u/Nomadness

This took about three times as long as expected... today I finally returned the rented scaffolding, and can do the wiring with the collapsible ladder. This is four assemblies on 2x3 angle, fixtured to 24-foot longitudinal T-slot rails supported by the Wells Cargo hat sections. It is electrically organized as independent 2S2P on port and starboard., and each half has its own Victron MPPT controller. A physical ordeal at this creaky age, but now it gets fun... hopefully!

This is a beast of a project but now moving mostly smoothly... Tying aluminum fence posts into the hat section rib structure to support t-slot longerons on both sides that will then support 2.6 KW arranged as four assemblies of two panels each supported by 2 by 3 crossmembers. No holes topside. Attachments are with #14 Tek self drillers into the hat sections (with Sikaflex 221), and those solid spacer structures keep loads in shear and compression while building it out .75" to clear the little gutter (24 ft Wells Cargo). It's a bit of torture at 73, climbing around up there on scaffolding, but it will be wonderful to finally have places to mount things topside (not a cargo trailer's strong suit).

I mounted a inductive cooker onto a piece of ply with some heavy drop leaf brackets... Installing studs in three hard points in the base with spacers to match the existing feet. There is also a lifting handle and cord management. It's so nice to not have yet another thing that has to be wrapped and stowed in a cabinet. It's mounted to a multi-purpose wood table that also carries a couple of electronics racks, microscope, and all the waterworks manifold stuff. The fold down workbench is right next to this, making an l-shaped galley area. (I need to disassemble it and give the plywood a layer of sealant, though, or it'll turn into a greaseball in a few months!)

I've posted about the mobile lab a few times, built into a 24x8 Wells Cargo from 2005. This is the zone of geekery... I brought the Bionode over from the development lab via folding aluminum ramp and a winch with wireless remote. Nothing broke! That black platform under it is a shock isolation platform mounted on wire rope isolators (with little loading ramps).

This provides my compute tools in one package including about 24 TB of storage, local AI for a few projects, video production, home assistant, communications, etc. It has its own battery backup, but the trailer's main power system is right next to it, including about 5 kwh of lithium. The machine is tucked between the folded ramp and a pelican case, and above it is the mini split.

Moving aft, there's a small machine shop, adjustable bed under fold-down workbench, galley, electronics lab, ham radio, 3D printer, waterworks, piano, inventory storage, tools, etc. The roof is 2.6 kW of solar panels. (I have not gotten an all-up weight yet, but have started offloading excess inventory.)