a pot of chilli in the van so we can export the home power instead. I'm pretty sure the battery is not being drained to any degree and the 200W from the solar is just topping it up what the induction hob is pulling?

[Joeboy]

A great day, last of the roof on and managed a small rain deflector too for the rear vertical face out of the roofing cutoff.







Continuing the no, no not a workshop theme we set up the table saw and ripped a couple of 4x2's for panel rails. Just wonderful to have this shaded dry space!




Bloke Heaven!


Used a relifed tin of nasty (to us) wood preserver. Already spray treated for insects and fungus. Will coat again tomorrow before measuring up and fixing in place for the panels.



Job is gaining momentum, had a measure and now have centreline for the van location.

With that decision made we have enough space for a decent sized covered woodstore to the left and also a pent roof shed for swmbo to the rear. That leaves plenty moving around space with the van insitu. I think I'll be phoning Wictor again in a month or so for more material.

I should be able to get the power on and shed in place with what we have and re order for the gates and fence. Gotta say, this has really been a blast. Big enough project that I can switch task if bored and it still moves forward.

[Fintray]

Looking good! Always handy to have a covered outside work area even if sometimes there is a van parked in it.

[Joeboy]

Looking good! Always handy to have a covered outside work area even if sometimes there is a van parked in it.

We should have about a 10 foot space in front of the van. if I reverse it up to the gates to create that space. That should be enough for everyday tasks.

[Joeboy]

A good day today. All the external black now complete. Solar panel sticks are well soaked and are now aloft. Although not at all positoned. Just chucked up there to dry for a week.



Was going to be protecting my back before Hols on Thursday but I was possessed by demons and had to fill in the Moxi pit with slabs. Also.had a rework of the overall space with an eye towards further slabbing tomorrow.

Somehow the NOT a workshop has grown a bin and shelving. I have no idea how this happened. I'll keep a look out for a compressor materialising!



CPS showed up with 50mtr 6mm DC cable, a few MC4's and a DC isolator. Hoping to cut back on overall length of DC runs as well as upgrading to 6mm. That'll have to wait until post Turkey but I'll be raring to get into and get power flowing once back!

[AGT]

It’s a big old space!

Will be great to have the van undercover, I hate doing work in my drive and having to pack up with bad weather etc

[chris_n]

Surprised you don't have any diagonals on the underside of the roof, big carports are common here and they all have some triangulation on the underside of the roof. A couple of 4×1.5/2s going from your legs to the centre of the wall plate would make a significant difference to the lateral stability when it gets windy.

[Joeboy]

Surprised you don't have any diagonals on the underside of the roof, big carports are common here and they all have some triangulation on the underside of the roof. A couple of 4×1.5/2s going from your legs to the centre of the wall plate would make a significant difference to the lateral stability when it gets windy.

Will keep it in mind if it gets stressful. Cheers!

Ah, crossbracing the roof diagonally?

[Joeboy]

As an anecdote, while treating the 2x2's today I was thinking about their structural impact on the build. They'll be drilled & screwed through from below on each high point of the roofing. They are 4.8mtr in length and there will be 4 of them with each high point double screwed at the highpoint.

Can't touch the triangulation strength multiplier of a X diagonal brace though. Once I've parked the van in there for the first time and hopefully not heard a scraping noise I'll know the clearance for real. We'll then act accordingly. Thanks again Chris.

Any pics of the Austrian style of vanport? Much appreciated.

I do like a vanport.

[Joeboy]

First set of 2x2 rails up and secured with 30 of No5 woodscrews & M5 s/s flatwashers per rail.



The whole roof pulled in tight which was great but also as there things do shrunk massively when I measured for the 2 strings. I've left a 600mm walkway at the outboard side, then a 2.2mtr panel string of three. Those 550W panels really are beasts, constantly surprises me whenever i go near them.



As you can see by my highly technical drawing, the second string is going to be shade impacted from midafternoon onwards.





The second string is very much a throw together string of three different sized panels. I might not even give it a micro inverter. Could just be a Winter string on an easily accessible outdoor breaker back to the Victron? Not sure it's worth the £250 Hoymiles price...


The Original tech drawing for the job is now up for posterity.





The laying of slabs continued. Nice to be able to bounce between tasks but knocking it on the head the noo, away for a swim in the Med. Cheers!

Don't want to sound arrogant or cliched but I really am living the dream at the moment and very much appreciate it. The radio playing Classic fm on the van powered solar charge is just another bonus layer of excellence.



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

Project cost to date £1,951

At this cost point I can hook up the PV strings and go live. Anything beyond this cost (£1,951) will be towards fence & gates.