Nice job! We lived in our camper which was 12volt for 7 years and we drove an eighteen wheeler which was 12volt before that. While driving the truck we learned how to manage our 12volt. We also learned that we couldn’t buy all kinds of 12volt appliances at large truck stops. We had an inverter large enough to run a small microwave but only used it sparingly. Since that time I’ve studied and purchased 1200 watts of 100watt 12 volt panels with a mppt controller, charger, an inverter and two 100 AH lifepo4 batteries. I plan to change over to a larger system in the future and I’m slowly collecting the high watt panels to do so. Our cabin is slowly shaping up.
I like your system man. I believe if one goes off grid in his garden or propriety, he should go 12 v. Those who do all the gimmicks with inverters etc at the end you have almost a real house so where is the fun of being minimalist.
This is a great video! Looking nice. Renogy makes great panels (I own 24 of their RNG-100D) for my house. Beautiful work and well thought out lighting. At first I was like, "Why?" and then after watching till the end...I got it. Smart!
I like different voltages for different things, because in a house your lighting wires can run more than 10 meters etc. I rather like to use 24v instead, as you know the higher the voltage the less power loss when traveling through wires as it overcomes resistance much more easily. Of course the only down side to this is you have to buy 24v lights and they aren't as common as 12v lights, but I just make my own 24v lights so it's no problem. All the way up to 48v is pretty safe, they say a bit over that is still safe buy personally I won't touch anything over 48v with my bare hands.
Another good advantage of 24v and up is that you don't have to set up your whole solar panel array (if you have many panels) in parallel which will require huge thick wires where they all join and run into a charge controller. That's why they make 24v and 48v charge controllers, so you can practically have many panels all on one charge controller. For example I have 4x200w panels. And they run into a 48v charge controller, there is no need for any new wire, you just join them up in series and connect the first wire and the last wire to the charge controller. Where as with parallel you would connect all their wires together and connect a bigger jumper lead thickness wire to them and then try to stuff that into a 12v charge controller which isn't going to be fun. Not to mention the huge amp sum which will be way over virtually all 12v charge controllers. Of course for someone who is just making their first system I would suggest going 12v with just a normal charge controller and a single 200w panel and the cheapest deep cycle battery they can get and just trying to do lighting first.
You are now 6 and half years out from this video. Are you still running thing 12v or did you upgrade with a 120 converter? I plan to build an offgrid in northwest Ontario and have a million different ideas on how to do things. I appreciate your replyl
Thanks, I will upload the new video soon with the tongue and groove wood complete now and it really turned out. Funny you emailed me while I was watching your new video. Great video! Thanks Chris for the comments
+yankey4 I am in the Northern Florida area, I did a lot of research on the lights and I found them for the best price on Amazon under dream lighting. 12 volt LED. They burn .30 milliamperes and you can stack several on one line. The switches are from rv accessories and work great. I will upload more videos soon of the other off grid electric. Thanks for asking and I hope that help s you I will talk to you soon
Off Grid I'd be too afraid to use the harbor stuff in the walls? This summer in south Texas it got so hot "I'd discount everything I had on the porch before I left.
Connie, Our main cabin is run by outback charge controllers and 48 volt inverters, we have 4 different systems to keep the load off of the main. So the harbor freight only run 12 volt systems and they have been since 2015 with no issue, but of course 12 volt is low voltage, and they are fused. Our main house to run our TV, fans, dishwasher, microwave, and all our outlets in an outback vfx3648 system, I am going to be uploading a video explaining our 4 systems and why I did it this way real soon. When you live offgrid you have to have a backup to a backup. Thanks for watching
question, that blue sea system. Does it just go to certain areas. so if i wanted to to do a little kitchen area, or bathroom, or livingroom, i feed off that and just daisy chain the 12v LEDS?
How did you lay out your DC circuits? Looks like five 10 amp fuses did you put all the lights on one circuit and then receptacles and USB charge ports on the others? I understand too that you're supposed to use stranded wire for DC circuits? And how many amps can you draw through a cigarette lighter plug and receptacle?
