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Off-grid cabin discussion

redneckengineered

redneckengineered

Angry
Joined
Jun 1, 2020
Member Number
1727
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91
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The Land of High Horsepower and Low IQ
I don't know if there's a dedicated thread here for this or not but feel free to turn this into a general off-grid living discussion. I have an off-grid cabin I like to frequent on the weekends. Looking for a recommendation on a couple things.

Is there a decent solar battery maintainer that will keep a battery topped off? I have an automotive 12v Northstar battery I use as my cranking battery for my generator. Between trips I bring it home to top it off. The generator only runs when my water tank falls to a certain level and it will kick on to power my well pump, then kick back off. We're taking maybe 1-2 minutes run time and it will only run a handful of times in a weekend trip. A good solar maintainer would keep me from having to lug a battery back and forth as often. My issue is I'm in a hollow and don't get a full day worth of sun, so I don't know if it would be worth a shit.

Is there a way to send/receive a text message via satellite using a standard cell phone? I don't care to be able to communicate while off-grid but occasionally it would be nice to check in with a loved one or receive an emergency text (both my parents are up in age). That would be the extent of it. I hit up Google this morning and it has me looking at products like Bivy Stick but I need Irate to weigh in on what actually works.

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My dad has a garmin inreach that can send text from anywhere. It also has the ability for him to send me a "track my route" link via text. Then as he is wheeing out of cell range i can see where he is.

Cant help on the solar
 
I'd get just a regular old solar motorcycle battery maintainer. I'd also consider a lithium battery. They don't discharge like a lead acid. I'd also consider a metal box for it. :laughing:
And, my backup would be a 12v jump box like milwaukee makes. Those things are awesome.
 
How many hours of sun do you think a panel would see in a day?

You can get panels and charge controllers for under $100 now, so not a huge risk. I'd throw one out there and see how it does.....but have a backup plan!
 
Get an amazon solar charger and see what happens.

Also buy a lithium jump pack as your backup, you need one anyway. They're the shit. I have a SPOT that can send and receive texts but they don't go through your phone number. It works great, you just have to set up your contacts in advance.
 
10W Chinesium solar panel from Amazon, a Battery Tender solar charge controller from eBay, and whatever wiring you need for how you want to connect it.

Amazon 10W Solar Panel

Battery Tender Solar Charge Controller (I can unusually find them for ~$20 on eBay)

Add wire, ring terminals, alligator clamps, or a quick connect, and you'll have double the wattage of a ready made Battery Tender solar charger for 1/2 the price.

I've made several for myself and dad, they work great on farm equipment and vehicles that aren't frequently used.
 
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my cabin gets good sun so I really cant help there. but I did find some pull off solar panels cheap for mine. I am setting up 1000 watts or so to start to see what will be required. I plan on extending the porch out another 6' or so and make the panels flip out from underneath when we are not there. I just need to run a small fridge and maybe a small tv.

and bad ass cabin. I'm such a tight wad I made my cabin movable as in a portable building so they wont tax me.

photo21710.jpg
 
bgaidan said:
How many hours of sun do you think a panel would see in a day?

You can get panels and charge controllers for under $100 now, so not a huge risk. I'd throw one out there and see how it does.....but have a backup plan!
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Maybe 6, and it's not usually full sun. Usually broken up with some cloud cover or shadows. Think Appalachian Mountains.

Dethmachinefab said:
Any running water close? A small water wheel should be plenty to a keep battery up.
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Actually yes, but we get pretty heavy rain now and then and the creek gets gnarly. I'd be afraid anything I built would get wrecked over the course of a season. Cool idea though.


Lee said:
10W Chinesium solar panel from Amazon, a Battery Tender solar charge controller from eBay, and whatever wiring you need for how you want to connect it.

Amazon 10W Solar Panel

Battery Tender Solar Charge Controller (I can unusually find them for ~$20 on eBay)

Add wire, ring terminals, alligator clamps, or a quick connect, and you'll have double the wattage of a ready made Battery Tender solar charger for 1/2 the price.

I've made several for myself and dad, they work great on farm equipment and vehicles that aren't frequently used.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about this exact route. I've always had good luck with Batter Tender products and we're talking minimal investment here.
 
That is a beautiful structure. Pretty damn nice setting too.
 
That place looks amazing. What is that type of construction or building material where it looks like cut stones in concrete?
 
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X5 on the Garmin Inreach.
I have the Inreach Explore+. It’s $11 or $14 a month, gives you ten texts with that. Any after that there a $0.50 a message.
Can choose a different plan . Monthly, full year or turn the service on and off at your leisure.
Cool feature when sending a text to someone cell phone. It sends a link. They click on it and they can zoom in to where you are, and it’s in “satellite view” .
 
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First off, beautiful cabin. For short term I would get a solar battery maintainer and a jump pack as has been said by the others.

Then I would look at getting a larger battery or bank of batteries to keep the generator form running so much for such short runs. That way you could get to the cabin fire up the generator to charge up the battery and let it run for a while to get it up to temperature and evaporate out any condensation.

I have heard good things about the spots, but have no personal experience.
 
redneckengineered said:
Maybe 6, and it's not usually full sun. Usually broken up with some cloud cover or shadows. Think Appalachian Mountains.



Actually yes, but we get pretty heavy rain now and then and the creek gets gnarly. I'd be afraid anything I built would get wrecked over the course of a season. Cool idea though.




I was thinking about this exact route. I've always had good luck with Batter Tender products and we're talking minimal investment here.
Click to expand...

Dont put a wheel in the creek. Run some 3" pvc to a wheel near the pond. Should be able to set it where a fast flow isnt going to tear it up.

