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Very happy with the end result - we built a new outside ramp yesterday - the one the builder had provided was 4 feet long and that was simply too steep. The new one is 6 feet and much better. (Not to mention better built and attached to the building much more securely.)
I will be having the shed wired but in the meantime I have a good solar light inside that gives me enough light to putter around in the evenings if I want. Right now I have the solar panel attached to the fence behind the shed and I have the wire running in via the window, but I would like to mount it permanently as it is a decent light and I may as well take advantage and not always burn electric for light out there.
The white fascia trim is aluminum - and the builder (I asked him about where to bring in the cable) said that that area inside the fascia is hollow and that I could run the cable in there. Soooo... I guess I would just drill a hole up there and run the cable in from the panel (and caulk it of course). Should I mount the panel up there in the same area? This is the light - the mounting bracket is fairly simple. I just don't want to drill holes anywhere and cause a leak.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Very nice shed.
Put the panel wherever it gets the most light, that's where the roof faces south here, since the sun goes east to west. You may have to look out there different times of the day, and watch out for shade at times from neighbor's trees or the fence. Don't worry about the leaks, if you caulk well and check the holes every year or so. I have a small solar panel on mine to trickle charge the riding mower, it's been there 8 years with no leaks and the clear silicone is still in good shape, since it's protected from the sun by the panel. For mounting the panel just be sure your screws/bolts go into something more substantial than just sheet metal, or add a piece of wood on the inside for added strength. I did that on my shed where I attached the fence to it.
Put the panel wherever it gets the most light, that's where the roof faces south here, since the sun goes east to west. You may have to look out there different times of the day, and watch out for shade at times from neighbor's trees or the fence. Don't worry about the leaks, if you caulk well and check the holes every year or so. I have a small solar panel on mine to trickle charge the riding mower, it's been there 8 years with no leaks and the clear silicone is still in good shape, since it's protected from the sun by the panel. For mounting the panel just be sure your screws/bolts go into something more substantial than just sheet metal, or add a piece of wood on the inside for added strength. I did that on my shed where I attached the fence to it.
Thank you.
Shed faces west, the end window faces south so those are the directions that I would have it. See how the solar panel is facing right now - that is the best direction for the sun. The picture was taken quite late in the day.
I think there are wood boards under that aluminum fascia trim. I guess I will have to climb up in the loft inside to get a better look.
I'd mount the panel on the roof close to the ridge vent. Feed the wire through the ridge vent- no holes to drill or caulk.
I'd still have to screw the mounting bracket on to something? And yikes then I would have to climb up on the roof. I like the idea of having it up there but I think my roof days are over.
I dislike the idea of putting any unnecessary holes in the roof, no matter how well they're sealed. Mount the panel on the fascia and run the wire through the soffit or the siding up high near the soffit. Leave a drip loop in the wire and caulk where it enters. If the penetration is somewhere that isn't ever going to get wet then it won't ever leak.
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