This video is exactly the information I was looking for! We are planning a cabin that we wanted to fully run on 12V/solar, I am existed to see that even a fan can be a 12v power. We currently own a fifth wheel which we love as every thing runs on 12v the fridge, the water pump etc all of it, and we wanted to bring the same concept to the cabin. Thank you for taking the time to show us your set up.
Very good video. Your commentary is straight-forward and no-nonsense. It's refreshing. You share what you have found out and - I noticed - you refrain from giving advice when you aren't sure of the answer. Very informative. Thank you.
@@Michigan_Backwoodswhat do you think, would 300w power station + 100 w panel be enough for the lights (prob two 4w led bulbs) and phone charging for 4-6 days in a month?
Donald, see amazon or ebay and search for 12v appliances. There is a large selection. I keep a keen eye on amps consumed as part of my buying decision. Also, RV supply stores have lots of 12 options available.
I like this setup. I am looking to build a little bigger system so I can use a 12v TV and 12v 12 volt refrigerator at 48qts. This cabin isn't meant to be lived in full time but if I have to I can make it work for my wife and I full time. I'll have to build her a bathhouse.
"It would take about 17 days to drain my battery!" Awesome! Really inspired to get 100% energy, food and water independent. Working to do so within the next 2 years!
Great video Bob . Another one of your videos that I'll be watching over and over again . They are just packed with a lot of great information and great ideas . What you have built there is my dream build . Do you have a video on your kitchen cook shed ? I like the idea of a cook shed . Good for BBQing and such . When I camp with my RV I always cook outside in a cook tent . No mess and no stinky smells in the RV . Looking forward to your next video . Take care .
Simple, one of the best video of a small solar system. Great! I'm in the process of installing one for myself: two 150 watt 12v solar panels, PWM Renogy Charger, 1,500 Inverter (it isn't pure sinewave) and still searching for the battery. That's the expensive little bastard who sucks your budget.
What brand of ceiling fan is that and where did you buy it? I've been struggling to find a good, 12 vdc ceiling an and this one ticks all the boxes for me!
This is what you are looking for: RV Ceiling Fan 12V 42" Brushed Nickel Finish 4 Blade with Remote (Oak) www.amazon.com/dp/B089DJCRJG/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_YzXsFbQMQDHPP
I didn't see this question asked so I figure I'd ask myself. What do you do with your batteries when the temps get cold? Are they safe to leave alone in the cold of winter? I want to go solar for a small, off grid cabin I have in far north east Minnesota. The temps will get to -40 a time or two each winter. Is there a battery that will withstand these temps? I assume it will have to be charging the whole time.
Those temps are certainly extreme so I can't say from experience, however, I've experienced -20f temps and although the capacity of my battery decreases I still have power for lights to work with. My cabin warms up rather quickly, which also raises the temp of the battery rather fast as well so after a few days the battery is at room temp and if discharged low is now recharging at a warmer temp. Reading the lit on solar panels, the appear to actually be more efficient in the winter than summer. Hope this helps, but if you are using them for lights I think you will be OK.
Best off grid video on you tube period! One question, can you please share name/brand of the ceiling fan please??? I have searched high and low on Amazon, ebay, google, etc. and have not found any DC fans with a remote and many are just small portables! Thank you in advance! NY Adam
This is the 12v fan I purchased for the cabin: Good luck! www.amazon.com/Ceiling-Rubbed-Bronze-Blade-Remote/dp/B086DVTZ1G/ref=pd_vtp_263_2/138-4783528-6603231?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B086DVTZ1G&pd_rd_r=5361a3bc-88e6-47fb-916b-b0a4c1e07c5d&pd_rd_w=BAbwA&pd_rd_wg=DuDyC&pf_rd_p=59828acf-6bde-4d94-96a5-3e2b4a0e0bc6&pf_rd_r=DPB6R3VWBXW9X52GKGPT&psc=1&refRID=DPB6R3VWBXW9X52GKGPT
Excellent!! Thank you for this. I know almost nothing about solar and have a bare bones cabin. No wiring or plumbing. Gravity fed water and extension cords to LED lights, 700w microwave. I had a 48v battery (Rolls) bank installed with hopes of solar panel install in spring. For now use gen to charge every other day. Spent a lot of $ for this, am looking for low energy lighting and any ideas for living better off grid. Thank you for this short & sweet video.
Stephanie, my solar system was designed only to provide lighting for the cabin and charging cell phones and computers. Any high wattage appliances (i.e. microwave) is simply a convenience I can live without on weekends at the cabin, so it wasn't a consideration for me. There is lots available online for 12v appliances (i.e. my ceiling fan) than have low amp consumption that makes it possible to be very comfortable, but microwaves, dishwashers, and inverters converting to 110v wasn't part of the plan. When I need more power for a project (i.e. cutting wood with power tools), I bring in my 3000w generator on my ATV and take it home with me when I'm done. Hope it helps!
