Wiring an Off Grid Cabin for Portable Solar Power Station.

If you plan on using solar or battery power in your off grid cabin, this video is a must! I'll break it down into palatable portions that won't leave you with a headache when it's over.
Think of "wiring an off grid cabin" more like "installing an extension cord in my walls." After watching this episode, you will know EXACTLY what I mean.
So plug in your laptop, charge your phone, turn on some music and some mood lighting, and relax. Be proud. After all, YOU did the wiring in your cabin that made all this possible, and life is good.
Thanks for watching ‪@LifeontheMoose‬ ! Be sure to stop by the channel headquarters to check out more awesome videos.
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PRODUCTS: Viewers ask me all the time what product I may be using in a particular video, and where one could get that product. Below is a link to some of my most used/oft-inquired products. The list will grow and change over time as I add more products.
PLEASE NOTE: I would never recommend a product that I personally don't or wouldn't use.
As an Amazon Associate, by clicking on a link below, I do earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Win-win! I can keep making videos, and you can shop! So, THANK YOU for supporting @LifeontheMoose ... It means a lot.
Amazon Affiliate Links:
Milwaukee Cordless Circular Saw (no battery): amzn.to/3u5k3oL
Milwaukee Cordless Hammer Drill Kit: amzn.to/47NQi9N
Milwaukee Cordless Impact Driver (no battery): amzn.to/3vLmXQe
Milwaukee M18 Battery (2-pack): amzn.to/48M8m5t
Milwaukee Tinted Safety Glasses: amzn.to/4bczTP2
Milwaukee Clear Safety Glasses: amzn.to/3SuOSwr
Milwaukee Insulated Work Gloves: amzn.to/47SCKd8
DeWalt 12" Compound Miter Saw: amzn.to/498J55w
DeWalt Miter Saw Stand: amzn.to/494gMVv
DeWalt Palm Sander: amzn.to/3HytxvQ
DeWalt Jigsaw: amzn.to/48CDpAJ
DeWalt Hand Planer Kit: amzn.to/3UvAMg3
Olympic Cedar Tone Stain (used exclusively on Red Moose Ranch): amzn.to/3Ufk3gQ
Mr. Heater Buddy (in Spur Cabin): amzn.to/3HEt0bG
Mr. Heater Big Buddy (in Ridge Cabin): amzn.to/42emFxc
[Check my latest video for updated product links.]
Music: (in order played)
Captivated, by Cristof Walters
Dancing Shadows, by Jamie Rutherford
Waltz for a Frog, by Mark Grundhoefer
Voices, by Amick Cutler
Connect, by Colin Rich Project
Tags:
wiring an off grid cabin,off grid cabin build,tiny cabin build,electrical wiring,electrical in an off grid cabin,electrical wiring in an off grid cabin,building an off grid cabin,adding lights to an off grid cabin,installing wiring,wiring install,wiring installation,basic wiring,simple wiring,easy wiring,simple cabin wiring,simple off grid wiring,easy off grid wiring,easy cabin wiring,basic cabin wiring,adding a circuit in a cabin,outlets in a tiny cabin

[@DOUGLASLASH-xy4ct]

I HAVE WORE MANY HATS IN MY WORKING LIFE .... ELECTRICAL INSTRUCTOR AND ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR ... YOU MY FRIEND GET 2 THUMBS UP FOR A PERFECT JOB!

[@LifeontheMoose]

Wow, thank you! Just trying to make it look doable for the average person. Appreciate you watching! 🙏

[@Jack-ne8vm]

Print a picture of each wall showing wiring & save it in a construction file. Might come in handy sometime.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Great reminder! I’ve done that in the past for various projects, but not this one yet. 🙏

[@DoyleShadduck]

So would one of wall layout.😝

[@thisismyway]

Another awesome video, Patrick! You did it just exactly as I would have done it. Stay warm!

[@LifeontheMoose]

Hey thanks! 🙏

[@Durasil]

I send a regard from my wife - as she is a certified electrician and contractor: Brilliant and good job with the wiring, marking of wires and the whole installation! You could easily work as a sparky :)

[@LifeontheMoose]

Thank you both! That’s very kind! 🙏

[@theruralranger]

Another great video. I really enjoyed seeing the work done "through your eyes!"