Cool cabin. What state? It looks kinda familiar.
 
Stuck said:
Cool cabin. What state? It looks kinda familiar.
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I swear I've seen a place like that with a wagoneer parked next to it in some Stephen King movie... that one about the mist?

Slither?
 
You guys selling fucking water wheel generators to charge the battery to start the generator to pump the water....:lmao:

OP you stated you have some sort of running water nearby, then first fucking thing I would look into is setting up a ram pump. Look it up if you`ve never heard of one.

Stop having to listen to a fucking generator fire up in a beautiful peaceful place like that.
 
Nice cabin. Just curious - got any recommendations on where to look for them and how is financing - can you even get a mortgage with no utilities Around here backwoods "cabins" seem to either be overbuilt "cabins" in a neighborhood that are not really backcountry at all or a meth, err "hunting" trailer on cinderblocks.

As far as your problems - Inreach and solar, again. Honestly I would look at what you can do to go all solar - with LED lighting and mostly LP heating it doesnt take as much power as it used to.
 
I'm seeing lots of good sun in the picture. Are you facing south?

If all you use the genny for is the pump I would suggest setting up 2 - 100 watt panels with an MPPT controller tied to 2 - 6 volt AGM deep cycle batteries in series wired to a 2000 watt modified sinewave inverter/charger and plug your pump into that and use your generator to charge the batteries if needed on cloudy days if your depth of discharge starts to fall below 50%. Of course you will want to incorporate fusing and means of disconnect into the system as well. If you need a hand setting something up, hit me up and I can try and help you out with ideas and more info.
 
Stuck said:
Dont put a wheel in the creek. Run some 3" pvc to a wheel near the pond. Should be able to set it where a fast flow isnt going to tear it up.

Cool cabin. What state? It looks kinda familiar.
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Eastern TN Appalachians.


kf4zht said:
Nice cabin. Just curious - got any recommendations on where to look for them and how is financing - can you even get a mortgage with no utilities Around here backwoods "cabins" seem to either be overbuilt "cabins" in a neighborhood that are not really backcountry at all or a meth, err "hunting" trailer on cinderblocks.

As far as your problems - Inreach and solar, again. Honestly I would look at what you can do to go all solar - with LED lighting and mostly LP heating it doesnt take as much power as it used to.
Click to expand...

There's definitely no secret to it. Lot of time and looking. My wife is a realtor that specializes in unique properties if you need any help. She's licensed in GA and TN. Little backstory to this property for those that care. It has been in the family for almost 40 years. My Dad grew up in the Poconos and when he moved to TN as a young man for work he set out on a mission to find a piece of property to satisfy his need to be in the mountains. He looked at a ton of crap before stumbling on the place we have now. There was a cabin on it (I use the term cabin loosely) and we used it as a weekend getaway up until I was about 6 or 7. He eventually knocked it down to build what you see now which has been there for about 33 years now. Dad always had his own way of doing things and is adverse to any sort of change but he is almost 80 and doesn't use the place like he used to. So I am starting to put my own little touches on things and looking at where we can upgrade hence the thread. I really do like the idea of adding some solar capacity. We have a 500 gallon LP tank now, it powers the generator, refrigerator, stove, water heater, and there are propane lights throughout. We get a year or so out of a tank. Changing the propane sconces out to LED would definitely be a nice upgrade. The cabin is heated with an old pot belly wood stove and it puts out all the heat you'll ever need. There is a propane wall mounted heater but we have never needed it. Dad insulated the hell out of the place when he built it, having come from up North.


Shawnboy said:
I'm seeing lots of good sun in the picture. Are you facing south?

If all you use the genny for is the pump I would suggest setting up 2 - 100 watt panels with an MPPT controller tied to 2 - 6 volt AGM deep cycle batteries in series wired to a 2000 watt modified sinewave inverter/charger and plug your pump into that and use your generator to charge the batteries if needed on cloudy days if your depth of discharge starts to fall below 50%. Of course you will want to incorporate fusing and means of disconnect into the system as well. If you need a hand setting something up, hit me up and I can try and help you out with ideas and more info.
Click to expand...


The cabin faces west. You lose the sunset quick. It rises behind a ridge, then you have direct sun for a few hours then it quickly disappears behind another ridge. Thanks for the advice, I do think adding legitimate solar capability would be a real upgrade. The place works amazingly though for what it is, you barely realize you are off grid. If you do need power the entire cabin is fully wired like a home so you can turn the gen to manual run and plug in a vacuum, microwave some food, run a hair dryer, whatever. And it has been near maintenance free for 33 years. Probably hitting a gnat with a sledgehammer but it is fun to consider changes.
 
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Meant to add, the property is 86 acres and adjoins national forest. So no neighbors. We also have one river and two major year round creeks/streams on property, one of which is directly in front of the cabin, and several natural springs at a minimum, with one being 50 yards from the front door. There's also a 10 acre creek and spring fed lake stocked with largemouth and blue gill.
 
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redneckengineered said:
Meant to add, the property is 86 acres and adjoins national forest. So no neighbors. We also have one river and two major year round creeks/streams on property, one of which is directly in front of the cabin, and several natural springs at a minimum, with one being 50 yards from the front door. There's also a 10 acre creek and spring fed lake stocked with largemouth and blue gill.
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if you have a decent elevation change near the house, in one of the water supplies, I would for sure look at installing a ram pump for your water supply. Requires little maintenance and no power.

A water wheel or solar panels and a battery bank might allow for you to operate mostly without the genny. Switching the lights to LED or LED & DC would lower the power consumption and easily run on batteries. The fridge/freezer sounds like it might be the biggest draw otherwise.
 
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