These lights are similar to what I used per your request: www.ebay.com/itm/2-LED12V-Frosted-Glass-Swivel-Wall-Reading-Light-Interior-RV-Motorhome-Book-Lamp/261611017335?epid=541459016&hash=item3ce93b5477:g:73UAAOSwuaJe6DyY
This fan is very similar if not the same that I purchased: www.amazon.com/LASALLE-BRIS-410TSDC36BNOKCY-Ceil-Cher/dp/B07G757XQZ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=12v+ceiling+fan&qid=1614534508&sr=8-2
Can't thank you enough for this... I'm designing a near identical system, and this is affirming many of my thoughts. Would you mind sending me a little more info on the fan? In my searches I'm not finding anything that nice looking. Thanks again
Wow you literally have everything I want in our cabin that we just built! I just have a few questions on products. I’ve found the led strip lights as well as your lights placed all around the cabin. I’m just wondering where you got the USB wall charger for cell phones and the ceiling fan with remote I think those are the greatest addtitions I could do! Thanks for the videos
Here is a link to the type of lights used in the cabin: 12V Led RV Ceiling Dome Light RV Interior Lighting for Trailer Camper with Switch, Single Dome 300LM by Alfateers Service Center INC. Learn more: www.amazon.com/dp/B01NALLR3M/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_7EFR1K26M90ATD0CEZ3Y?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I used 2X100W as they were relatively inexpensive and my math told me that is all I would need to keep my battery charged for weekend use only. 2X300W panels would charge the battery 3X faster, but the rate that I drain the batteries is slow enough for 2X100w to recharge it. Good luck
Graham: These are the types of lights used: www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-12V-LED-Swivel-Reading-Light-RV-Camper-Trailer-Wall-Mount-Bedside-Lamp-L020/392843124063?epid=28006173522&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item5b77465d5f:g:ViIAAOSwo69e22lu&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACgBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickkyMJZWL%252BqFSgQ3TOOe%252FNr7qLtfWpL%252BwwYfKJqSTLvt7tJloBMmYTs4WWIZmyZ6u9eMfIYVAEFPqSs0JuPYdnaoaUVeA25vWi87qv40t1R0y%252BiGgUUfBem%252F7ybO9rZfOib%252FK3BcR%252F4pH8Hc9CC2fOSE%252BlZw9rbsK4ttmiXLBx94YvTxndyofcx8G08oNMlySk%252BtsrWW9jFDDQPFhmnReNaulja5z%252FTdEQUkMxPbhWqdCkijvhcLIaOgiW2n1BKD8ioUEICGtz0exH%252Bzf0SBuoCF2Ukpk8L8pvvAjD2LBwXpYv3ZaGQ%252FMiRquvA6N23DUuGaNaz%252Fz3EwB7Eir08kDoZw6n%252Bd1SMtREEm5T8ZFOd5SdQY8KcPkvZ78OTd10sJ%252FqrVsIOP%252FhjeMNCex%252FF%252B%252FOhi0RthnxxjN3rrMGqfSv4YMO8GZYefRPfmjdvC1QpHidJPGd9aIuboxi0unxmLRiAByzz7t58lBwnBRuTpMnYiePiG3JjZ5KYQhjVyfzM9vK3cXYcBtWYDyJ%252FxvWOZNoGkIAC2T23rvBOX9Deyg%252ByvXy3aW3EWK8DXvCjjp%252BvFmIDbRq23Rzyfpy246lbUmHfc8w665DFAFlgBfobg6axKHzHz4fy4iLC82LS%252F0n1Em97TxtF6%252BG0ZYW4GPoDveIVHfd2QoXzTU8On%252FOyn%252B69ej%252BW3lo%252B3HaW8p0HQV0KIO5%252BJ2drfstAyyYmCKhaN49XDTlNkjeVVJFfEXYgETFuh49E5AIAjktoax4wTfR6Xpdynk8QW2fWN2BnLgAScuahGghW3rxyLwwhmdMAkNDklpI%253D%7Ccksum%3A392843124063e61832c52d6c4f66b82a8243f400d0e5%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524
Yes, the main supply line comes from the battery to a control panel (see ebay for 12v control panels) and each circuit has an independent fuse. Each light has a separate switch, which makes energy conservation very easy to manage.
The thought of connecting other appliances like TV is a frequent thought that crosses my mind from time to time. Sooner or later I come to my senses that I'm at the cabin to ESCAPE those types of distractions and comforts of home. While I want to be comfortable, I want to avoid the temptation of making it 'just like home', because I don't want it to be just like home. By the same token, I can appreciate others might like that added feature but for now, I'm staying TV free. Thanks for your comment
I'm trying to install solar at the moment in my cabin. The closest I can put my solar panels to my cabin is about 45 to 50 feet without cutting down a lot of trees on someone else's property. I'm having trouble determining what size wire I need to make that long of a run. Additionally I am not sure where I need to put the batteries. Should I put them closer to the cabin or closer to pannels or does it matter?
Sorry, but I'm not an expert at this but originally I had my panels about 50' from the battery. I suggest an using an AGM battery so that gassing isn't a concern. As you saw in the video, the battery is kept under my kitchen counter. I slowly moved my batteries closer, into the shaded area to see how much loss I experienced. I only use my cabin on weekends so I found that even shaded when I returned the following Friday I had full charge. I put my panels on a portable stand made from 2X4's and slowly moved it to see how much change there would be, with little difference. I think at 50' you will not experience too much loss, but suggest you consult a solar 'shop' to seek their opinion.
@@Michigan_Backwoods thank you for your input. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I think I'll build a wooden box against the exterior of my cabin to house the batteries in.
Depending on the amps your bringing in 10 gauge wire will bring in up to 40 amps and amps times volts equals watts I have 480 watts 80 feet away no problems
My 6 Agm batteries are 10 feet from where I sleep keep them indoors just remember the longer the distance the bigger the cable up to about 100 plus feet hope this helps I'm going to go 24 volt more efficient and much cheaper I'm doing more of a permanent off grid thing
@@alonzodesantis6989 thanks. Yes both of your comments are very helpful. I am doing a permanent solar thing to my cabin as well. As I intend to live in the hunting cabin year-round now. Way off grid and well away from civilization. The only electrical " necessities " I have our a couple of 12 volt fans, cell phone charging, and some type of 12 volt lighting for both inside and outside. Thanks.
