Solar Setup

tick66 · Tar Sands Joined: Apr 23, 2005 Posts: 37

Has anyone here ever setup a Solar setup in a singlewide trailer? I am thinking of buying a couple panels and maybe a small woodstove. Any suggestions.

kpeavey · Expert Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 1313

For a singlewide, I'd think even a small woodstove would be a hazard, although I've seen them in many places. Consider the use of a woodstove as an outdoor furnace, vent in the heated air. This is said with replacement of a home being a problem in the future. The thing only has to burn down once.
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strider3700 · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:12 am Post subject: Re: Solar Setup

I built an on slab addition to my single wide to get a woodstove in. Way easier to make everyone including inspectors and insurance happy. As for solar there should be no difference for a mobile then as for a house.
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patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1664

Our shop is currently building a solar system for a singlewide. I can offer that we chose to mount panels in the yard on a 6" pipe with a tilt and swing mount, capable of tracking when they can afford that. Two major considerations for doing this are,

1) The mobile home does not have the structural integrity to mount 4 panels, each 3 ft. x 5 ft.. The owner wants the installation to easily withstand 80 mph winds like we just had in Indiana from hurricane Ike.

2) panels are much easier to reach for any maintenance issues.

Check out post mounts, such as those carried by www.backwoodssolar.com.
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ORCA · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:11 am Post subject: Re: Solar Setup

Here, check this site out. http://store.sundancesolar.com/

They sell "plug and play" solar units. They also have a lot of other interesting stuff.
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dunewalker · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Solar Setup

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1664

Good idea, dunewalker!
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tick66 · Tar Sands Joined: Apr 23, 2005 Posts: 37

I have an old 3ft dish I think I might mount some panels to that and play around with that at first. Eventually I will add a porch and put them on the roof of the Porch.
You are probably right a wood stove in the trailer may not be the brightest Idea. I guess I will stick with some electrical heating. It is just a matter of keeping the power on for heat this winter. We lose power a lot.

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3448 Location: Maine

I would add a little addition and put the woodstove in that. A Jotul 602n is a great little stove for that. I like Strider's idea of pouring a little slab, but you could also get a nice fireproof base for the stove.

The problem with the woodstove is that you will have to put extra seating around it, because everybody will want to hang out there.

It's the best. Installed correctly it should be ok. They have special stoves for trailers too. It's worth it to do it right.

The solar should be no biggie. Do you own the land? If you do, a pole system is great. I have a friend who has one and it's very nice.

Solar hot water is the best bang for your buck, however. You can get a system from Thermodynamics in Nova Scotia and install it yourself.
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Arsenal · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: Solar Setup

Neat little power setup for the old BOB.

Potenco PCG2

1 minute of pulling provides:

* 30 minutes of talk time on a mobile phone
* 30 minutes of ultra-bright 1W White LED light
* 2.5 gallons (9.5L) of purified water

Could be useful to charge the items in your BOB if you are on the run. 2lbs.

EDITED: Of course it would be useful if it was already out. Sad

2009 ETA.
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fireplaceguy · Heavy Crude Joined: May 04, 2006 Posts: 284

Tick - I agree with Patience about mounting the solar modules on a ground mount instead of on your roof.

There are numerous wood stoves that are HUD approved for mobile homes. You should buy a new EPA approved model, too. If you can't afford to meet these two criteria, you should skip the entire project.

I'd suggest you look into the Pacific Energy line of stoves as they are very well heat shielded, which means they can be installed surprisingly close to combustible surfaces. That will do wonders to preserve your limited floor space. PE stoves are well made and attractive, but they are on the lower end of the price spectrum of well made stoves. Follow the installation instructions for mobile homes and it'll be perfectly safe - or at least as safe as YOU are...

The Jotul 602 mentioned above has no heat shielding and although it's physically smaller, it will eat up far more floor space with the clearances it requires. It also has a very small firebox and will not give you overnight burns. (Otherwise, it's a nice little stove. I use the nearly identical Vermont Castings Aspen for supplemental heat.)

If you can afford it, adding a room for the stove will really enhance your single wide. With adequate floor protection, there's no need for a concrete slab either. As Revi observed, make the room big enough for everyone!!
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