Maybe I missed it but what bulbs are you using? I've thought about using car headlights since they seem to last a very long time while producing quite as not of light, which might mean needing fewer lights overall than any traditional bulbs. Would also be bright enough for outdoor lighting. Any thoughts?
Like your video my problem is your going to fast and not taking the time to show what your talking about, PLEASE slow down I would like to know more about solar set-up. I'm new to it.
Have you looked into a 60 amp AC/DC distributor panel and converter PD4000 series. Your thoughts on this to yours. Looking to instal on a off grid project. Thanks...
If u put thousands of dollars just into your ac unit you are not off grid you just made your own 2 48v powerbanks and 1 12v powerbank in a cabin is gonna ve hussy as full with electric pollution as living in the city.off grid used to mean going out and building your home with the bare essentials looks like your cabin it's gonna have everything and probably even internet. That isn't off grid that's a galmping house
its still off grid, definition of off grid means sustainable and able to produce your own, doesnt mean it cant be nice. I am 1/2 mile off a road with no power, I produce 4 KW a day so yes I am off grid. just with a nice place an NO BILLS now for 6 years. Thank you
Nice job! We lived in our camper which was 12volt for 7 years and we drove an eighteen wheeler which was 12volt before that. While driving the truck we learned how to manage our 12volt. We also learned that we couldn’t buy all kinds of 12volt appliances at large truck stops. We had an inverter large enough to run a small microwave but only used it sparingly. Since that time I’ve studied and purchased 1200 watts of 100watt 12 volt panels with a mppt controller, charger, an inverter and two 100 AH lifepo4 batteries. I plan to change over to a larger system in the future and I’m slowly collecting the high watt panels to do so. Our cabin is slowly shaping up.
Finally!! Man I’ve been trying to find a video for 12v lighting! That’s awesome!
That is correct, sorry for the delay, ground is the same and daisy chain the hot wire, put your switch to disrupt power where you want.
I like your system man. I believe if one goes off grid in his garden or propriety, he should go 12 v. Those who do all the gimmicks with inverters etc at the end you have almost a real house so where is the fun of being minimalist.
Would love to see a update on the cabin lighting and how it worked out.
Working on the update for you now, 5 years running strong
This is a great video! Looking nice. Renogy makes great panels (I own 24 of their RNG-100D) for my house. Beautiful work and well thought out lighting. At first I was like, "Why?" and then after watching till the end...I got it. Smart!
This a great video just want to is the outlet regular house and what type of wire you for the outlet
This is exactly what i was looking for
I like different voltages for different things, because in a house your lighting wires can run more than 10 meters etc. I rather like to use 24v instead, as you know the higher the voltage the less power loss when traveling through wires as it overcomes resistance much more easily. Of course the only down side to this is you have to buy 24v lights and they aren't as common as 12v lights, but I just make my own 24v lights so it's no problem.
All the way up to 48v is pretty safe, they say a bit over that is still safe buy personally I won't touch anything over 48v with my bare hands.
Another good advantage of 24v and up is that you don't have to set up your whole solar panel array (if you have many panels) in parallel which will require huge thick wires where they all join and run into a charge controller. That's why they make 24v and 48v charge controllers, so you can practically have many panels all on one charge controller.
For example I have 4x200w panels. And they run into a 48v charge controller, there is no need for any new wire, you just join them up in series and connect the first wire and the last wire to the charge controller. Where as with parallel you would connect all their wires together and connect a bigger jumper lead thickness wire to them and then try to stuff that into a 12v charge controller which isn't going to be fun. Not to mention the huge amp sum which will be way over virtually all 12v charge controllers.
Of course for someone who is just making their first system I would suggest going 12v with just a normal charge controller and a single 200w panel and the cheapest deep cycle battery they can get and just trying to do lighting first.
TechCheck can you let us know how you make your own 24 volt lights? 2 twelve volt lights in series or what?
