Power to the people

At the block we plan to be self-sufficient in terms of power.  We have a Lister Petter generator that provides power to our tools and cement mixer at the moment and will provide back-up to our solar system once the mains power is connected.  We don't plan on using the generator as a standard but will start it up if we need to run the dryer, which is one of our most power-hungry appliances.  

While we are hoping that the wind and the wood fire at the block will allow us to  dry the majority of our washing outdoors or on a clothes airer, I am no stranger to the mud Gippsland can provide and the magnetic forces children seem to possess in attracting it to their clothing.

As the batteries and power connections provide a risk to small hands and the generator is loud when running, the gentleman builder designed a 3 by 3 by 3 metre shed that will house the generator on an independent slab, the batteries and power controls with some space to the south for storage.

Due to the fall of the land, we used prefabricated cement  footings with standard metal ant capping to address any potential termite issues.  We used some of the beams we rejected for the house (because they were not long enough) as bearers. The joists are F17 hardwood and the frame was constructed with structural grade pine (to minimise costs) and this was reinforced with metal strapping for cross bracing.  The winds we get at the block can be pretty severe so the gentleman builder tends to brace everything that can be braced, just to be sure.

The generator will sit on a reinforces concrete slab that sits upon separate concrete footings and is not connected to the rest of the shed.  This should eliminate shake as the generator tends to wobble.

The shed was insulated with air-cell glareshield and clad in colourbond in a shade darker than the shouse roof.  This is one of the cheapest wall cladding you can get that is non-toxic and does not require maintenance.

We picked up some pre-fabricated treated pine stairs from Bunnings for two reasons.  Firstly, they were a quick solution to the fact that two of the doors are about 500mm from ground level.  Secondly, they were incorrectly marked at $15.95 rather than $159.50. 

The batteries we decided on are 600 amp hour deep cycle Hoppecke from Germany.  We have a bank of 12 batteries that are 2 volts each.

The control system is an Outback Mate charger, controller and inverter.

We put on standard external doors (painted with Dulux weathershield) and locks so that we can secure our $19,000 battery investment.