So if I only have 200 watts of solar panels but I have multiple batteries can I slowly charge all those batteries up and once they are charged use up that power and then just start the process again? I know it’s rough on the batteries but just curious as a theory about trickle charging up proper deep cycle batteries for emergency uses
Yes, you can do that. Your solar panel(s) would connect to a common supply wire, that then connects to your charge controller, and then the charge controller connects to your batteries which are connected together. Any solar supply shop can give you the advice and proper wiring instructions. Your panels will continue to charge the batteries even while they are in use, and when no power is being drawn, it will store in the batteries and the charge controller will prevent overcharging (the charge controller is very, very important so don't omit it). Good luck
Hello I am looking to run a fridge and ac off solar.I am confused on where the connections connect to from the solar panel and how I can get AC outlet plug from a solar panel can you please explain this to me.
This video should explain how to set up your solar system. If you are trying to run a fridge off solar, I suggest you buy a propane fridge. It will be much more efficient than using solar, unless you have a really big solar panel and battery bank. AC will also be an even bigger draw on solar as it uses massive amounts of amps and will also require a really big solar array. Good luck th-cam.com/video/N3eLrZEzmiA/w-d-xo.html
I need some help, I need to know what size battery and panels I would need to run a small 12v 2.3amp fan overnight, would the harbor freight 100watt kit be sufficient to run the fan consistently for about 8 hours?? All the watts, amps, volts and math involved is like an alien language, and I really just need someone that's knows how this all works to tell me exactly what I need to get to run this fan consistently for 8 or more hours
I'll provide my opinion, but you can't hold me accountable if things go wrong! I'm not an expert, but this is how I see it. It has to do as much with your battery size as your solar pannel. If you run a 2.3 amp hour fan for 8 hours, you will consume 2.3 amps per hour X 8 hours= 18.4 amps. Check the rating of the 100 watt panel, but most 100w panels supply 5.5 amps/hr to the battery in perfect conditions. So, in perfect conditions (light and temp) you will get this amount of amps fed into your battery. If you have a 100 amp battery that is drained (never good), then in perfect conditions it should reach capacity in about 18 hours of perfect conditions. You will then have 100 amps of power to run your fan. If you let it run for 8 hours, it will drain your battery by 18.3 amps (at 8 hours per day), and leave 81.7 amps remaining for the next day. Theoretically, you should be able to run the fan for 5.46 days at 8 hours/day without any sunlight. In theory, you will need 18.4 amps per day, so assume you have 10hours of daylight, you need 18.4/10=1.85amps/hr to supply the fan each day. If your panel is 100w at 5.5 amps, then you need 34% efficiency to supply a day's worth of fan power. If you live in Florida, you are golden. If you live in Michigan shrouded in clouds all winter, you are still probably OK. If you skip a few days of sunlight, the 100amp battery will keep you going for several before drained. The bigger the battery, the more time you can go w/o the need for a sunny, perfect day. Helps??
Michigan Backwoods awesome thank you so much, that actually helped me out, I live in Oklahoma and it's usually pretty sunny here, although weather changes on a dime sometimes, but it's usually just sunny, thanks for the response and help I really appreciate it,
Need some help..... I have 10 - 36 volt 225 watt solar panels. I want to buy batteries for it.. I like to buy the common 12 volt batteries.. Maybe 4 to 6 golf cart or solar batteries. Question: Can I buy a Mppt charge controller Regulator to convert the 36v solar panels to charge the 12v batteries? What would you do?
That's exactly what you would need to do is buy an MPPT charge controller which will take your 36v +/- and lower the voltage to about 14.5v which is the same as battery chargers put out. The nice thing about an MPPT charge controller is that if it lowers the voltage to 1/3 or the input voltage it will than increase the amperage by 3 times whatever your panels are producing. don't get a PWM charge controller because it will only cut the voltage to the proper voltage and then wastes anything above that so it is very inefficient. P.S. Most folks are going to LiFePo4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries even though they are much, much more expensive to purchase. They last for a lifetime (or 2 or 3) and can be drained of 80% of their capacity with no damage whereas any lead-acid battery -either flooded or sealed - should never be drained of more than 50% of it's capacity. Any more and it can kill the battery in short order.
nice set up,i'm about to set up a system like you in new hampshire in a remote cabin.do you have any problems with animals eating wires ?? i'm thinking of putting wires in conduit.
No problems with animals and wires. Only exposed wire is from the solar panels down to the ground, and then from the ground up into cabin. It isn't very attractive for them to want to eat them, but if there is a problem it will be exposed and visible. In the cabin, everything is in the wall. No big risk of fire or shorts as everything is 12v. Good luck!
Jorge Serna what’s the name of the channel? Would like to be updated as I plan to do something like this for a ranch I have. I also live in South Texas, Laredo to be exact.
@@JesusTorres-gj3gj I have an old channel but I may use this as my main channel. I live in Zapata about 50 miles south of you. I just got bad news that the new highway 83 plans will cut my small property in half. I may wait on building till I get more info.
