Hello everyone. I have a small lakeside cottage near Tampere and I am looking to install solar panels to give us some energy for the basics like lighting, TV, computer. Anyone know if there are any shops around that area that sell a complete package (solar panel, controller, inverter, battery & wires) and would install it for us? Would it be at all possible to get some heating in the spring / autumn months as well or is there not enough sun during that period to make it feasible?
I am also looking to buy a small shack for sleeping. It ideally should have 2 bedrooms and have enough insulation for the spring and autumn. Anyone have any ideas where i can get ready made sleeping cabins?
Thanks in advance for your advice
Solar Panel for cottage
Re: Solar Panel for cottage
Electric heating with photovoltaic system... not gonna happen.jpp wrote:Would it be at all possible to get some heating in the spring / autumn months as well or is there not enough sun during that period to make it feasible?
I wouldn't bother insulating the walls, if you won't use it during winter. From my experience one can assemble these relatively easily.jpp wrote:I am also looking to buy a small shack for sleeping. It ideally should have 2 bedrooms and have enough insulation for the spring and autumn. Anyone have any ideas where i can get ready made sleeping cabins?
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Re: Solar Panel for cottage
Hi "Upphew",
Thanks for the reply. I have looked at the Kontio website, and I think one of their small cabins will suit us fine. Have you bought anything from them? Did you have to assemble it yourself or did they do it for you? Does it come completely finished or do you have to put in the roof and floors yourself?
Thanks and regards,
James
Thanks for the reply. I have looked at the Kontio website, and I think one of their small cabins will suit us fine. Have you bought anything from them? Did you have to assemble it yourself or did they do it for you? Does it come completely finished or do you have to put in the roof and floors yourself?
Thanks and regards,
James
Re: Solar Panel for cottage
Didn't buy anything, but have been drinking beer and looking while others have been building a small sauna. Assembly prices were on the high side iirc, but you can get it assembled too. Can't remember specifics as it was community effort. Instructions were great though, but I doubt if they come in English.jpp wrote:Thanks for the reply. I have looked at the Kontio website, and I think one of their small cabins will suit us fine. Have you bought anything from them? Did you have to assemble it yourself or did they do it for you? Does it come completely finished or do you have to put in the roof and floors yourself?
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Re: Solar Panel for cottage
There could be a limit as to the number and size of the solar panels to be installed. For instance, each solar panel has physical weight and has an upper limit as to how much electricity it could produce, so it is first necessary to accurately estimate the amount of electricity required at the cottage, to then determine the number and size of the solar panels required, to then determine the physical weight of the solar panels required BECAUSE there is a physical limit as to how much WEIGHT a small cottage can support, especially without causing the roof to distort, etc. A few small solar panels could present no problem, but a vast array of huge solar panels might even crush the cottage!jpp wrote:...I have a small lakeside cottage near Tampere and I am looking to install solar panels...
A particularly heavy array of solar panels could be elevated from the ground by ground-mounted supports, separate of the cottage.
Re: Solar Panel for cottage
We're looking something like 20kg/m^2? ( http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 635AAebFzf )tuulen wrote:There could be a limit as to the number and size of the solar panels to be installed. For instance, each solar panel has physical weight and has an upper limit as to how much electricity it could produce, so it is first necessary to accurately estimate the amount of electricity required at the cottage, to then determine the number and size of the solar panels required, to then determine the physical weight of the solar panels required BECAUSE there is a physical limit as to how much WEIGHT a small cottage can support, especially without causing the roof to distort, etc. A few small solar panels could present no problem, but a vast array of huge solar panels might even crush the cottage!
All new structures are calculated with snow load of 180kg/m^2 ( http://www.rakentaja.fi/index.asp?s=/ar ... Bkatto.htm )
Smaller cottages are probably able to stand even higher loads as there is no reason to use thinner materials for them, for example you couldn't nail anything to the roof supports if they were thinner than what is used in much larger houses.
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Re: Solar Panel for cottage
jpp wrote:... I have a small lakeside cottage...
Perhaps a small lakeside cottage could be an older building which may not meet current building standards?Upphew wrote:...All new structures...
20kg/m^2 + 180kg/m^2 = 200kg/m^2 = 20kg/m^2 OVER THE SNOW LOAD DESIGN LIMITUpphew wrote:...We're looking something like 20kg/m^2? ( http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 635AAebFzf )
All new structures are calculated with snow load of 180kg/m^2 ( http://www.rakentaja.fi/index.asp?s=/ar ... Bkatto.htm )...
Or, does that mean there will always be 20kg/m^2 less of snow when solar panels are installed?
Last edited by tuulen on Sat Jun 25, 2011 12:38 am, edited 4 times in total.
Re: Solar Panel for cottage
Using PV, no, it is not possible.jpp wrote:Would it be at all possible to get some heating in the spring / autumn months as well or is there not enough sun during that period to make it feasible?
Instead you could consider Solar thermal, either water-based or passive air. I have some evacuated tubes that make a useful contribution to heating & hot water. They produce nothing in winter but in spring they are very effective. A passive air heater would probably be best for space heating but you may need to make it yourself.
Re: Solar Panel for cottage
No, but it means probably just one extra snow shoveling trip to the cottage.tuulen wrote:20kg/m^2 + 180kg/m^2 = 200kg/m^2 = 20kg/m^2 OVER THE SNOW LOAD DESIGN LIMIT
Or, does that mean there will always be 20kg/m^2 less of snow when solar panels are installed?
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Re: Solar Panel for cottage
And, how easily could a summer cottage be completely ignored during winter?Upphew wrote:...No, but it means probably just one extra snow shoveling trip to the cottage.
Re: Solar Panel for cottage
If you had that extreme amounts of snow, then better not leave it alone anyway.tuulen wrote: And, how easily could a summer cottage be completely ignored during winter?
You're talking here anyway of only about 10% margin. 180 kg/m2 is about 1.8 meters of dry snow and 90 cm of moist snow. Usually in southern parts of the country you don't get anywhere near those figures.
Re: Solar Panel for cottage
Rip wrote:If you had that extreme amounts of snow, then better not leave it alone anyway.tuulen wrote: And, how easily could a summer cottage be completely ignored during winter?
You're talking here anyway of only about 10% margin. 180 kg/m2 is about 1.8 meters of dry snow and 90 cm of moist snow. Usually in southern parts of the country you don't get anywhere near those figures.
True, but an engineer must consider what COULD happen. Extremely heavy snow might happen once in a hundred years, but COULD happen.
The point is that solar panels do have weight, and the weight should be taken into consideration.
Re: Solar Panel for cottage
Hello
I have different situation, i need to connect 2pannels on north and 2 panels south. Can be a problem when one side won’t have sun? Parallel connection.
I have different situation, i need to connect 2pannels on north and 2 panels south. Can be a problem when one side won’t have sun? Parallel connection.