Solar power in an allotment shed?

JodyBPM

I'm wondering if anyone has done this?

We've just got an allotment, and my DH is making worrying mumbles about wanting to install solar power on it - so we could boil a kettle, occasionally run electric tools etc. Whilst I appreciate the concept, and I can see it would be useful, I'm a bit concerned that my DH has a bit of a tendency to start on slightly madcap projects which either never get finished, or end up costing us far, far more than we would have spent had we realised what the total cost would be at the outset. I have a sneaky suspicion that this will fall into the latter category!

DH has all the technical knowledge, and I have none, but I'm the better planner! I'd really like to know what components we are going to need and roughly how much they cost so that we can make an informed decision about whether this is worth doing. I'm struggling to pin DH down about what would actually be needed, probably because he will slightly make it up as he goes along! He has been muttering about inverters and stepping up the power (whatever that means, I'm clueless!)

My gut instinct is that for the very little use it would get, we'd be better off buying a £100 generator on ebay for using tools, and a camping stove to boil a kettle... Not green, but it will be used so little and I think will work out much cheaper!

So can anyone help me with what things would be needed to build a very straightforward solar power system that could run power tools for short periods of time and boil kettles?

mysterons

Buy a generator, take it home with you when you leave. Solar panels would be nicked within a week at an unattended allotment guaranteed.

Cardew

A £15,000 solar array would provide enough power to boil a kettle on a hot sunny June day.

JodyBPM

OK, point taken! (and frankly as I suspected!)

Now how do I explain to my DH that this is a non starter, whilst not making him feel like I don't believe in his ability to build a solar powered system?

grahamc2003

JodyBPM wrote: »

OK, point taken! (and frankly as I suspected!)

Now how do I explain to my DH that this is a non starter, whilst not making him feel like I don't believe in his ability to build a solar powered system?

You could tell him he'd need a bigger shed to take the required area of panels. Probably a (reinforced and strengthened) shed the size of the allotment would do it.

Alter_ego

grahamc2003 wrote: »

You could tell him he'd need a bigger shed to take the required area of panels. Probably a (reinforced and strengthened) shed the size of the allotment would do it.

Plus a huge bank of batteries to store the power till needed. Then an inverter to make it 240v.

What's wrong with a flask? rechargeable tools & charge at home?

zeupater

JodyBPM wrote: »

OK, point taken! (and frankly as I suspected!)

Now how do I explain to my DH that this is a non starter, whilst not making him feel like I don't believe in his ability to build a solar powered system?

Hi

I'd just explain that in order to have enough power to run a small camping/car 12V kettle you'd likely need to spend upwards of £500 on solar panels, a charge controller and a battery, which as stated earlier in the thread are likely to go 'walkies' very quickly.

Alternatively, buy a deep cycle leisure battery & a carry bag (also possibly a 12V/230V inverter if necessary), charge it at home (solar/FiTs?) and take it to the allotment when you go. The other alternative, of course, is a flask for the hot water and rechargeable tools as christmas/birthday presents for the next couple of years

HTH
Z

jackieblack

JodyBPM wrote: »

OK, point taken! (and frankly as I suspected!)

Now how do I explain to my DH that this is a non starter, whilst not making him feel like I don't believe in his ability to build a solar powered system?

Print this thread out and show him?

penrhyn

Camping Gaz anyone?

warehouse

What could you possibly need a power toold for at an allotment? A saw, a screwdriver, a hammer and a spade sort of covers all the possibilities for me. Ask your Husband why a flask isn't good enough?

grahamc2003

warehouse wrote: »

A saw, a screwdriver, a hammer and a spade sort of covers all the possibilities for me. ?

Sounds like you've got some pretty poor soil on your allotment!