Jorge Serna will highway 83 run into your property or how is this going to affect you? That sucks man and yeah we’re pretty close. A buddy of mine has around 800 acres in Zapata. He’s also going solar with shipping containers as a home. Pretty interesting setup he’s going to have.
how are all these lights and stuff wired to one battery? or is the switch panel wired to the battery witch supplies power to each switch when powered on?
The solar panels are connected to a charge controller. The charge controller is connected to the battery. The same charge controller has connections on it which feed a switch panel for all the lights in the cabin. All the individual switches are then connected to their respective lights.
So it’s not all wired to the battery? It’s cause of the 8channls switches you can distribute all the power from the battery to each individual light fixture and the usb bosses?
I found this and seems like some sweet deals. You probably dont need this any more but it might help someone else. vehq.com/12v-ceiling-fan-rv/ and this 19" isn't even 20 bucks... www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TW4S8DL/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B07TW4S8DL&linkCode=as2&tag=vehq-20 Thanks for this great video!
My favorite off grid cabin video! I built one very similar to yours on the Olympic peninsula in 2018. I’m. In the process of planning my 12v system now. What size wire are you using ? My longest run is about 30’ and feeds 3 LED lights at 3W each. Great videos, and thanks in advance. R/Rob
I used 12ga on the premise that one day, if I end up getting connected to the grid, I won't have to rewire the entire cabin. I'm sure you can use something smaller for 12v but I was thinking ahead about 50 years from now!
So you’re not running an inverter just that controller to each load device....correct? Would like to see the rest of the install as far as the controller/battery/ load device connections.
It is simple. Line from panels goes to controller. The controller then connects to the battery, and the controller also has a set of connections for "Load" which feed your switches which feed your fixtures. The charge controllers have instructions on how to set it up. If in doubt, suggest you call a solar supply distributor and they can walk you thru the process.Good luck
Michigan Backwoods Thank you. I’m looking for a very similar set up, maybe even more basic for 120 sq ft cabin. All I need are a couple led lights, a fan and that’s about it.
Everything runs on DC now so you would need a DC inverter if you want to use AC equipment. But then he probably would need another battery and more panels.
When you watch this video, look below the video and you will see the video title. Below the video title, you will see my channel name "Michigan Backwoods", and below it is a description of this video. Click the "Show More" directly below it and you will find a link to the fan. Good luck
These are very similar on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Gold-Stars-Reading-Rubbed-Bronze/dp/B01KPDMICY/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=12+swivel+lights+rv&qid=1589768044&sr=8-7
![เจ็บที่ยังฮัก - ม่อน วรวิทย์ [ Official Mv ] จอนนี่มิวสิค](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KALIGSRSjFs/mqdefault.jpg)
This video is exactly the information I was looking for! We are planning a cabin that we wanted to fully run on 12V/solar, I am existed to see that even a fan can be a 12v power. We currently own a fifth wheel which we love as every thing runs on 12v the fridge, the water pump etc all of it, and we wanted to bring the same concept to the cabin. Thank you for taking the time to show us your set up.
Glad it was helpful!
Very good video. Your commentary is straight-forward and no-nonsense. It's refreshing. You share what you have found out and - I noticed - you refrain from giving advice when you aren't sure of the answer. Very informative. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Mr. Bob, Occasionally will take a note from a video. Many,many,many notes from your two videos. I have watched two so far. Thank you.
Wow, thanks
Mmm...that intro music! Great steel guitar music...has to be good info.
We're moving up to Mio soon...will be installing solar in our cabin...thanx for the info
As a newbie to off grid lighting ,I found this informative.
Glad it was helpful!
@@Michigan_Backwoodswhat do you think, would 300w power station + 100 w panel be enough for the lights (prob two 4w led bulbs) and phone charging for 4-6 days in a month?
Thank you for all the options you posted.didn't know about the ceiling fans.it's hard to find low amperage equipment.
Donald, see amazon or ebay and search for 12v appliances. There is a large selection. I keep a keen eye on amps consumed as part of my buying decision. Also, RV supply stores have lots of 12 options available.
I like this setup. I am looking to build a little bigger system so I can use a 12v TV and 12v 12 volt refrigerator at 48qts. This cabin isn't meant to be lived in full time but if I have to I can make it work for my wife and I full time. I'll have to build her a bathhouse.
I like the music but really would have rather just heard your explanation. Thank u for taking the time to make this video!
I love the simplicity
Great system for your basic needs.
"It would take about 17 days to drain my battery!" Awesome! Really inspired to get 100% energy, food and water independent. Working to do so within the next 2 years!
Nice setup. Greetings from sunny Jamaica.
Big up
@@Michigan_Backwoods Thanks. I see you have been to Jamaica..lol
awesome thanks great ideas for our off grid retreat
Hey Bob, thanks for your videos. Fellow Michigander (Newaygo County) here. I love the cabin and the videos! Great info!
Like a previous commenter said, Bill Barr must be your next door neighbor lol. Very well done video. Thanks
Great cabin. Nicely done !
Thank you!
Great informative video thanks from a Canuck up north
Great info. And beautiful cabin.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video,Have a camp in NY helped out a ton Thank U
Great to hear!
Thank you, good information. Nice cabin.
Great video, many thanks!
Thank you too!
Great video Bob . Another one of your videos that I'll be watching over and over again . They are just packed with a lot of great information and great ideas . What you have built there is my dream build . Do you have a video on your kitchen cook shed ? I like the idea of a cook shed . Good for BBQing and such . When I camp with my RV I always cook outside in a cook tent . No mess and no stinky smells in the RV . Looking forward to your next video . Take care .
Good video. Nice cabin.
