Hunting cabin
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It is a Magnum inverter. The inverter noise is extremely quiet. My kid sleeps on the cot right next to it. There is a bit of a buzz when you turn it on but the fan on my laptop is louder than the inverter.
I've got about 10 days of overnights in the cabin now; just tagged my buck, so probably only a couple more nights this year to get a doe during gun with my son.
Lots of learnings. First couple nights, left the inverter on overnight to keep cell phone charged and run cell booster. Well, for whatever reason the booster worked awesome in the summer but not now. Kinda a waste, helps with texts but not internet data or voice. Might have to investigate and re-aim the antenna. Basically leaving the inverter on overnight burns 15-20% of the battery (can only run down to 50% technically). So I learned to bring external cell phone battery chargers, charge them up in the day, so I could kill the inverter completely overnight.
Now I'm in a place where I can run the microwave 5min a day (each min is 1% battery), make a couple cups of coffee in a Keurig, watch some TV with the antenna booster on, run one of the two light fixtures, and I only use 10-15% per day. Installed some battery powered tap lights to enable bathroom breaks etc with inverter off at night. So I can EASILY get 2 days off batteries, 3 if I am a little careful. If it's sunny out at all I'm up to 100% again by 2pm even with the low falll sun.
11K BTU furnace works pretty well, doesn't take any electricity. It's gotten down to high 20s last couple nights, kept the setting low and still didn't need heavy blankets. Regular propane tank on about 7-8 nights, just now getting low. Insulation seems pretty good.
The water system is a nice bonus, able to fill the camp toilet and wash dishes. Weather is warming up a bit so I think I will make it into the opening weekend of gun season before I have to winterize it.
Lots of learnings. First couple nights, left the inverter on overnight to keep cell phone charged and run cell booster. Well, for whatever reason the booster worked awesome in the summer but not now. Kinda a waste, helps with texts but not internet data or voice. Might have to investigate and re-aim the antenna. Basically leaving the inverter on overnight burns 15-20% of the battery (can only run down to 50% technically). So I learned to bring external cell phone battery chargers, charge them up in the day, so I could kill the inverter completely overnight.
Now I'm in a place where I can run the microwave 5min a day (each min is 1% battery), make a couple cups of coffee in a Keurig, watch some TV with the antenna booster on, run one of the two light fixtures, and I only use 10-15% per day. Installed some battery powered tap lights to enable bathroom breaks etc with inverter off at night. So I can EASILY get 2 days off batteries, 3 if I am a little careful. If it's sunny out at all I'm up to 100% again by 2pm even with the low falll sun.
11K BTU furnace works pretty well, doesn't take any electricity. It's gotten down to high 20s last couple nights, kept the setting low and still didn't need heavy blankets. Regular propane tank on about 7-8 nights, just now getting low. Insulation seems pretty good.
The water system is a nice bonus, able to fill the camp toilet and wash dishes. Weather is warming up a bit so I think I will make it into the opening weekend of gun season before I have to winterize it.
SD51555
5 year old buck +
Those appliances are killers. Coleman makes a few different models of propane coffee makers. You just set them over a gas burner and they work like a normal percolator. They take a little longer, but otherwise, all good. I had wanted a microwave too, but I didnt' have enough juice to run one. I forced myself to build a camp menu around what I did have.
*Must be cooked in a frying pan
*Must be cooked over open fire
*Can't be dishes heavy. Don't wanna be scubbing pots and pans at camp.
You'll get good at omelets and tin foil cooking, that's for sure.
Check the wattage on your TV and your light bulbs. TVs are also a killer if they have any size. Mine is a smaller maybe 32" TV and it pulls 3 apms @ 12 volt. I've seen others than can pull upwards of 6-9+, and that means less to no TV when times get tight. A good LED bulb shouldn't pull more than 9 watts.
*Must be cooked in a frying pan
*Must be cooked over open fire
*Can't be dishes heavy. Don't wanna be scubbing pots and pans at camp.
You'll get good at omelets and tin foil cooking, that's for sure.
Check the wattage on your TV and your light bulbs. TVs are also a killer if they have any size. Mine is a smaller maybe 32" TV and it pulls 3 apms @ 12 volt. I've seen others than can pull upwards of 6-9+, and that means less to no TV when times get tight. A good LED bulb shouldn't pull more than 9 watts.
I may look into a non-electric coffee maker option, if only because once I winterize the cabin I don't think I can leave the single serve Keurig there to freeze. Looks like this year I'll luck out and winterization...and loss of running water...won't happen until after I'm done hunting. But without running water to wash pots etc my menu would definitely change.
TV is small, and I only have to run one light fixture. Now that I've found a way to go 2-3 days on my battery bank without getting really miserly I'm pretty happy.
TV is small, and I only have to run one light fixture. Now that I've found a way to go 2-3 days on my battery bank without getting really miserly I'm pretty happy.
spartan huntr
Yearling... With promise
Thanks for sharing. Great build... great story here to track! Captivating for sure.
