Solar Panels For Sheds
Now you know all about solar panels, its time to put them together with one of our favourite things garden sheds!
You might be surprised to learn that these two are an amazing combination, and can sometimes even be a better option than installing them on your house! As shed experts, were here to guide you through all the intricacies and benefits of adding solar panels to a shed.
If youve got a question about putting the two of them together, prepare to have it answered!
Is The Roof Of Your Shed Suitable For Panels
One question you need to ask yourself is whether the roof of your shed is suitable for solar panels. Adding solar panels to your roof has a similar weight addition to installing another layer of shingles on a standard asphalt roof. With traditional rooftop systems, installers will typically conduct an engineering review to ensure that your roof is structurally sound enough to withstand the additional weight of solar equipment. Depending on how your shed was built, and what it was built with, its roof may not be strong enough to hold up solar panels.
In addition to structural integrity, space is another aspect to keep in mind when considering solar for your shed. Most sheds are small and dont have a lot of available roof space. Standard residential solar panels are roughly 15 square feet in size if you have a small shed, this means youll only be able to fit a few panels.
Of course, the amount of sunshine hitting your shed is also an important factor. What direction is your sheds roof facing? A sunny, southern-facing roof is optimal for solar electricity production, but east or west facing roofs can also work. No matter which direction your sheds roof faces, you want to make sure its clear of shade. If your shed is at the edge of your property and obscured by tree branches or shaded by tall buildings, you may want install your solar panels in another location.
Can I Heat My Shed With Solar Power
Along with large-draw tools like electric saws or sanders, electric heaters place the greatest demand on your solar sheds system.
Given the 1,500-watt draw of even a small electric space heater, its typically best to explore passive heating options like windows, skylight insulation, and painting the shed a dark color before using solar power to create artificial heat in the shed.
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The New Shed Research And Construction
For a start the shed needed to be 6 metres x 9 metres or 20 feet x 30 feet and to be built on a concrete slab/floor, so several companies were chosen and when the research was done it was discovered that one company was the manufacturer and supplier to most of the other shed kit retailers.
Even though the prices from all the companies were similar the decision was made to purchase a shed from the company that was the best at communication with their customers and were really quick with any correspondence to any questions the decision was made to go with a company called Fair Dinkum Sheds. Even though the prices from all the companies were similar these guys were excellent with explaining everything that would be required and some details about building approvals with the local authority. The lead time for delivery was 6 to 8 weeks and in that time some trees and palms needed to be removed and the site leveled.
How Many Watts Of Solar Do You Need For A Shed
Once you determine how many watts your entire shed uses, you can determine the size and number of solar panels you need. For example, if you require 1000 watts of power for your shed, you could easily purchase two 400W EcoFlow solar panels and two 110W solar panels.
Well examine the common watts needed for common electrical items that you may use for your shed:
- Electric drill: 600 watts
- Electric leaf blower: 2,500 watts
- Printer: 400 watts
- Coffee machine: 600 watts
- Electric heater: 2,000 to 3,000 watts
Its good to look at your previous electricity bill for your shed to determine the average watts or kilowatts used per day. Often, you may not use every appliance every single day. Therefore, its good to gauge how many watts you need daily to run the necessary appliances and power tools.
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Whats The Proper Solution For Solar Cable Thickness
First, we measure, then calculate. Its distance versus load, with adjustments for cable type, installation method and temperature de-rating.
To go longer distances, you increase the cable size. Jumping from 6 to 10 to 16mm2 costs a few bucks in copper, but will likely cost a lot of bucks in conduit and a new trench. However, that presents an opportunity. I always insist we put some data cables in and I have even seen a pipe to the hot water service added for a little shed luxury. The wisest of all customers will bury a 90mm stormwater pipe to use as a duct to pull other services through later.
Now that solar systems are getting much bigger, network operators are insisting on export limits. To achieve technical compliance, an inverter smart meter 6 is installed at your main switchboard so your solar power system can see whats coming and going.
A trap that befalls some is this smart meter must have an RS485 communication link to the inverter. There are some wireless solutions available, but a hard-wired connection is always best so its handy youve already installed a few extra data cables while you had a trench open for the new shed supply.
