the yesyes observatory - the build

[yesyes]

I just realised that I haven posted an update from last weekend.

Installed an outdoor socket

From inside

ran more cables for sockets and lights

Installed the front corner protection

Pulled the outdoor SWA cable inside

I also cut the cladding boards for the inside door to size. Finally those 3.6m boards are out of the way. I cut the rest down to six 1.6m lengths which will make some nice shelves.

[dmahon]

You appear to have forgotten to sheath the earth wire with some green/yellow. Cost about 30p from toolstation/wickes.

[Ccolvin968]

I have been following your build since the very beginning. I am extremely jealous and amazed at how well I has turned out for you. Keep up the great work!

[r3i]

You appear to have forgotten to sheath the earth wire with some green/yellow. Cost about 30p from toolstation/wickes.

I did that with mine but just out of interest, is there any other reason for doing it than making it clear that it is the earth wire?

[Tinker1947]

I did that with mine but just out of interest, is there any other reason for doing it than making it clear that it is the earth wire?

Saves it shorting out should it get bent and touch either of the other wires.......

[opticalpath]

Saves it shorting out should it get bent and touch either of the other wires.......

Yes .... when you push the socket plate on to the box, the wiring inevitable scrunches up a bit behind it.  Don't want a folded bare earth wire brushing up against something it shouldn't. 

Adrian

[opticalpath]

My two penneth - hire/buy a dehudifier. You might even need one long term.

+1 on a dehumidifier (desiccant disk type that works down to zero C).  Amazing how much moisture clings to the equipment and structure when the roof has been open all night.  The dehumidifier restores normal humidity very efficiently the morning after. 

Adrian

[yesyes]

I think I'll buy a dehumidifier when I have electricity in the obsy (not long now...). Thanks for that suggestion. The wife wants one for the house anyway.

In the meantime, yesterday I poured the sodium polyacrylate at the wet places. It seems to be working. So also thanks for that suggestion.

Last night just after I poured it:

today during my lunch break:

The powder has grown considerably and when I "scratched" some away the surface below is much drier. Will leave it till tonight and then remove it.

[opticalpath]

I think I'll buy a dehumidifier when I have electricity in the obsy (not long now...). Thanks for that suggestion. The wife wants one for the house anyway.

 

....

Go for the efficient 'desiccant' type that has a rotating disk that is constantly regenerated. They work down to zero degrees, unlike the less efficient compressor types that don't work at low temperatures. Oh, and make sure it has the option for an external drain hose so you can 'plumb it in': the built in container for collecting water fills quickly and needs emptying frequently if you don't have an external drain hose.

Brilliant for laundry drying too!

Adrian

[yesyes]

You appear to have forgotten to sheath the earth wire with some green/yellow. Cost about 30p from toolstation/wickes.

Good idea. Bought 5 metres (faaar too much) for £1.19. Will add to the outdoor socket and all indoor sockets when I install them.

[yesyes]

Update from last weekend.

I finished running the cables (mains and network) including running outdoor Cat6 network cable to the house (I'm glad that's done....) and a short run of SWA cable to the small shed next to the obsy.

I also installed some boards that will be behind the ply wood where I can screw the fuse box, network components and automation control box to.

That's 20 double mains sockets, 6 double network sockets and 2 double light switches (red and white light each) plus the cables going to where the lights will be.

Now I need to tidy up a little and order the ply sheets this week and start putting them up this coming weekend.

A few pictures:

outdoor network cable running along existing SWA mains cable

This is where the fuse box will go

And the boards for the network components (left) and the control box (right)

[yesyes]

ah, almost forgot, this is what the wet spot looked like after removing the sodium polyacrylate after 5 days. Much better now but not completely dry yet. I left a fan heater blowing at it while I was working on the obsy Saturday and Sunday an it dried up much quicker than before. Forgot to take another "after" picture.

[Mav359]

Chris forgive me if this is a dense question but why not just cut that section out along the joist and stick in a new bit of board and screw it down? your covering the floor anyway

[yesyes]

That is plan B. I would have to take out the whole board again and spend money to buy a new one or even 2. On the other hand, the money I spend on these chemicals and keeping the heater running for hours would probably have bought me another 2 boards.

[yesyes]

actually... I'm going to order the ply this week, I might as well get another sheet of OSB with the same order and replace the whole board in the warm room. The scope room side is not so bad so I'll just dry that out ...

It's not just that gap under the door that's wet, it's also wet along the front wall in the warm room. So probably better to replace the whole sheet, not just a small bit.

[Astrokev]

20 double mains sockets! Did I read that right? I know it's better to have too many rather than too few, but 20 ?!

[yesyes]

Well.... It's been suggested to take the number I had in mind and double it. So I did...

I guess the number I had in mind was already quite high...

The warm room will double as my electronics tinkering workshop. Most of the sockets are around where that desk will be. Exactly half the sockets, actually...

[Stargazer33]

20 double mains sockets! Did I read that right? I know it's better to have too many rather than too few, but 20 ?!

Is that how you are going to deal with your local light pollution? Take so much power out of the grid that all your local street lights go off! 

[yesyes]

5.5mm ply and one OSB3 sheet have just been delivered.

[yesyes]

This shall be interesting. I've had the business card of the local Planning Enforcement Officer through my letter box yesterday asking me to call him back regarding that outbuilding on my property. Apparently some neighbour complained. He wants to visit and take measurements.

[Gina]

Oh dear!  Hope everything works out alright after all that effort you put into it.  Neighbours can be a curse or very helpful - sheer pot luck!  It's quite amazing what some can take exception to.  We have had both sorts.  We even had one who complained to the local council at the way we cut a hedge    They came and checked and said we were well withing the regulations and that the complaint was ridiculous.

To me it looks like your obsy should be well within planning regs   Good luck

[malc-c]

Provided the height from ground to the eves are less than 2.5m, the floor area is less than 15 sq mtr, and if within 2m of a boundary has a max height of 2.5m then you should be OK.  There are also regulations about the percentage of area in relation to the total area of the land, and the distance from the house, but unless you have a really small garden then this may not come into play.  More info can be found from this site http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/outbuildings/

[DrRobin]

That is a real shame that someone will sit there watching it take shape and leave it until now to complain.  I can never understand why people don't come round and knock on your door at an earlier stage, rather than going to the planning office.  Most problems could easily be ironed out with a quick conversation.  At the end of the day they have to live near you and if they loose at the planning office they will forever hold you up as someone destroying the local environment.  Likewise if you loose, you will be faced with modifications or possibly removing it, not a good outcome either way.

Robin

[yesyes]

just made an appointment for today 12:00 noon. will let you know what the outcome was...

[Stargazer33]

I will keep my fingers crossed for you Chris! As long as your local planning officer has the normal amount of common sense and can see what you are trying to/have achieved with your observatory then I'm sure everything will be fine.  It's not like you are going to be housing illegal immigrants in there or using it to run an engineering business 24/7.

Good luck with your meeting.