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bookwormom
09-18-2008, 06:40 AM
lthings move faster than we think once in a while. I really need some input from those more knowledgable than we are. due to my planned kiln, which will draw 75 ampere, a kink is thrown into the works of a few things.
we got a new barn next to the old barn which really is just a shed to keep equipment out of the weather. we need seven lights in that new barn and maybe a couple of outlets.
the problem is, the powercompany says we need to set two posts to get power directly from the main post to the barn. a couple of shade trees in a pasture will need to come down and all in all it seems to turn into a big hassle. Hubby talks about renting a ditchwitch to lay the line under ground from pole two to the barn and what we are wondering, is it worth the hassle for a few shoplights? that is all we have up there, lighbulbs. we have the perfect place for panels over the goatshed, southern exposure. there is one bulb in the goatshed, one in the tractorshed, one in the sheepshed, one in the chickenhouse, which also has an outlet for a heatlamp for babies, which I am not going to use up there anymore, there will be seven fluorescent lights added to that and a couple of outlets, just in case.

I really ought to get a gaskiln, I just dread building it, I have only a hundred and fifty other things to do and installing the firing mechanisms scares me by myself to no end. my kids say momma you are a technical zero and they are right.

12vman
09-18-2008, 03:59 PM
... kiln... heatlamp... 75 ampere... YOWZA!! :o

Them's some big loads! ;D

First rule of thumb.. Avoid using solar power (PV) to create any kind of heat. It's a very costly endeavor. If possible, I'd consider the gas fired kiln.

A few lights here and there wouldn't be too bad. Fluorescents are your best bet for sure when planning with solar. They give about the best bang per buck. (lumen per watt)

Personally, I'd say run the wire underground to the barn. You could have 2-5k in PV to cover what you want. (conservative estimate)

machinemaker
09-18-2008, 06:18 PM
Bookwormom,
just a suggestion on the kiln. I assume that you are doing ceramic work and that you have been using an electric kiln for bisque and glazing. I have been building high temp equipment like kilns, heat treat furncaces and foundry melt furnaces for years. there are some great industrial materials out there that work well if you want to build your own kiln that are a little out of the art and craft culture, but can save a lot of time and sometimes expence. I visit some sites that deal with home foundries, where there are people building their own eqipment and see a lot of information on gas, propane burner that are easy to make. I use two kilns for my sculpture work and they are both make out of ceramic blanket. A great material to build with and not too expensive. I would be interested in what your are doing and would be glad to share any of my experiences and sources of materials.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj310/machinemakerkss/100_1072.jpg