Amazing. Thank you for the video, very explanatory.
Simple, one of the best video of a small solar system. Great! I'm in the process of installing one for myself: two 150 watt 12v solar panels, PWM Renogy Charger, 1,500 Inverter (it isn't pure sinewave) and still searching for the battery. That's the expensive little bastard who sucks your budget.
What brand of ceiling fan is that and where did you buy it?
I've been struggling to find a good, 12 vdc ceiling an and this one ticks all the boxes for me!
This is what you are looking for: RV Ceiling Fan 12V 42" Brushed Nickel Finish 4 Blade with Remote (Oak) www.amazon.com/dp/B089DJCRJG/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_YzXsFbQMQDHPP
@@Michigan_Backwoods Thank you! I appreciate the info.
Great video
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing
My pleasure
Another great video 🌹
I didn't see this question asked so I figure I'd ask myself. What do you do with your batteries when the temps get cold? Are they safe to leave alone in the cold of winter? I want to go solar for a small, off grid cabin I have in far north east Minnesota. The temps will get to -40 a time or two each winter. Is there a battery that will withstand these temps? I assume it will have to be charging the whole time.
Those temps are certainly extreme so I can't say from experience, however, I've experienced -20f temps and although the capacity of my battery decreases I still have power for lights to work with. My cabin warms up rather quickly, which also raises the temp of the battery rather fast as well so after a few days the battery is at room temp and if discharged low is now recharging at a warmer temp. Reading the lit on solar panels, the appear to actually be more efficient in the winter than summer. Hope this helps, but if you are using them for lights I think you will be OK.
Best off grid video on you tube period! One question, can you please share name/brand of the ceiling fan please??? I have searched high and low on Amazon, ebay, google, etc. and have not found any DC fans with a remote and many are just small portables! Thank you in advance! NY Adam
This is the 12v fan I purchased for the cabin: Good luck! www.amazon.com/Ceiling-Rubbed-Bronze-Blade-Remote/dp/B086DVTZ1G/ref=pd_vtp_263_2/138-4783528-6603231?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B086DVTZ1G&pd_rd_r=5361a3bc-88e6-47fb-916b-b0a4c1e07c5d&pd_rd_w=BAbwA&pd_rd_wg=DuDyC&pf_rd_p=59828acf-6bde-4d94-96a5-3e2b4a0e0bc6&pf_rd_r=DPB6R3VWBXW9X52GKGPT&psc=1&refRID=DPB6R3VWBXW9X52GKGPT
I am wondering what wire you ran throughout the walls?
I'm not 100% certain as my memory isn't perfect, but I believe it was 12 ga wire
This is exactly what I was looking for l, thanks for sharing the video and great work. Deserved liked and subscribed from me!
Excellent!! Thank you for this. I know almost nothing about solar and have a bare bones cabin. No wiring or plumbing. Gravity fed water and extension cords to LED lights, 700w microwave. I had a 48v battery (Rolls) bank installed with hopes of solar panel install in spring. For now use gen to charge every other day. Spent a lot of $ for this, am looking for low energy lighting and any ideas for living better off grid. Thank you for this short & sweet video.
Stephanie, my solar system was designed only to provide lighting for the cabin and charging cell phones and computers. Any high wattage appliances (i.e. microwave) is simply a convenience I can live without on weekends at the cabin, so it wasn't a consideration for me. There is lots available online for 12v appliances (i.e. my ceiling fan) than have low amp consumption that makes it possible to be very comfortable, but microwaves, dishwashers, and inverters converting to 110v wasn't part of the plan. When I need more power for a project (i.e. cutting wood with power tools), I bring in my 3000w generator on my ATV and take it home with me when I'm done. Hope it helps!
Great video- any link or. Ebay picture of exact name for those. Wall lights. Thanks
These lights are similar to what I used per your request: www.ebay.com/itm/2-LED12V-Frosted-Glass-Swivel-Wall-Reading-Light-Interior-RV-Motorhome-Book-Lamp/261611017335?epid=541459016&hash=item3ce93b5477:g:73UAAOSwuaJe6DyY
Great video. I didn't catch the brand of the low voltage fan...
This fan is very similar if not the same that I purchased: www.amazon.com/LASALLE-BRIS-410TSDC36BNOKCY-Ceil-Cher/dp/B07G757XQZ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=12v+ceiling+fan&qid=1614534508&sr=8-2
very nice cabin
Nice man
Thanks!
Can't thank you enough for this... I'm designing a near identical system, and this is affirming many of my thoughts. Would you mind sending me a little more info on the fan? In my searches I'm not finding anything that nice looking. Thanks again
Ryan, this is similar to what I purchased:
tinyurl.com/2p99cvt2
Wow you literally have everything I want in our cabin that we just built! I just have a few questions on products. I’ve found the led strip lights as well as your lights placed all around the cabin. I’m just wondering where you got the USB wall charger for cell phones and the ceiling fan with remote I think those are the greatest addtitions I could do! Thanks for the videos
You can purchase the USB wall chargers and fan on amazon. Look for "12V USB Outlet" and "12V ceiling fan with remote". Hope this helps!
grate video like the fan and the lights is the fan 12 volt
..his cabin build video said the fan was 12v
Yes, fan is 12v and runs on very low amp. Buy on Amazon or ebay
Super cool
Hello, I didn’t see it if you listed the items, but could you let me know what brand those LED lights are, or a link to them? They’re cool.