I hate when guys spend my money but i have to throw out an idea for you. Have you considered a futon for the seats and to replace the cot? In our bunk houses upstairs we had cots. With me over 50 and pops pushing 80 every night of sleep felt like it reduced our lives by a week. I know you probably use the loft when alone but you mentioned having kids/wife with you. Assuming you have to use the cot then, i wanted to share that idea as we ended up buying two futons because we woke up every morning after a night on the cots with sore shoulders/exhausted. The futons have really been a great solution. They sit upright for when people watch tv or just hang out. At bed time, you simply pull out two pegs and they lay down with a decent mattress when time for sleep. To be honest...everyone has a sleeping bag and pillow up there and we simply lay them out and throw the bags on them. They work great!
They serve a great purpose for when the kids want to bring a friend too. They can sit and watch a movie (we don't have hd tv up there - a dvd and 32 inch) or they play games while sitting on the futons as sofas. When bed time comes... we have beds in 30 seconds from sofas to laid out.
My pops and are both over 250 lbs. We liked them so much we added another. When i have guests there is a place for them without having to cozy in the loft. Again... just a suggestion. Your place is awesome, but i can imagine how maybe a futon might replace the chairs and the cot and give you more seating and sleeping space. And you noted the wife.... mine would NOT sleep on a cot. This solution has helped... although our outhouse is still a deal breaker. ha ha!
Link below but in case it doesn't work... here is the address:
futonland.com
Futon Link Wilderness Log Furnitureproduct/wilderness-log-clear-futon-frame-full?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2sqOBhCGARIsAPuPK0g_SmeglF3Lryt1Y85AoPsTtiYBKe21qSjnTDxyepkTVYivbACLJ9MaApC7EALw_wcB
Thanks again for sharing these pics and the story. Very cool and I am sure very rewarding.
Wilderness Futon Link
I hate when guys spend my money but i have to throw out an idea for you. Have you considered a futon for the seats and to replace the cot? In our bunk houses upstairs we had cots. With me over 50 and pops pushing 80 every night of sleep felt like it reduced our lives by a week. I know you probably use the loft when alone but you mentioned having kids/wife with you. Assuming you have to use the cot then, i wanted to share that idea as we ended up buying two futons because we woke up every morning after a night on the cots with sore shoulders/exhausted. The futons have really been a great solution. They sit upright for when people watch tv or just hang out. At bed time, you simply pull out two pegs and they lay down with a decent mattress when time for sleep. To be honest...everyone has a sleeping bag and pillow up there and we simply lay them out and throw the bags on them. They work great!
They serve a great purpose for when the kids want to bring a friend too. They can sit and watch a movie (we don't have hd tv up there - a dvd and 32 inch) or they play games while sitting on the futons as sofas. When bed time comes... we have beds in 30 seconds from sofas to laid out.
My pops and are both over 250 lbs. We liked them so much we added another. When i have guests there is a place for them without having to cozy in the loft. Again... just a suggestion. Your place is awesome, but i can imagine how maybe a futon might replace the chairs and the cot and give you more seating and sleeping space. And you noted the wife.... mine would NOT sleep on a cot. This solution has helped... although our outhouse is still a deal breaker. ha ha!
Link below but in case it doesn't work... here is the address:
Futonland – Functional Furniture, Sofa Beds and Mattresses
Convertible sofa beds, space-saving loveseats and wall hugger futons for any room. Murphy cabinet beds and organic mattresses. Fast delivery and White Glove assembly services
futonland.com
Thanks again for sharing these pics and the story. Very cool and I am sure very rewarding.
Wilderness Futon Link
35-acre
5 year old buck +
You definitely can do a lot with propane too and that doesn't need any extra winterization, etc.
I have a propane stove similar to this one for $50:
www.agrisupply.com
There is also the capability to use propane lights.
I have a propane stove similar to this one for $50:
Cast Iron Stove, Triple Burner Stove | Carolina Cooker 48591
This Carolina Cooker® triple burner cast iron stove makes outdoor cooking simple and fun.
There is also the capability to use propane lights.
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I already have a 2-burner propane stovetop in there, works great. Keurig is just faster for a low number of cups during season. Can always use the french press with boiled water.You definitely can do a lot with propane too and that doesn't need any extra winterization, etc.
I have a propane stove similar to this one for $50:
Cast Iron Stove, Triple Burner Stove | Carolina Cooker 48591
This Carolina Cooker® triple burner cast iron stove makes outdoor cooking simple and fun.
There is also the capability to use propane lights.
No need for propane lights with the solar but I know people that use them when they have zero electricity options and they work fairly well.
4wanderingeyes
5 year old buck +
I have used propane lights for many years, the extra heat from them is nice in the winter, not so much in the summer.
It's a Renogy 800W kit coupled with a Magnum inverter and mini panel. Lots of various parts to piece it all together. Definitely not "plug and play" for someone not willing to research and understand how to put such a system together. I was ignorant when I started and spend last winter researching all of this and putting a parts list together.