Why Add Solar Panels To A Shed
Solar Panels love to be somewhere thats got a great view of the sun. And, chances are, your garden has been designed to get the most sunlight possible. If youve got a shed in that garden, absorbing all that sunlight, putting solar panels to soak it all in might just be a genius move. In fact, it might be better to put them on your shed than your roof.
But why?
This is simply because solar panels want to be facing the sun for as much of the day as possible. In the UK,the best direction to get as much sun as possible is directly south. This will be especially effective over the summer, when we get the most hours of sunlight all year.
If you have an east/west facing roof on your house, or any orientation where you cant face the panels south, then any solar panels you put there wont receive optimal sunlight. Ultimately, this means theyll make less energy and youll have worse value for money.
So if your shed roof faces south, but the roof of your house doesnt, then install them on your shed instead!
Recommended Reading: How To Measure A Triangle Roof
Talk To Us About Solar Panels For Your Shed
There are many benefits to using solar panels on a shed. Some of which include the ability to power your farm, charge your equipment, and reduce day-to-day costs. If youre building a new shed and want to add solar panels then we can help. Our sheds are designed to meet your requirements and because they’re manufactured using structural steel, they’re very strong. Unlike cheap purlin sheds that need extra engineering for solar panels, ours don’t they’re already built strong enough to hold the weight of solar panels. A big bonus!If you have an existing shed that youd like to add solar panels to, although not as simple as working it into a new build, it could still be done with the right structure. We can assess your current shed to make sure its suitable for solar energy and can hold the weight of solar panels. Simply contact us here.If youre interested in seeing some of the shed projects weve completed, from farm sheds and hay sheds, to dressage arenas, download our free brochure here.
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Installing Panels On A Shed
Putting solar power kits on your shed is the ideal project if you want to go green! In most cases, its best to call on a trustworthy electrician to help install solar panels on your shed. But there are a few things you can still do yourself before the installation, such as:
While this is limited by the size of your sheds roof, you might not want to install more panels than youll feasibly be using. You also dont want to install more than your shed roof can structurally support.
Approximately 6 panels are enough to provide power output for one person if youre supplying power to your house. If you want to use your solar panels to power just your shed, however, then you might need less. Doing this will easily allow you toprovide utilities and electricity to your shed without hooking it up to the mains. Install some LED lights and let the solar generators do the work!
Other things you can do to prepare your roof for solar panels are:
- Clean your shed roof of all debris.
- Check it can support the panels.
- Decide how many panels you want and find a reputable supplier.
- Figure out how you will connect the panels to your mains supply or shed electricity.
Once youve got that all worked out, youll be on your way to providing clean, green energy to your shed and home!
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Can You Install Solar Panels On Wooden Roofs
Similar to asphalt shingles, installing solar panels on a wood or cedar roof mainly consists of drilling into a roof stud and slipping flashing in under the wood pieces to prevent leaking. Wood shingling can be brittle, and your installer will need to take extra precautions when mounting your panels to ensure that no parts of your roof end up unnecessarily cracked or damaged in any way.
How Much Power Do You Need
How many watts are you looking to generate?
The number of panels, how to face them, and the performance of the units all affect the amount of power you can generate from the solar panels on your solar shed. With a totally solar-covered roof, the shed will carry enough panels to power anything electrical within the shed, such as power tools, lights, and charging points for lawnmowers.
You can also use cables to send power to your home its usually a good idea to install them underground. The typical average household electricity use is around 3,800 kWh, which would require about twelve 320W solar panels, which would usually take up about 25 square meters of roof space.
If youre looking to install a sturdy new shed, companies like Urban Sheds have an experienced team to help you manage construction.
When it comes to solar kits and panels, monocrystalline plates are more effective, whereas polycrystalline panels are less effective but cheaper. Preferably, you want the more effective monocrystalline model for a smaller space as it permits you to get more power per meter of coverage.
See Related: Solar vs Wind Energy: Whats the Difference?
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Can You Put Solar Panels On Your Shed
Technically, you can put solar panels on any shed you just need to get a few things right to make sure theyre effective.
Solar panels are pretty hefty pieces of kit, which means the shed will need to be made from sturdy materials that can hold the weight. If your shed is made from flimsy material or is looking a bit worse for wear, it wont be a suitable home for solar panels.