[@LifeontheMoose]

Thank you!

[@CorbinMusso88]

Got my land….just gotta choose the site and build the cabin. Love your videos man.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Excellent! Enjoy the process! 🙏

[@user-ke8qw1hm4b]

it is a beautiful sunny day here in south alabama...54 right now at 3pm and suppose to get down to 24 tonite.. let's do this wiring stuff..

[@LifeontheMoose]

That’s a bit chili for ‘Bama!

[@johnisley4578]

Great work

[@LifeontheMoose]

Thank you!

[@shaagmaan]

Im hoping to do the same in an off grid cabin within the year, but i thought maybe id gone insane for thinking it when i tried to find any examples. Finally i found yours after about a year of searching/researching and i appreciate the chance to know that this is a set up that does work effectively. Thanks!

[@LifeontheMoose]

Thank you for watching it!

[@Johnny_Yuma]

Another great job. I gotta let you know that it was 72° F. here today with daylight from about 8:00 a.m. til 6:45 p.m. It was a great day working on my HO train room. Thanks so much for the tips on wiring. It'll be a great help when I get to that stage.

[@LifeontheMoose]

72 sounds awesome! Glad you’re watching. 🙏

[@artursmihelsons415]

Great job, as always! 👍 Especially, when it's done in cold weather.. Add backup 12V light line to the ceiling through other switch. 12V line will be more efficient if using LED stripes or LED spot lights and can run longer than 120V line from same power pack. And in case of emergency, You can hook up just car battery to it or use cigarette lighter socket from power pack to make it last longer.. 😉

[@LifeontheMoose]

Ah good stuff! I appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@bruceaplin]

Prettiest extension cord I ever saw. 💛

[@LifeontheMoose]

Thanks! 🙏

[@stevenseigneurie5073]

Love your music!

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

I have never understood why outlets are placed down close to the floor. To my way of thinking, they should all be at 42" all around the room. I don't want to get down on my hands and knees to plug in anything. I am usually plugging in a lamp or a computer or a microwave or a sewing machine and all of these things sit on a table or cournter. Outlets up higher just make more sense to me, personally. Thanks for sharing

[@greglawrence742]

Dad.....is that you? Lol, my father's gripe his whole life. It does make sense tho. Especially after collecting a few years under your belt.

[@LifeontheMoose]

🤣

[@LifeontheMoose]

I hear you! I’m not sure of the history and logic behind that one. Other than to “hide” the outlets behind the couch? Thanks for tuning in!

[@ronaldsnider8078]

There not set height, its only a starting point thats common. Decent height over counters is due the back splash

[@rogerperson7159]

Looking good, Great job.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Thank you!

[@Loulou-nj7ji]

Patrick you are definitely shack of all trades 👍🏻

[@miketroutman7365]

Great video Pat. Coming along!

[@LifeontheMoose]

Thanks!

[@RonaldoWimmer]

Good job and great video, Patrick! Stay warm!

[@LifeontheMoose]

🙏🙏

[@matthewcartlidge3564]

Thanks for walking us through that, great video!

[@LifeontheMoose]

Thank you so much!

[@JohnAmes]

Great job my friend

[@LifeontheMoose]

Thank you, sir!

[@tobyspeeks3793]

Cheers from Barnes, Wisconsin

[@LifeontheMoose]

Cheers!

[@curtisbartle4381]

Moose Holes Wire Approved💯

[@jimlong527]

Great video Dave very good and not very shocking 😳 ⚡️ with brilliant bright 💡ideas.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Ha thank you!🙏 -Patrick

[@smoke5620]

It’s good see you again and it’s great to be able to join you on the job site today. You are making fine headway on your Cabin, see you next week.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Ah great to see you! 🙏

[@jefflabrozzi9592]

Nice work. Thanks for the clear explanation. I have been looking at the Delta Ecoflow system for my camp. Looks modular and expandable. May be too big for yours. Been negative temperatures all week here in WI.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Thank you! Stay warm!

[@N_A_RLW]

Use needle nose pliers to hold the staples.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Good idea!

