Solar Shed

randombar

Hi folks,

So I've 16 panels left in the garden, thinking of building a shed and using them as the roof.

Has someone done this previously?

Thinking of pouring a slab maybe 2 x 8 m and 2m high cavity block on one side and maybe 0.5m on the other side.

Looking for inspiration here / recommendations.

Thanks,

Gary

slave1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058358940/solar-shed

Shed won't be watertight, better off building shed with lean to roof and mounting them

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122359725#Comment_122359725

Ah ya this is more as a leanto, could look at putting galvanising on it maybe but more cost.

the_amazing_raisin

Another option might be a solar canopy over a paved or decked seating area?

I think the official term is a pergola

Could do two rows of 8 panels on flat roof mounts so they create a gap to let some sunshine through

Or a lean to design with the panels on an angled roof. That would create more shade but could also give a more weatherproof area if you can stop rain leaking between the panels

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122359943#Comment_122359943

The thought of putting down more patio now would give me a hernia :D

What I'm short on is "dry" storage, a place for bikes, lawnmower etc.

Was looking at these rubber seals: https://www.ebay.com/itm/234589584373

allinthehead

If I could do this again, I think I'd use bifacial panels and leave it open underneath. Still it's a nice spot to shelter from the rain or sun.

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122361429#Comment_122361429

ahhhh good thinking putting the corrugated underneath.

allinthehead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122361863#Comment_122361863

Just need to add some gutters to it and the shed to finish it off.

the_amazing_raisin

@randombar I'd say in your case the simplest option is to just buy or build a shed and put the panels on the roof

Corrugated steel roof should be fairly easy to mount it onto

the_amazing_raisin

That's pretty much exactly what I want to do in my garden at some point. Was thinking some fairly lights and an electric patio heater would make it a nice spot to sit year round

Ballylad

hi I ordered a waterproof solar carport from China, getting supports and panelling (persplex sheeting) myself.

graememk

Did it come with legs? What about clamps for the panels?

What sort of cost?

Ballylad

hi, Comes as a full kit eg clamps etc, designed according to what you want size wise, didn’t get legs as going to use steel supports to allow easy panelling of back and sides , I choose a 21 panel roof for an off grid car charging (hopefully) with Deye inverter. 2200 plus 700 customs /vat charge. Panels excluded in price

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122376793#Comment_122376793

Off grid charging, gonna need a decent size battery, doable though.

You may be able to direct solar to car with the likes of the openEvse, as you can have direct control of it, but not with the zappi.

Ballylad

thanks, haven’t looked into that side of things yet, definitely can’t put any more into house, have 20kw batteries already so just going to have a car plugged into off grid system all the time, 8kw inverter, 8.2kw panels, 10deg slope south facing , hopefully will work out somehow

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122376852#Comment_122376852

going to need at least one battery for the off grid system.

then you'll need automation to control the charge point. So you can stop when the battery is empty (or below a set value) and when the isn't enough solar.

a zappi can't do that.

Ubbquittious

If you make the roof out of solar panels youll have to put felt underneath and seal the gaps I think.

I sort of made something like this with gaps and no felt and some water does get in

Ballylad

thanks for info, another challenge/headache to solve🤣👍

slave1

look at pricing of bifacial panels with that setup

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122376508#Comment_122376508

What kind of price are you talking for something like that?

John mac

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122382916#Comment_122382916

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122376793#Comment_122376793

bet u missed that / ;)👍️

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122382944#Comment_122382944

Jesus my brain is mush today.

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122376508#Comment_122376508

Can you put up a link to the ad, or even a pic of your finished canopy? I would be interested in buying something like that

Ballylad

look up Enerack solar car port, I imported it directly from supplier, a lot of headaches with customs clearance etc especially when you are not a company, I believe they will/have a distributor in Ireland soon but declined to tell me who that will be.

randombar

Hi Lads, resurrecting this one. Concrete going in this weekend and blocks going up the weekend after.

So one wall will be 2m high and opposite wall will be 0.5m high.

Will be putting joists across it and then adding felt and bolting the rails to the joists.

Just wondering what would people recommend for the gap between the joists? Feic all weight in this and the gap between the walls is only about 1.9m

SD_DRACULA

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122628926#Comment_122628926

A friend did something like that recently, check it out:

He has a nice cubby hole for inverter and batteries in that bottom right corner, insulated and all, not a bad idea at all.

Cuddlesworth

As a person with a covered 2.3m x 10 meter space, if I was seeing the same height difference on one side, it would be a near unusable space. Seems like your pushing for the optimum angle for the panels over the functionality of the "shed" your making. If their is no shading, I don't think there is a huge difference in the output on the panels overall to justify going to such a large effort for a space that will be cramped and difficult to get things in and out of.

I would go 2.5m and 2m walls. Gives you a 15 degree angle, which would be a slight drop in efficiency but makes the space more usable. Actual headspace the entire length, shelving on the 2m high wall the length of it. Bikes on the higher wall.

For building it, joists on 500mm, so 16 of them. 2x4 should be fine, with blocking mid way. Corrugated PVC panels come in 600mm width, which is why I say half meter widths.

What sizes are your panels, because some of my math isn't adding up. If I take a fairly standard 1m x 1.6m, with 16 panels that's 8m x 3.2m. But a 2m high wall, with a .5m wall across a 2m gap, is 2.5m. In a perfect world, that's a .6m overhang.

In a version with the second wall higher, this would mean a lean-to on the lower side again. Either way its a lot, since you have zero space to stand or work with the panels when they are up there.

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122629726#Comment_122629726

Looking to just use panels and felt rather than corrugated stuff too, have a garage and a lean to already for storage so this would really be for drying timber etc. Essentially only building a wall at the back of them as that's what you see 1st driving into the property. (Was thinking of concrete board and stud work but not sure if I could plaster that and it would stay).

I get your point re head height. I'm wondering would it be enough to do the low wall in studwork now I'm thinking about it. Trying to save where I can here.

I will have an overhang all right but thinking that would be down towards the front, don't really mind them getting close to the ground on that side.

Cuddlesworth

You could do the low wall with some timber. The main issue is the solar panels turn into a giant rigid sail in high winds. And they themselves have very little weight to them. The array really just needs to be tied down to something solid and heavy(like the concrete slab you put down). Even with a blockwork wall, you would need those joists solidly attached to the blockwork.

If you can do the blockwork and render yourself I can't think of a cheaper option for enclosing in a 2m by 8m wall in a presentable way. Don't think stud and some painted plywood or shiplap boards would be cheaper, at least not around Dublin the last time I had to buy timber.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122629289#Comment_122629289

Steel roof, Did they get the micro rails for it?

So quick to install panels, and lies really tight to the roof too so very little wind can get under it.

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122631099#Comment_122631099

Good point re the sail, have some twisted straps left over from a job I might use. Bolt wall plate down and 20 joists well screwed in would do the trick I'd say.

You're right about the block work. Might do the low wall block on edge (maybe 3 courses high) and cavity block 8 courses high with a standard on top to take the wall plate.

SD_DRACULA

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122631309#Comment_122631309

Not sure yet, he's waiting on the installer to sort the panel part out.

Kincora2017

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122629289#Comment_122629289

that’s a very interesting structure. Anymore pics or is that as far as it’s gone?

celtic_oz

would be interesting to know the solar inverter, batteries and ev charger you use for this offgrid solution