Version one has a Arduino based energy management system. This reads inside and outside temperature, humidity, energy output of the solar panels, control of two inverters, load control for external battery chargers, speed control for a hepa filtered outside air vent blower and a roof AC unit. It can enable loads to match available power and choose between the vent and AC for cooling. Insulation is good enough that the body heat from two people will cause the vent to cycle and regulate the internal temperature at 70F down to about 40 F outside.

Version one issues:

  • Too small, workspace is limited.
  • No water systems, shower or toilet.
  • Insulation could be even better
  • power management could be even smarter

Version two of the solar live/work space has several goals:

  • Be larger, but still small enough to tow with a mid size SUV or pickup truck.
  • Be able to manage charge transfer between different sources and sinks.
  • Be highly insulated to the point that two people can warm it with their body heat.
  • Have an very smart energy management system
  • Be convertible from a rest / sleep / eat space to a maker space as needed.
  • Have a composting toilet, HE shower, and some level of water recycling.

I want to be able to roll up on a site, (burning man, a remote job site, or raw homestead land), unload a full set of tools and / or play gear, and with a few mins of configuration have a comfortable tiny house, or a functional workshop.

This will require an extraordinary effective use of space. Some items will retract into the ceiling, and some will fold into the floor. Some supporting structure will be under the floor, some on the roof, and some will be configurable to sit inside or outside the trailer.

I am in the design phase right now, looking at available and affordable trailers and considering the lessens learned from version one.