Dennis at Leyburn has made a pretty good warm room and roll off cover from a shipping container. Mark Bolton might be able to hook you up with him if you wanted to hook up with him.....
Well, after a long hiatus, things are now full steam ahead with the container observatory. As with many things in life, what started out as a modest(ish) idea has since grown somewhat.
I had in mind partitioning a 20' container into an observatory area (with roll-off roof) and a separate partitioned office area. What I am ending up with resembles more of a small house than an amateur observatory which is comprised of 2 x 20' containers + a 10' container with a 2.3M Sirius dome (see plans attached).
Cooling will initially be achieved via 50mm high density foam panels throughout and the office area will be covered by a shallow pitched colourbond roof. If that's not enough, I'll look at adding a couple of whirlygigs later on.
All going well, it should be ready for delivery in early Feb which should give me plenty of time to finish the pier base and cement foundations.
Cheers
Matt
Bloody Hell ! You got a bit carried away there didn't you ? I had recently wondered if this was still a going project. Apparently yes !
Keep us posted please, I'd be interested as to how the temperature control system works out. You guys have been having some pretty ridiculous Celsius numbers over there lately.
Ditto what Brent said. my 1st thoughts were how will you relocated it. Is it moduler? I hope you've got plenty of room for the trucks to manuver.
i think the veranda is a great addition. Hope the rest of the build goes smoothly.
Brent,
I guess it's a bit over the top but I figure that every man needs a "man cave". Yep, the temperature will be something I keep a close eye on. My father-in-law who owns the company that's building the obs is confident that the panelling and roof should do the job though. I guess only time will tell.
John,
The 3 sections are essentially bolted together and completely modular. They will be transported on a couple of flat bed trucks and reassembled. Yep, plenty of space for the trucks to get in. The obs will be located behind our horse padock so manuvering shouldn't be an issue.
I'm certainly looking forward to relaxing on the veranda on a clear night.
Hi there Mike.
Yes, it will be a big change from the old setup. It served me well for a few years back at my previous address (West Pennant Hills in the Nth West of Sydney). We moved house about 18 months ago to acres in Arcadia which is just west of Berowra in the northern outskirts of Sydney. Being able to have a setup like this was one of my motivations for moving so I'l really happy that it's finally happening.
This thing is a metal workers dream. I think I would have put the ladder and gate off to one side rather than in the middle. The way it is now, it looks like you'll be walking directly into your OTA as you ascend the ladder. No doubt looks are deceiving.
I especially like the Anti-Gravity system that is holding up the Obs room in the third pic. Seeing it float off the floor like that is quite astonishing....
Gidday Matt. The company I'm currently placed at builds water treatment plants. Some of the smaller ones are "semi permanent or relocatable installations" so are housed in either 20 or 40 foot containers. Generally they line the inside with white 10mm PVC sheet fixed to SHS battens welded to the inside walls and ceiling. They also put rubber on the floor and paint the outside a light colour (unless the client specifies otherwise). They overcome the internal heat issues by using airconditioners and door vents. I think they have a formula for working out the size & quantity of AC's required. That's not part of the scope of my work so I'm not 100% sure.
The containers have filtration, RO, pumps, electrical enclosures & other assorted equipment so there's a lot of latent heat on top of the heat of the environment they're located in. The containers are usually placed on 200mm high concrete sleepers on a prepared bed.
I've also thought of using a 20 footer as an obs. Interesting to see what others come up with here.
Last edited by louie_the_fly; 09-01-2013 at 10:07 PM.
Reason: Incorrect spelling
I think I would have put the ladder and gate off to one side rather than in the middle. The way it is now, it looks like you'll be walking directly into your OTA as you ascend the ladder.
flolinmod, I originally planned to have the ladder off to one side however I ended up placing it in the centre because it would be in-line with the pier rising through the floor. I'm planning to design slide out storage or a slide out bed in the section below the raised floor, so either side of the pier needed to be clear. I'm not too concerned about bumping into the OTA. I will be able to climb up either side of it without too many problems but as you say, I guess only time will tell if I got it wrong.
Quote:
I especially like the Anti-Gravity system that is holding up the Obs room in the third pic. Seeing it float off the floor like that is quite astonishing....
Chris, I like it as well . I was initially a bit skeptical that it would work but after taking a good look at it, it's as solid as a rock.
Quote:
Matt, your profile needs updating. It still has you at WPH.
Andrew, thanks for letting me know. I took a look in my profile and couldn't find any mention of WPH so I guess you were referring to my lat & long co-ords which I have now updated.
Hi Stew, it's surprising what's being done with shipping containers now. I have heard of them being lined with a thick rubber bladder and used as underground water tanks. I had originally wanted to paint the whole thing white but it's an argument with "the approver" that I lost. It's going be be cottage green instead.
The whole unit will sit on cement piers with plenty of air space below so I could also place some form of ventilation slots in the floor.
An small AC unit is certainly an option if all else fails but I have a few more ideas to try (fan forced vents, etc) before I go down that track.
TLDR all of it however my input is heat waves at night coming off the metal will interfere with your viewing pleasure. Sure the roof comes off but there will be a lot of heat loss into the surrounding air space at night from the container.
Just buy a Reefer container fully insulated ready to go
Did consider this however adding the 50mm insulation panels is essentially achieving the same results. Modding a standard container is also much easier then working with a reefer (cabling, welding, etc).
Quote:
heat waves at night coming off the metal will interfere with your viewing pleasure.
I had considered this. I'm hoping that the separate colorbond roof will prevent the containers heating up. I will also plant bushes around the Obs to try and keep the direct sunlight off the containers. If it's still a problem I guess I could use highly reflective (heat resistant) paint.
..... I'm hoping that the separate colorbond roof will prevent the containers heating up. I will also plant bushes around the Obs to try and keep the direct sunlight off the containers. If it's still a problem I guess I could use highly reflective (heat resistant) paint.
I like the seperate raised roof with the air gap it's a great cooling option
Also seperate shadecloth walls work really well in keeping the sun off the North & West walls
Air vents at floor level is a good option as well.....
Things are progressing well with the container observatory.
Last weekend I finished pouring the cement 6 piers that the 2 I beams will sit on to support the overall structure and I have also poured the pier base itsself (2 tonnes). I will pour the main pier (300mm diameter formatube) once the observatory is in place as there will be little margin for error with it's location rising through the container floor.
This weekend I have just finished excavating the hill on which the observatory will sit.
The I beams get sent off to be galvanised tomorrow (will take 10 days or so) and the observatory is currently getting electrical and data cables & fittings installed.
All going well, it should arrive on site in another 2-3 weeks.
Things have been progressing a little slower than planned due to a few factors, the main one being the crazy weather we have been having around Sydney over the last month or so. My back padock (behind which the observatory will be located) has been too muddy to get any trucks in to deliver the I-Beams. We're shooting for this to happen next Thursday but we'll just have to wait and see if the weather co-operates. The observatory itsself is nearing completion as can be seen in the attached photos. The painting has been finished and the insulation is mostly done. Internal walls are also pretty well completed. With a bit of luck, in 3-4 weeks I'll be enjoying clear Autumn nights in teh comfort of me new man cave.
Looks like you are building a block of flats.... looks great, will double as a storm shelter too... There is a fellow building a house out of shipping containers near me, 3 stories and all.....
. Yep, the temperature will be something I keep a close eye on. My father-in-law who owns the company that's building the obs is confident that the panelling and roof should do the job though. I guess only time will tell.
.
Will be interesting to see the finished product, all the best with it 