You are now 6 and half years out from this video. Are you still running thing 12v or did you upgrade with a 120 converter? I plan to build an offgrid in northwest Ontario and have a million different ideas on how to do things. I appreciate your replyl
Thanks, I will upload the new video soon with the tongue and groove wood complete now and it really turned out. Funny you emailed me while I was watching your new video. Great video! Thanks Chris for the comments
+yankey4 I am in the Northern Florida area, I did a lot of research on the lights and I found them for the best price on Amazon under dream lighting. 12 volt LED. They burn .30 milliamperes and you can stack several on one line. The switches are from rv accessories and work great. I will upload more videos soon of the other off grid electric. Thanks for asking and I hope that help s you I will talk to you soon
Are you done making videos? Id love to see your progress since this video
Looking Great Keep Up The Great Work Cheers Kenny
Love the lighting idea.
That's what I want to do.
How do I split the DC/AC from the panel? Direct from battery thru a controller or?
Thanks for share all the great info!!
Nice going keep us updated
$400 TOTAL for 12v side? That includes the battery[s]?
awesome, where for some more info. details...?
Amazon has 12v dc ceiling fans now!
Thanks that's good news appreciate you letting us know.
Off Grid I'd be too afraid to use the harbor stuff in the walls? This summer in south Texas it got so hot "I'd discount everything I had on the porch before I left.
Connie,
Our main cabin is run by outback charge controllers and 48 volt inverters, we have 4 different systems to keep the load off of the main. So the harbor freight only run 12 volt systems and they have been since 2015 with no issue, but of course 12 volt is low voltage, and they are fused. Our main house to run our TV, fans, dishwasher, microwave, and all our outlets in an outback vfx3648 system, I am going to be uploading a video explaining our 4 systems and why I did it this way real soon. When you live offgrid you have to have a backup to a backup. Thanks for watching
question, that blue sea system. Does it just go to certain areas. so if i wanted to to do a little kitchen area, or bathroom, or livingroom, i feed off that and just daisy chain the 12v LEDS?
Switch right next to the 110 switch with regular Alternating Current.
How did you lay out your DC circuits? Looks like five 10 amp fuses did you put all the lights on one circuit and then receptacles and USB charge ports on the others? I understand too that you're supposed to use stranded wire for DC circuits? And how many amps can you draw through a cigarette lighter plug and receptacle?
Cig lighter should be limited to 5 amps just to prevent the wires from getting to hot.
Maybe I missed it but what bulbs are you using? I've thought about using car headlights since they seem to last a very long time while producing quite as not of light, which might mean needing fewer lights overall than any traditional bulbs. Would also be bright enough for outdoor lighting. Any thoughts?
You've disappeared. Love to see the place now that it's probably finished.
Working on updates now
Like your video my problem is your going to fast and not taking the time to show what your talking about, PLEASE slow down I would like to know more about solar set-up. I'm new to it.
Ty
Have you looked into a 60 amp AC/DC distributor panel and converter PD4000 series. Your thoughts on this to yours. Looking to instal on a off grid project. Thanks...
is that some construction lighting or is it just regular lighting with wires exposed
Out of curiosity, where did you get the wall switches from?
what type/brand light bulbs are you using
Ceiling fan in the lofts? You'd better keep your head down!
its in the center of the atrium no way to hit you head, you would have to see it from a different angle to see
Where did you purchase the items from?
Off grid for 400$ but he don't say where he bought it or where he got it.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN IT GETS REALLY HOT ??? LIKE 90+ DEGREES ?
I'm sorry, I just can't watch a vertical video no matter how good the content.
noooo!!!! Landscape man, landscape!!!! nice video though otherwise.
bro bro camera skills.... google it
Bro bro bro, English skills, google it!, stay off my channel!
wow your a pathetic uploader
dude, we can't heard what your saying, the level is like a whisper, even with our sound turned up full. nice house anyway,
If u put thousands of dollars just into your ac unit you are not off grid you just made your own 2 48v powerbanks and 1 12v powerbank in a cabin is gonna ve hussy as full with electric pollution as living in the city.off grid used to mean going out and building your home with the bare essentials looks like your cabin it's gonna have everything and probably even internet. That isn't off grid that's a galmping house
its still off grid, definition of off grid means sustainable and able to produce your own, doesnt mean it cant be nice. I am 1/2 mile off a road with no power, I produce 4 KW a day so yes I am off grid. just with a nice place an NO BILLS now for 6 years. Thank you