Turning a 9-Foot Container Into a Portable Power Distribution Center
Shipping containers can make excellent portable electrical rooms, especially when a jobsite needs secure temporary power that can be moved, expanded, and protected from weather.
In this project, Channing converts a small steel shipping container into an e-house after a remote office was vandalized and burned down, taking the site's electrical service with it. The new solution is built in Saskatoon, then shipped to the remote location as a self-contained power distribution center.
Using a Shipping Container as an E-House
E-houses are becoming a common solution for construction sites, universities, hospitals, and other projects that need temporary or portable electrical infrastructure.
Because the container has fork pockets, it can be repositioned around a site as needed.
Once the utility provider supplies power to the meter, the container can act as the central distribution point for equipment, temporary buildings, and other electrical loads.
Exterior Strut Framing for Electrical Equipment
Container Modification World MSS Exterior Brackets were used to install vertical strut channel on the outside of the container.
Additional strut was then run horizontally to create a mounting surface for the meter box, loop box, conduit, and incoming service.
This keeps electrical equipment organized and avoids welding custom supports to the container.
The same approach can be used inside with MSS 1-Way Brackets to create a modular electrical mounting system.
Surface-Mounted Electrical Inside the Container
Inside, strut channel was installed vertically along the wall and across the ceiling.
The electrical panel feeds multiple 20-amp circuits, while surface-mounted boxes provide power for equipment on site.
Channing recommends this type of surface-mounted electrical system because it is easy to expand later.
If another circuit, receptacle, or piece of equipment is needed, an electrician can simply extend conduit from the existing system instead of opening finished walls.
Cable Gland Pass-Through Frame
One prototype being tested on this project is a Cable Gland Pass-Through Frame.
The frame provides a dedicated opening through the container wall for extension cords and other temporary cables.
Rubber cable glands can be selected in different sizes to seal around the cords.
Instead of leaving an open hole in the side of an e-house, the Cable Gland Frame helps create a cleaner and more weather-resistant pass-through while keeping the main electrical equipment protected inside.
Controlling Condensation With the Big Air Solar Vent
Condensation is a major concern when electrical equipment is installed inside an uninsulated steel container.
Heat generated by the electrical equipment can meet the cold container shell, causing frost or condensation to develop on the ceiling.
That moisture can eventually drip onto the electrical equipment below.
To increase airflow, this container is being used to test the new Container Modification World BigAir® 57 Solar Vent.
The vent combines a solar panel with a small axial fan that moves approximately 54 CFM when sunlight is available.
When the sun is not shining, the opening still functions as a passive vent.
Using Solar Ventilation Without Shore Power
Because the fan operates directly from its solar panel, no electrical connection is required.
This makes it useful for storage containers, e-houses, and other remote applications where ventilation is needed without adding another powered circuit.
Installing the solar vent on a south-facing wall in the Northern Hemisphere can help maximize solar exposure.
The team is also testing whether the container's existing factory vents provide enough intake airflow or whether a dedicated intake vent should be added.
A Modular Power Solution for Remote Sites
This build combines Container Modification World MSS Exterior Brackets, MSS 1-Way Brackets, strut channel, a Cable Gland Pass-Through Frame, and the new BigAir® 57 Solar Vent into a secure portable electrical room.
The biggest advantage is flexibility.
The container can be fully assembled and wired in a controlled shop environment, delivered to site, connected to utility power, and expanded later as electrical requirements change.
For construction sites, industrial facilities and remote operations, a containerized e-house can provide a durable and modular alternative to building permanent electrical infrastructure from scratch.