Skip to content

Southern Fried Science

Over 15 years of ocean science and conservation online

  • Home
  • About SFS
  • Authors
  • Support SFS

Tag: DIY solar

I turned my woodshop into a personal solar farm.

Posted on June 21, 2021January 8, 2024 By Andrew Thaler
I turned my woodshop into a personal solar farm.
Built to Last, Conservation

This is Part 1 of Built to Last: A Reflection on Environmentally Conscientious Woodworking.

  • Built to Last: A Reflection on Environmentally Conscientious Woodworking
  • Part 1: I turned my woodshop into a personal solar farm.
  • Part 2: Getting a handle on workworking chemicals, or sometimes we all need to vent.
  • Part 3: Furniture as Revolution.
  • Part 4: The best tool for the job is you
  • A good joint is built to last: archaeologists uncover evidence for the earliest structural use of wood.

Note: there is an update to this project, here: Woodworking off the grid: upgrades to my DIY solar workshop.


For almost a decade, I’ve dreamed of building an off-grid solar system to power my woodworking, provide reliable back-up power for my home, and reduce the number of 2-stroke engines in my life. This was finally the year where I had the time and resources to do it. 

My workshop isn’t big. The 12-foot by 16-foot shed houses not just my tools and workbenches, but also all our yard and gardening supplies, storage for assorted seasonal gear and decorations, and a pile of robot parts. So I needed a compact system that still delivered the amps. 

Building a small off-grid solar system is simpler than you might think. Building a small off-grid solar system that can run power tools is a bit more complicated. 

Read More “I turned my woodshop into a personal solar farm.” »

Popular Posts

The next OpenCTD is here!The next OpenCTD is here!June 22, 2026Andrew Thaler
What Ocean Ramsey does is not shark science or conservation: some brief thoughts on "the Shark Whisperer" documentaryWhat Ocean Ramsey does is not shark science or conservation: some brief thoughts on "the Shark Whisperer" documentaryJuly 2, 2025David Shiffman
Undermining the Law of the Sea. Some additional thoughts following my OpEd in the Hill.Undermining the Law of the Sea. Some additional thoughts following my OpEd in the Hill.June 22, 2026Andrew Thaler
What is a Sand Shark?What is a Sand Shark?November 12, 2017Chuck Bangley
Ageism in the conservation job marketAgeism in the conservation job marketJune 19, 2026Chris Parsons
The story of the pride flag made from NASA imagery: Bluesky's most-liked imageThe story of the pride flag made from NASA imagery: Bluesky's most-liked imageSeptember 27, 2024David Shiffman
Screaming into the void - Why your scientific paper doesn’t matterScreaming into the void - Why your scientific paper doesn’t matterJune 18, 2026Chris Parsons
That's not a blobfish: Deep Sea Social Media is Flooded by AI SlopThat's not a blobfish: Deep Sea Social Media is Flooded by AI SlopDecember 19, 2025Andrew Thaler
Our favorite sea monsters – Ningen (#4)Our favorite sea monsters – Ningen (#4)September 7, 2010Andrew Thaler
Did monster hunters find a 120 meter long giant squid on google maps?Did monster hunters find a 120 meter long giant squid on google maps?June 17, 2016Andrew Thaler
Subscribe to our RSS Feed for updates whenever new articles are published.

We recommend Feedly for RSS management. It's like Google Reader, except it still exists.

Southern Fried Science

  • Home
  • About SFS
  • Authors
  • Support SFS


If you enjoy Southern Fried Science, consider contributing to our Patreon campaign.

Copyright © 2026 Southern Fried Science.

Theme: Oceanly Premium by ScriptsTown