Oops, I cut my solar short

The recent Chicken Coop Conversion Project needed solar panels.

I didn't have any extras laying around so I used some panels which were taken from the other garage's power scheme.

The "other garage" is my lab, but it's winter-time where I now find myself a tad short on energy!

Kenny Hendrick wonders

Operation: Dammit commences


Solar Yard

In between the two garages is a 40-foot bus where a security system. is installed (to monitor the chickens when in the yard). Although there already was solar panels on the roof before they were used for the chicken coop, they were extra solar panels that were not needed most of the year. However in the winter they are a necessity to make up for the lack of winter sun.

Along came winter.

Since creating a new in-ground replacement solar array was out of the question (due to the frozen ground), it was decided to clad the top of the bus with solar panels ";-( .

Here we go again.

Solar on Troy Road

Solar Bus

First 4 solar panels are installed toward the winter sun.

This time I will make the roof-top solar arrays better than ever. No longer will they be stationary solar panels, these arrays will be adjustable.

The first phase of the new solar array is installed. It is one of four arrays that will cover the roof-top and the rear-door overhang.


At the time of this writing, there are actually 8 panels installed (2 48v arrays comprised of 4 solar panels each)

Solar Panels in Springfield

Solar Panels on bus




Solar Panels on 40 bus

40 bus

The Solar Panel Awnings are down because there were two sets of steel braces which were custom-cut to fix the panels to the sun's orientation (one size for winter and one for the other months). However I inadvertently used the steel for winter on another project. The awnings will have to wait till Spring to go back up.

Solar on 40 bus

Solar on 40

Solar on 40 footer

Completed Project

Great Completed Project!Great Completed Project Moment If your device doesn't play the video, try this .webm version instead (or just right-click and download the video to your own computer for the smoothest play).


Click next to see what happened

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