Cabin Build: Couple of Questions

[redlevel]

I’ve finally gotten around to starting on the cabin/bunkhouse I have planned for the last five years. I want to make it as comfortable and livable as possible, without spending outrageous money.

It is actually on the backside of the property we live on. In a secluded, very quiet spot. I intend to install a tankless propane water heater, to facilitate hot showers. There is a water line within 150 yards running to a cattle tank, so I will just need 400-500 ft of pvc to get water there. Will also have a flush toilet. I intend to install a small, vented wall mounted propane heater.

My main question is about electric. I have four Honda gensets , ranging from 1000 to 8500 watt. I don’t really want to use the big one, because it is very loud. The 2800 watt unit would provide ample power, including a 5000 BTU window unit AC. No tv, no electric appliances, except for a coffee maker. Really, lights and the AC would be about all. No tv, etc. possibly a fan or two.

I’m wondering about the feasibility of a battery bank system, kept charged up by a generator. I’m envisioning running the generator during the week, before expected weekend visitors, to charge the batteries. I’m not knowledgeable enough to know if the AC would be too much of a load to make that practical. Could possibly keep the generator in reserve for powering the AC, and use the batterys for lights. If anyone has been there and done that, I would appreciate suggestions.

Probably, just the generator(s) is the way I will go. The cabin would mostly be used on weekends, providing comfortable sleeping quarters for visiting relatives and daughter’s in-laws.

There will be 240 sq ft of living area, two 10x12 rooms, with a sleeping loft. That area heated and cooled. Another 200-300 sq ft in porch off the front, and shed off the back. Insulated.

I’m building with the help of a couple of part-timers, a retired police officer, and a part time maintenance guy in a housing project. Ninety percent of the lumber was grown, cut, and milled on the farm. The two guys really turn out the work. In four 1/2 days, maybe 20 hours, they got the floor framed and sub-floored with 1 inch pine boards, got the roof trusses laid out, built and stockpiled, and have one wall nearly ready to stand up.

 

[Jessie]

I use a solar panel to keep my battery charged. It runs lights, window fan, radio, etc. ok but will not run AC. You’ll need the generator for that.
I have a ventless propane wall heater with thermostat that I love. I also hook up a small tankless water heater for outdoor showers which it’s igniter runs off of a couple of d cell batts.
I don’t have running water so I use a 12volt pump off the battery for water out of a 275 gal water tote.
I’ve outgrown my 12x24 shed and shortly will build another cabin maybe 20x20 next to it for sleeping and a bathroom, using the first one for the kitchen and extra sleep room.

 

[tominboise]

In order to understand what you would need from your battery or generator, one should calculate the kilowatt hours of your equipment and size your equipment / battery accordingly. Watts time hours to get kWH, then convert to amp hours for your battery size.

 

[Nevada Ed]

It might be nice to have a white gas lantern as a backup for light, just in case plus We do all the cooking on a Coleman white gas two burner at the deer camp.
We do have a 500 gallon propane tank & stove plus elrctricty if needed.

Generators and solar are great if you have the income to install them.

Happy camping.

 

[Bekeart]

Solar Cells or Wind Power

Long long ago I remember that many farms had wind generators with two blades.
They charged batteries.
Some power used for lights and some for radio.

 

[billwill]

I didn't see internet in that description............how are you going to be on the forum?

 

[paplinker]

I do not have a answer for your electric issue except to say that I went with a propane heater that looks just like a wood stove instead of the wall mount. It looks great and throws a lot of heat only using a little electric quiet blower. Once the cabin is warm just the heat coming off the glass keeps it toasty warm.

I find some wall mounts only will heat one zone and leaves cold spots and your using the same amount of electricity on the blower.

Good luck with your camp!

 

[arjay]

I might be tempted to run a trench from the house panel or an outbuildings panel and hardwire it?

 

[Kenna]

If you have electricity at main house how hard would it be to run a power to Bunk house? As we age it sure will be more convenient!!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In several of the ghetto apartments I worked on, They had Coleman wall mounted gas heaters on a common wall between L/R & B/R. They were radiant only and used a non-electric thermostat. They were very good heat as long as you didn't expect them to heat more area than they were designed for. Only problem was the bathroom was very cold! I had many tenants that refused to pay their electric bills, and lived like that for several years.

Ivan

 

[LoboGunLeather]

There are a number of websites offering very good information on off-grid power solutions, including technical data on calculating total draw needs to determine storage requirements for battery banks in solar installations.

I became very interested in this about 15 years ago. My first application was a "solar generator" used while tent camping, consisting of a 12V 100AH deep cycle battery, power inverter (12VDC to 120VAC), and a solar panel all mounted on a wheeled dolly for easy transport and set-up. Plenty of capacity for LED lighting, cell phone charging, laptop computer, even the Mr. Coffee machine in the mornings.

Later incorporated the same approach in a camping trailer. Total of three 12V 100AH deep cycle batteries, built-in power inverter, and solar panels. This allowed me to set up just about anywhere and be quite comfortable. Since the trailer batteries charged through the pig-tail connection to the tow vehicle, I went without a generator since I could just start the truck and idle for a half-hour to top off the batteries if necessary. All of my camping needs are in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, usually around 9000 to 10000 feet elevation, so air conditioning is not a requirement.

The real killer I see with the OP's planning is the air conditioning, which requires massive amp-hours that would require a battery storage system that is likely to cost more than the cabin construction project. AC units are very demanding consumers of electrical power. Perhaps a generator unit set up in a shielded location to deflect noise, maybe a custom exhaust system to include additional muffler capacity?