wood drying shed

7 Posts
Nov 19, 2008 06:23 pm
wood drying shed

I would like to build a solar powered wood drying shed approx 1400 sq ft. 12' x 20' x 7' high. Something similar to a greenhouse, I thought I could use solar powered attic vents on the gable ends, cover the frame with good plastic sheathing and add an electric heater using a solar panel, battery and inverter. Maybe a wind/solar combination. Site has great southern exposure on a 140 acre farm. The frame I can build. The plastic sheathing I can install, not sure what the best product would be. The vent fans I can install. I can install solar panel,battrey and inverter not sure exactly what I need. Any help would be greatly appreciated
 
578 Posts
Nov 19, 2008 06:31 pm
Re: wood drying shed

some other folks on the forum may be able to help you out more, but i would recommend against using pv and a battery to run an electric heater.

if its warmth you want, use solar thermal.  either solar air or radiant solar water heating, heck even passive solar.

trying to make electric heat with pv will not be efficient at all, not to mention very expensive.

cheers,

james
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7 Posts
Nov 19, 2008 07:13 pm
Re: wood drying shed

Thank you James  this is the guidance I need. I will follow up on your advise.
 
1 Posts
Nov 19, 2008 09:04 pm
Re: wood drying shed

Hi John
I used to know this person. His shed was very effective and just used passive solar heat circulated by small fans.
Read about it at
http://www.jonathan-guest.co.uk/solar-wood-kiln.htm
Hope its of use
Andy L
 
7 Posts
Nov 19, 2008 09:18 pm
Re: wood drying shed

Thanks Andy

looks simple and effective

John
 
Nov 20, 2008 04:14 am
Re: wood drying shed

It can and has been done. HomePower. Not sure which issue. Some time during the 90's. Can' be sure, but I think it was students at ASU in Boone, NC. who built it. If I get time this morning I'll try to narrow it down but if not... Here's a couple a road signs.
http://www.homepower.com/home/
http://www.appstate.edu/
 
Nov 20, 2008 06:34 am
Re: wood drying shed

Homepower #63
 
28 Posts
Nov 25, 2008 04:41 pm
Re: wood drying shed

Check out woodweb.com and search for solar kilns. A very usefull site for anything wood
 
14 Posts
Nov 26, 2008 04:09 pm
Re: wood drying shed

Assuming you have good solar exposure, you really don't even need supplemental heat. Woodmizer ( the band saw manufacturer ) sells plans and a kit with the fans.

http://www.woodmizer.com/us/secondary/kilns/solardry3000/solar.aspx

The design they had before this one was better, in my opinion.  It looked somewhat like this one, but the entire roof was made of some light weight metal trusses (covered with a double layer of plastic ) that hinged at the high point of the wall, so you loaded the building by lifting the front of the "roof" and raising it up.....the truss actually hung over the back of the top wall, and was counter weighted to make 'raising the roof' very simple.  The end and back walls were site built, with a walk-thru door on an end wall.
 

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