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The log cabin, summer house, or simple traditional shed has found a new lease of life in 2020, as people stuck in the coronavirus lockdown have turned to make the best of their outdoor spaces, and transformed their sheds to fit their new lifestyles.
But whether you have converted, or considering converting your shed into a bar, a home office, or even use as a stage for comedy, you'll likely need a power supply. Why not consider seeing how solar power can provide you with a sustainable power source for your shed activities. We have a quick guide to installing solar power on your shed or log cabin.
I need to power a small fridge in my shed – can solar power this?
You can power a fridge from solar power but bear in mind that a fridge needs to run 24 hours a day and that a common household fridge will need 240V, so it may be wise to consider a 12V fridge that is less energy-intensive.
Installing a 200W 12V panel and a 110Ah of sealed gel battery will be sufficient. You will need an inverter to match the energy use of the fridge, so be sure to check the appliance’s consumption before using the inverter.
If I wanted to just power a laptop and a light in my shed – what’s the minimum kit I need?
Laptops have a low voltage input, typically around 15V DC, so with a 120W solar panel, a 20A regulator, and a 75Ah battery, and a DC/DC multi-voltage charger, you will have enough power for most IT needs.
Do I have to have the panel on the shed roof?
No, but the higher up it is, the better. Assess how the sunlight falls on your shed to figure out the optimum placement for the panel and keep it clean and clear to maximise the power you get from it.
Most suppliers of solar panel kits would be able to advise you on the best system for your needs and help with installation queries, should you need.
If you’re interested in building a log cabin in the UK, get in touch today!
Author - Martin Corby
Posted - 15 Sep 2020
Disclaimer: This information is subject to change and as such, is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Readers are encouraged to verify the details independently.
Dave Pearce
Verified Customer
Livata 4x3
Very good quality cabin ,instructions could be better, but very pleased with end product.Martin kept me informed on order delivery was great, no damage or missing bits.
02 Feb 2024 - ""
Peter Thompson
Verified Customer
Clockhouse
Delivery was efficient, all well packaged and protected from damage. Constructed by three of us in one and a half days. Everything fitted perfectly and needed gentle mallet to locate exactly. Instruction book was clear simple and explicit. Thoroughly delighted with the construction and the finish. Very pleased that Martin was able to redraw the design to our specification. Delighted with the whole thing, finish, price and service. Thanks Martin.
06 Dec 2023 - Paignton, United Kingdom
Philp Eaton
Verified Customer
Livata 4x3
Great product. Lots of surplus parts supplied which is helpful. Quality of wood is fantastic. Cannot fault the service.
01 Nov 2023 - ""
Patrick Ford
Verified Customer
Bespoke Cabin
Very good cabin, and came flat packed for us to put up. Easy instructions and went together really well. would recommend. we would use this company again, good product, good price and brilliant customer service.
31 Oct 2023 - , United Kingdom
Charles Chalmers
Verified Customer
Bespoke Cabin
Delivered on time with friendly driver. All components in good order and assembly went well. Good service.
17 Oct 2023 - Washington, United Kingdom
Jon Budd
Verified Customer
Livata 6x4
Great quality item with simple, concise instructions, easily constructed by the family. Great delivery service. However, the customer service from Garden Adventure was not great; the cabin was a month late arriving, we had to chase for information regarding this as none was forthcoming. The incorrect bearers arrived and although we received a refund we had to chase for this. Not sure I would recommend them but the cabin materials were great.
25 Sep 2023 - Slough, United Kingdom
Andrew Buckland
Verified Customer
Meribel 5x3
Seamless ordering, Martin was extremely helpful with all my questions. Delivery was also fantastic with the delivery guy very helpful (it's a big delivery). Took me and elderly father in law 2 days to get it all up and built/weather tight, went together very easily with no issues. I went for the shingle roof, it still came also with felt which could be used as roof underlay. For spec I went for the superior level glazing with toughened glass, also went for the larger logs (68mm) and glad I did as feels so sturdy/insulated although am sure the 44mm would be great also. I Insulated the floor with celotex, could have done the roof but as this is a garden room rather than office etc I didn't go that far. Overall a highly recommended product, for what you get I think it's a very competitive price, much better than others I had seen that weren't so good. The only parts I bought myself were the insulation and guttering (and paint/preserve of course). I want it to last so did two coats of preserve, knotting and two of paint, also have a sealant to go on which is yet to be done. A sprayer really helped/cut down on time. Would not hesitate in recommending Martin to purchase through, helpful all through the process and very quick to respond. 5*
22 Aug 2023 - Basildon, United Kingdom
Chris Green
Verified Customer
Meribel 4x3
Great cabin. Excellent quality. From the initial ordering and having it customised to my specs, to screwing on the last piece of trim this has been a pleasure. Straight forward to assemble. Had everything but the roof covering done in a day on account of how well it went together. Sturdy high quality build. Could not be happier. This company have been an absolute pleasure to deal with. Top marks 👍
12 Dec 2022 - Rugeley, United Kingdom
Luke Stevens
Verified Customer
Torgnon 6x3
Really pleased with our log cabin! Can't believe the quality of the wood. It took the installation team (Lee Stuart and 3 others who were recommended by Martin) 6.5 hours which was really impressive given the weather conditions on the day, and even they said how good the quality was. It is so warm inside and we didn't even have the insulation installed. Great correspondence from Martin from the start to keep us in the loop regarding production and delivery times. Would highly recommend to anyone. Thanks Martin!
15 Nov 2022 - Swansea, United Kingdom
Steve Rycroft
Verified Customer
Livata 5x3
Quick service and delivery - any issue with missing parts solved quickly
12 Oct 2022 - ""
Log Cabin Kits - Part of the Garden Adventure Group
19 Manor Road
East Grinstead
West Sussex
RH19 1LP
01342 477774
sales@gardenadventure.co.uk
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