Here is a link to the type of lights used in the cabin:
12V Led RV Ceiling Dome Light RV Interior Lighting for Trailer Camper with Switch, Single Dome 300LM
by Alfateers Service Center INC.
Learn more: www.amazon.com/dp/B01NALLR3M/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_7EFR1K26M90ATD0CEZ3Y?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
If you needed more power, would it be smarter to use 2x 300w panels or do 100w panels work better with a 12v system
I used 2X100W as they were relatively inexpensive and my math told me that is all I would need to keep my battery charged for weekend use only. 2X300W panels would charge the battery 3X faster, but the rate that I drain the batteries is slow enough for 2X100w to recharge it. Good luck
can you put links up for light and all that you used,for this .thank you
Graham: These are the types of lights used:
www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-12V-LED-Swivel-Reading-Light-RV-Camper-Trailer-Wall-Mount-Bedside-Lamp-L020/392843124063?epid=28006173522&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item5b77465d5f:g:ViIAAOSwo69e22lu&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACgBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickkyMJZWL%252BqFSgQ3TOOe%252FNr7qLtfWpL%252BwwYfKJqSTLvt7tJloBMmYTs4WWIZmyZ6u9eMfIYVAEFPqSs0JuPYdnaoaUVeA25vWi87qv40t1R0y%252BiGgUUfBem%252F7ybO9rZfOib%252FK3BcR%252F4pH8Hc9CC2fOSE%252BlZw9rbsK4ttmiXLBx94YvTxndyofcx8G08oNMlySk%252BtsrWW9jFDDQPFhmnReNaulja5z%252FTdEQUkMxPbhWqdCkijvhcLIaOgiW2n1BKD8ioUEICGtz0exH%252Bzf0SBuoCF2Ukpk8L8pvvAjD2LBwXpYv3ZaGQ%252FMiRquvA6N23DUuGaNaz%252Fz3EwB7Eir08kDoZw6n%252Bd1SMtREEm5T8ZFOd5SdQY8KcPkvZ78OTd10sJ%252FqrVsIOP%252FhjeMNCex%252FF%252B%252FOhi0RthnxxjN3rrMGqfSv4YMO8GZYefRPfmjdvC1QpHidJPGd9aIuboxi0unxmLRiAByzz7t58lBwnBRuTpMnYiePiG3JjZ5KYQhjVyfzM9vK3cXYcBtWYDyJ%252FxvWOZNoGkIAC2T23rvBOX9Deyg%252ByvXy3aW3EWK8DXvCjjp%252BvFmIDbRq23Rzyfpy246lbUmHfc8w665DFAFlgBfobg6axKHzHz4fy4iLC82LS%252F0n1Em97TxtF6%252BG0ZYW4GPoDveIVHfd2QoXzTU8On%252FOyn%252B69ej%252BW3lo%252B3HaW8p0HQV0KIO5%252BJ2drfstAyyYmCKhaN49XDTlNkjeVVJFfEXYgETFuh49E5AIAjktoax4wTfR6Xpdynk8QW2fWN2BnLgAScuahGghW3rxyLwwhmdMAkNDklpI%253D%7Ccksum%3A392843124063e61832c52d6c4f66b82a8243f400d0e5%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524
Love the cabin! Did you 12 volt fuses or breakers and divide the lights, fan and USB ports on different circuits?
Yes, the main supply line comes from the battery to a control panel (see ebay for 12v control panels) and each circuit has an independent fuse. Each light has a separate switch, which makes energy conservation very easy to manage.
Ty sir
Awesome thx.
Where did you buy your solar kit what items would I need and your power and what size room
Sorry, but the retailer I purchased the panels and charge controller from is no longer in business............not sure why they went under?
Ibuilt a very similar system on my wood shed. 800ah
The other thing about steeper angle on the panels is that ‘extra’ last 5-10% of charging based on the 90 degree sun angle.
Awesome! Gr8 job!!!
they have 12v led tv's now that can be added to a cabin. think those run about 70watts. have a link for the ceiling fan?
The thought of connecting other appliances like TV is a frequent thought that crosses my mind from time to time. Sooner or later I come to my senses that I'm at the cabin to ESCAPE those types of distractions and comforts of home. While I want to be comfortable, I want to avoid the temptation of making it 'just like home', because I don't want it to be just like home. By the same token, I can appreciate others might like that added feature but for now, I'm staying TV free. Thanks for your comment
I'm trying to install solar at the moment in my cabin. The closest I can put my solar panels to my cabin is about 45 to 50 feet without cutting down a lot of trees on someone else's property. I'm having trouble determining what size wire I need to make that long of a run. Additionally I am not sure where I need to put the batteries. Should I put them closer to the cabin or closer to pannels or does it matter?
Sorry, but I'm not an expert at this but originally I had my panels about 50' from the battery. I suggest an using an AGM battery so that gassing isn't a concern. As you saw in the video, the battery is kept under my kitchen counter. I slowly moved my batteries closer, into the shaded area to see how much loss I experienced. I only use my cabin on weekends so I found that even shaded when I returned the following Friday I had full charge. I put my panels on a portable stand made from 2X4's and slowly moved it to see how much change there would be, with little difference. I think at 50' you will not experience too much loss, but suggest you consult a solar 'shop' to seek their opinion.
@@Michigan_Backwoods thank you for your input. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I think I'll build a wooden box against the exterior of my cabin to house the batteries in.