Since the cost of solar panels is decreasing, you might be able to afford a decent-sized system but you need to make sure the shed has plenty of space for the panels. When it comes to solar power generation, it all depends on how much energy you consume. Generally, even if you only have very small electricity requirements, you’ll still need at least two or three panels, with will measure roughly 1.6 square metres.
As for the angle of the roof? You should make sure its at about 35 degrees, with the panels facing southwards, to make sure they have optimal efficiency . Installing the panels at this angle will also mean the rain will run off the panels and will avoid pooling. Itll also prevent debris from piling up.
If your sheds roof is at a different angle, you can still install solar panels, but they might not be as effective? Got yourself a shed with a flat roof? All you have to do is get a tilted-mounting system, which you can then place the panels onto.
Are Solar Sheds Worth It
Whether solar sheds are worth it depends on your power needs and the sheds distance from other power sources. For some users, solar sheds systems can be an expensive form of electricity when compared to their relatively meager output.
From a purely financial perspective, it might be less expensive to bring electricity from the main house to the shed through buried conduits. But if the distance is far, then building a solar shed might be less expensive than running electricity underground.
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What Are Solar Lights Made Of
The solar photovoltaic panel, battery, control electronics and the light fixture are some of the components that make up solar lights. When the sun isnt shining, a solar panel takes the light from the sun and turns it into electrical energy. It is possible to use the energy immediately or to store it in a battery.
Supplement An Existing System
Solar panels are long-term commitments, lasting 25 or more years. While this is sufficient for some, electricity needs might change over that time period for others.
Whether your family is expanding or you’ve shifted to working full-time at home, installing solar panels on a shed roof can help supply any extra needs.
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Is It Possible To Install Solar Panels On The Shed Roof
Are you thinking to install solar panels on the shed roof? There are several factors that have to be considered before taking the final decision. The structural integrity of the shed is the prime factor that has to consider before installing the solar panels on your shed roof. The structure must be capable to bear the additional weight of solar panels. The fault in calculating the strength of the structure may lead to mishaps while adding the panels to the roof. You can take the advice of an engineer to decide the suitability of your shed for taking an extra load. If your structure is strong enough, then you can proceed with the installation of solar on the shed roof.
If your shed is not strong enough, then you take steps to strengthen the shed. But, reengineering costs may be expensive. The ideal solution is that construct your shed from the beginning as solar-ready. This will help to avoid problems if you want to install solar in the future. In addition to that, you must check with the wiring in and to the shed. Usually, the solar installer will check the wiring and decide whether the wiring to the system is sufficient enough to feed back into the grid. Sometimes, the installer may recommend cable upgrades if it is not meet the AS regulations.
Is A Solar Shed The Right Solution For You
Installing solar panels on your shed is definitely worth looking into if you only want to provide electricity for your shed, or are constructing a new shed that you can build to be solar ready. If your main goal is to generate the maximum amount of savings with solar, you will want to install a larger system to cover all of your electricity needs. This may not be possible with a small, existing shed because of the available roof space, but you can always look into traditional rooftop installations, ground mounts, or carport options. Even if your shed cant hold enough panels to power your entire property, it can still be a good choice to decrease your overall electricity usage or supplement an existing solar array on your homes roof.
You can get competing quotes for solar sheds and other types of installations by joining the EnergySage Solar Marketplace. If youre particularly interested in installing solar on your shed, simply note in your account so our installer network is aware of your preferences. Keep in mind that because solar panel installations on sheds are typically smaller in size, it may be more difficult to find an installer to work on the project.
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Where Can Solar Panels Be Installed
Solar panels are commonly installed onto the roof of a property. However, this isn’t the only option. This is particularly good news for anyone who considers solar panels to be an ‘eyesore’. So rather than being installed on the roof of your home, solar panels could be installed on your shed or other outbuildings, such as a home office, workshop, studio or guest accommodation.
It’s even possible to have solar panels installed on the ground and some models have solar tracking which means the panels follow the sun during the day.
Invest In Higher Wattage
Its common for people to confuse efficiency with wattage. A panels wattage measures the potential electrical output the panel can produce under ideal circumstances. The greater the watts, the more electricity it can produce for your shed.
Its typically better to choose a higher-wattage panel for sheds. Thats because sheds tend to have limited space.
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