The Sol Cinema was commissioned by media arts charity Undercurrents and designed and constructed by Jo Furlong with support from artists
Ami Marsden & Beth Marsden. Jo recycled a caravan to produce the Sol Cinema we see today.
What makes it possible to operate such a compact cinema is our Lithium ion batteries. These are usually used in electric cars but they are ideal for our work. Our 120W solar panels receive Sunlight to charge our batteries ensuring that we always have power, whatever the weather.
Ami Marsden & Beth Marsden. Jo recycled a caravan to produce the Sol Cinema we see today.
What makes it possible to operate such a compact cinema is our Lithium ion batteries. These are usually used in electric cars but they are ideal for our work. Our 120W solar panels receive Sunlight to charge our batteries ensuring that we always have power, whatever the weather.
From holidays to a cinema
Our caravan is a Euro-Camper.
A three-berth 9ft 8.5cwt caravan, originally designed for the Mini back in 1965. 
We recycle caravans so let us know if you have one in need of an artists touch.
Stripped bare
The 1960's caravan stripped down with the brick cladding attached.
 The bare necessities
Constructing the tiered cinema seating
Plugging into the Sun
The technical parts to connect to the Sun was fitted by a local company
In designing our solar power supply system, much attention was given to minimizing the energy requirement to produce the power. Low energy LED projector laptop and lighting, although more expensive than conventional, reduced the energy 'demand' considerably. The solar energy supply system was also designed as a low voltage DC system that eliminated the need for an inverter to produce conventional 220v ac.The consequence of this however was the need for wiring cables to be around 20 times the size (in mm2 area, not diameter).This being far more cumbersome and bulky presented a few challenges. To overcome this, two control panels were made. One inside the cinema with shortest possible cables from battery to 'relay' switch to LED projector,lights etc.The second control panel with manual switches was a remote unit outside the caravan. A computer printer cable with 36 tiny wires to connect the two control panels. This allowed the cinema operative to make up to 36 'relay' on/off switches inside the caravan without the electricity having to go all the way outside to the manual control panel and back inside again! Written by Solar engineer David Lloyd-Jones info@solarsense.co.uk  The brains of the operation Life's a screen
Jo & Beth adjusting the interior. Much of the cinema has been made from recycled materials.
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Crafty people at work
Jo & Ami create the interior
The pillars of (an alternative) society
Jo attends to the finer details
 A stitch in time...
Beth & Ami get the needles out to make the comfy seats.
Future projections
Jo fitting our compact
LED video projector into an antique lighting housing.  If your idea of a fun night out is a quiet night spent in the caravan, then the Sol Cinema might just be right up your pitch.
Practical Caravan magazine Stylish interior
Lavish Decor
 Jo preparing the back row  |