Depending on the amps your bringing in 10 gauge wire will bring in up to 40 amps and amps times volts equals watts I have 480 watts 80 feet away no problems
My 6 Agm batteries are 10 feet from where I sleep keep them indoors just remember the longer the distance the bigger the cable up to about 100 plus feet hope this helps I'm going to go 24 volt more efficient and much cheaper I'm doing more of a permanent off grid thing
@@alonzodesantis6989 thanks. Yes both of your comments are very helpful. I am doing a permanent solar thing to my cabin as well. As I intend to live in the hunting cabin year-round now. Way off grid and well away from civilization. The only electrical " necessities " I have our a couple of 12 volt fans, cell phone charging, and some type of 12 volt lighting for both inside and outside. Thanks.
So if I only have 200 watts of solar panels but I have multiple batteries can I slowly charge all those batteries up and once they are charged use up that power and then just start the process again? I know it’s rough on the batteries but just curious as a theory about trickle charging up proper deep cycle batteries for emergency uses
Yes, you can do that. Your solar panel(s) would connect to a common supply wire, that then connects to your charge controller, and then the charge controller connects to your batteries which are connected together. Any solar supply shop can give you the advice and proper wiring instructions. Your panels will continue to charge the batteries even while they are in use, and when no power is being drawn, it will store in the batteries and the charge controller will prevent overcharging (the charge controller is very, very important so don't omit it). Good luck
Hello I am looking to run a fridge and ac off solar.I am confused on where the connections connect to from the solar panel and how I can get AC outlet plug from a solar panel can you please explain this to me.
This video should explain how to set up your solar system. If you are trying to run a fridge off solar, I suggest you buy a propane fridge. It will be much more efficient than using solar, unless you have a really big solar panel and battery bank. AC will also be an even bigger draw on solar as it uses massive amounts of amps and will also require a really big solar array. Good luck th-cam.com/video/N3eLrZEzmiA/w-d-xo.html
I need some help, I need to know what size battery and panels I would need to run a small 12v 2.3amp fan overnight, would the harbor freight 100watt kit be sufficient to run the fan consistently for about 8 hours??
All the watts, amps, volts and math involved is like an alien language, and I really just need someone that's knows how this all works to tell me exactly what I need to get to run this fan consistently for 8 or more hours
I'll provide my opinion, but you can't hold me accountable if things go wrong! I'm not an expert, but this is how I see it. It has to do as much with your battery size as your solar pannel. If you run a 2.3 amp hour fan for 8 hours, you will consume 2.3 amps per hour X 8 hours= 18.4 amps. Check the rating of the 100 watt panel, but most 100w panels supply 5.5 amps/hr to the battery in perfect conditions. So, in perfect conditions (light and temp) you will get this amount of amps fed into your battery. If you have a 100 amp battery that is drained (never good), then in perfect conditions it should reach capacity in about 18 hours of perfect conditions. You will then have 100 amps of power to run your fan. If you let it run for 8 hours, it will drain your battery by 18.3 amps (at 8 hours per day), and leave 81.7 amps remaining for the next day. Theoretically, you should be able to run the fan for 5.46 days at 8 hours/day without any sunlight. In theory, you will need 18.4 amps per day, so assume you have 10hours of daylight, you need 18.4/10=1.85amps/hr to supply the fan each day. If your panel is 100w at 5.5 amps, then you need 34% efficiency to supply a day's worth of fan power. If you live in Florida, you are golden. If you live in Michigan shrouded in clouds all winter, you are still probably OK. If you skip a few days of sunlight, the 100amp battery will keep you going for several before drained. The bigger the battery, the more time you can go w/o the need for a sunny, perfect day. Helps??
Michigan Backwoods awesome thank you so much, that actually helped me out, I live in Oklahoma and it's usually pretty sunny here, although weather changes on a dime sometimes, but it's usually just sunny, thanks for the response and help I really appreciate it,
Searched all over Ebay for those lights. Could not find them.
Search for "12V RV Reading Lights"....you'll find some like these: www.ebay.com/itm/255484454374?hash=item3b7c0f65e6:g:QuEAAOSwaChhHg-3
Good stuff to know👍👍👍
Need some help..... I have 10 - 36 volt 225 watt solar panels. I want to buy batteries for it.. I like to buy the common 12 volt batteries.. Maybe 4 to 6 golf cart or solar batteries. Question: Can I buy a Mppt charge controller Regulator to convert the 36v solar panels to charge the 12v batteries? What would you do?
I'm sorry, but I'm not a solar expert outside of a simple 12v system. Sorry I can't help!
That's exactly what you would need to do is buy an MPPT charge controller which will take your 36v +/- and lower the voltage to about 14.5v which is the same as battery chargers put out. The nice thing about an MPPT charge controller is that if it lowers the voltage to 1/3 or the input voltage it will than increase the amperage by 3 times whatever your panels are producing. don't get a PWM charge controller because it will only cut the voltage to the proper voltage and then wastes anything above that so it is very inefficient. P.S. Most folks are going to LiFePo4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries even though they are much, much more expensive to purchase. They last for a lifetime (or 2 or 3) and can be drained of 80% of their capacity with no damage whereas any lead-acid battery -either flooded or sealed - should never be drained of more than 50% of it's capacity. Any more and it can kill the battery in short order.
nice set up,i'm about to set up a system like you in new hampshire in a remote cabin.do you have any problems with animals eating wires ?? i'm thinking of putting wires in conduit.
No problems with animals and wires. Only exposed wire is from the solar panels down to the ground, and then from the ground up into cabin. It isn't very attractive for them to want to eat them, but if there is a problem it will be exposed and visible. In the cabin, everything is in the wall. No big risk of fire or shorts as everything is 12v. Good luck!
