Solar Mobile Workshop

This is one of the earliest project I have done in TAFE during my Renewable Energy course. 

The aim was to design a solar system for a caravan. I wanted to do something different and innovative, so I designed a caravan which can be used as a workshop when working in a remote location. For example it could support the construction of a shack in the bush, and provide a basic accomodation for two workers in the same time. The calculations in this project are done with the "rule of thumb", instead of the formulas provided by the Australian Standards. Reviewing this project now, I could do some improvements: the inverter should be larger, and I would use an integrated inverter/battery charger like the Sunny Island from SMA. A backup generator could provide some extra power to operate a welder or other power demanding tools. This would increase the weight and will require a very strong structure for a caravan.

This design need to be improved, but the idea is still innovative and useful.

Click here for the specification
Click here for the tender
Click here for the full report

I have done the drawings with Google Sketchup, a very easy and free 3D design software. To draw the caravan I used some parts downloaded from Google Warehouse.