Nice!
Awesome video, I am in S/W Mich and not feel like i should do some solar..
Good info - nice details.
Im going to make a new channel to share more on off grid cabins/sheds. I'm way south in Texas right off the Rio Grande river.
Jorge Serna what’s the name of the channel? Would like to be updated as I plan to do something like this for a ranch I have. I also live in South Texas, Laredo to be exact.
@@JesusTorres-gj3gj I have an old channel but I may use this as my main channel. I live in Zapata about 50 miles south of you. I just got bad news that the new highway 83 plans will cut my small property in half. I may wait on building till I get more info.
Jorge Serna will highway 83 run into your property or how is this going to affect you? That sucks man and yeah we’re pretty close. A buddy of mine has around 800 acres in Zapata. He’s also going solar with shipping containers as a home. Pretty interesting setup he’s going to have.
Hi love your video's. I have a off grid cabin in Marquette, County Michigan. Are you up in that area ? I like to check out your cabin, thank you.
Awesome video.. what's the name of the lights?
Which lights are you asking about?
how are all these lights and stuff wired to one battery? or is the switch panel wired to the battery witch supplies power to each switch when powered on?
The solar panels are connected to a charge controller. The charge controller is connected to the battery. The same charge controller has connections on it which feed a switch panel for all the lights in the cabin. All the individual switches are then connected to their respective lights.
So it’s not all wired to the battery? It’s cause of the 8channls switches you can distribute all the power from the battery to each individual light fixture and the usb bosses?
Good job
did you use an inverter?
NO, it is 100% 12V system
Could you give the brand of the Fan, Thank You for the video, my son and I are taking this on!
I believe this is the fan I purchased www.amazon.com/dp/B00E58CRL8/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_i_c_zplqDb5XKWNGX
Michigan Backwoods currently unavailable :(
I found this and seems like some sweet deals. You probably dont need this any more but it might help someone else. vehq.com/12v-ceiling-fan-rv/ and this 19" isn't even 20 bucks... www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TW4S8DL/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B07TW4S8DL&linkCode=as2&tag=vehq-20
Thanks for this great video!
👍
thanks for the share, where is your building the cabin video like to watch that as well :)
Here is the video of the cabin build you requested: th-cam.com/video/yGWC0v9-8M8/w-d-xo.html
My favorite off grid cabin video! I built one very similar to yours on the Olympic peninsula in 2018. I’m. In the process of planning my 12v system now. What size wire are you using ? My longest run is about 30’ and feeds 3 LED lights at 3W each. Great videos, and thanks in advance. R/Rob
I used 12ga on the premise that one day, if I end up getting connected to the grid, I won't have to rewire the entire cabin. I'm sure you can use something smaller for 12v but I was thinking ahead about 50 years from now!
So you’re not running an inverter just that controller to each load device....correct?
Would like to see the rest of the install as far as the controller/battery/ load device connections.
It is simple. Line from panels goes to controller. The controller then connects to the battery, and the controller also has a set of connections for "Load" which feed your switches which feed your fixtures. The charge controllers have instructions on how to set it up. If in doubt, suggest you call a solar supply distributor and they can walk you thru the process.Good luck
Correct. No inverter needed when running a 12v solar system......the entire system is shown in the video, i have nothing else to share, sorry.
Michigan Backwoods
Thank you.
I’m looking for a very similar set up, maybe even more basic for 120 sq ft cabin.
All I need are a couple led lights, a fan and that’s about it.
Hall House, if that is all you need, go with a smaller battery and only one panel. Good luck!
@@Michigan_Backwoods what gage wire? and where did you put the fuses? thanks very much
How much electricity can you get off of that solar system
Mine will deliver about 200W (100WX2) in perfect solar conditions.
that means you will need a large number of volts if you need to power heavy equipment
Everything runs on DC now so you would need a DC inverter if you want to use AC equipment. But then he probably would need another battery and more panels.
guess
Cool
You sound like Joe Pera from Joe Pera Talks With You on Adult Swim
What gauge wire is in the walls?
Sorry for delay, believe this was 12 ga so if I ever converted to 120v I won't have to change wiring.
Does anyone have a link to those lights?
Search ebay and amazon for 12v RV reading lights, you'll find many types like I used!
GRAND RAPIDS!
It's all about big battery bank I have 500 waat solar dc12 system but i don't have battery Bank
Is that fan 12 volt?
Yes, you can buy on ebay or amazon. Search for 12v RV fan. It was about $120.
Somewhere in the comments of this video, I post a link to the fan I purchased. You might have to search a while, but I did post it there.
When you watch this video, look below the video and you will see the video title. Below the video title, you will see my channel name "Michigan Backwoods", and below it is a description of this video. Click the "Show More" directly below it and you will find a link to the fan. Good luck
Do you by chance have a link for the lights you put on the walls?
These are very similar on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Gold-Stars-Reading-Rubbed-Bronze/dp/B01KPDMICY/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=12+swivel+lights+rv&qid=1589768044&sr=8-7
Great video！ Do you have interested in do a review for our LiFePO4 Battery for your system？ 12v100ah LiFePO4 Battery.
What specifically do you propose?
@@Michigan_Backwoods A Li battery,12v 100ah
@@minwang9281 Yes, willing to do a review.
Where is the caption? I'm 100% Deaf
Thanks for the heads up, captions should be visible
You sound like William Bar....Trumps AG.
Nice !
Thanks!