[@MAB1907]

Hello from Midway,Texas I’m ready to get back to work, been a rough couple weeks but I’m ready sir….

[@LifeontheMoose]

Hello! Glad you’re over the rough patch.

[@ronwheeler1400]

Instead of measuring each stud for placement of your boxes use your hammer. Place the head on the floor and mark the end of handle. They will all be consistent and meet code ( at least where I am)

[@LifeontheMoose]

Great tip!

[@Misty45-kx3bz]

💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@jayedgar8177]

For an off grid system I'd do mostly low voltage DC wiring with just a couple of AC outlets. With an inverter you'll never be able to use more than a few AC outlets at once. With a battery, solar charge controller, a solar panels, DC would be a more efficient usage of power, especially for lighting.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Agree! I appreciate you watching.

[@edro3838]

👍

[@FHollis-gw4cc]

I had to chuckle at your -15 comment. I'm fairly close to you, although farther South, and it was another 17 degrees colder! That was a cold snap!

[@LifeontheMoose]

I heard some records were broke to the south.

[@southerncomfort971]

Wow that is a lot of wiring. I have a smaller project I have been planning putting power into a 8 x 12 shed I have. Been thinking of just re wiring from the main house to it with a trench, But seeing what you are planning might be a easier way to go? One of the reasons I have been falling behind is, we here in Central Ontario Canada, have been getting some unheard of warmth in February, So of course tried taking advantage of the warmth. You are a inspiration to the rest of us for working through the cold. I know soup, thick socks, and a blanket are my go to when it gets this cold. On to the next video, with a well earned cup of soup.

[@LifeontheMoose]

I did the trench to the shed thing at our previous house. Worked out great. Yeah we had that warm spell, too.

[@southerncomfort971]

@@LifeontheMoose Did you do a video on the trench and wiring?

[@LifeontheMoose]

@@southerncomfort971 Nope, that was long before I videoed.

[@JJB35]

Thank you for all your fantastic content. Your positive energy and amazing vibe radiate through the screen! Which cabin style do you prefer to build? Shed or Gable? Cheers!!

[@LifeontheMoose]

Wow thanks so much! And great question! Honestly I don’t know. I enjoy them both for different reasons. I also tend to have a short attention span, so it’s fun for me to mix it up. Glad you’re watching! 🙏

[@cgreen4life]

Hey Patrick, thanks for sharing. Have you looked at Ecoflow for battery tech? I'm looking at it for my cabin and the biggest thing for me is that they have a whole ecosystem of products that interconnect. The battery can connect to a generator and will tell the generator to turn on when the battery gets to 20% so you have backup if you're running a fridge or something like that! Also, its the only one that I've seen that can charge to 80% in like 1.6 hours if connected to a 110 circuit. Thanks again, I get a lot out of these vids.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Hey I’m glad you do! I have looked into Ecoflow, just haven’t decided on a brand yet. I appreciate you bringing it up and sharing the info. And thanks for watching! 🙏

[@valeriehayes422]

its only cold where you are. Im south of the equator...hot as hades here. My summer.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Stay cool, and thanks for watching!

[@klav5930]

👍👏🤛

[@user-cd4lm3qm8m]

I like this video and it’s a good simple idea but how does the wiring then hook into the solar setup.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Good question! I released that video last week.

[@richardwhite4277]

I hope the house build is better thought out so as to eliminate the double and triple studs, they waste lumber and cause thermal bridging and complicate the insulation installation

[@LifeontheMoose]

I believe our permitted permanent residential home will be a tad more thought out than our off grid, no-permit, low-budget part-time cabin. Thanks for watching!

[@Maxid1]

10:51 Actually you can stack four with those by running the nail through the center of the romex on each side. It also keeps your house warmer doing it that way. for a little while.

[@timkaldahl]

Really warm😅 If you light a fire for a man he'll be warm for a little while. If you light a man on fire he'll be warm for the rest of his life. 😮

[@LifeontheMoose]

Indeed!

[@steveironside7255]

Do want to put a light in the loft with a switch on those post?

[@thisismyway]

He ran two outlets for lamps and a wire down for a switch.

[@criticaltemperature3343]

You did a great job. I cringed a couple times on behalf of the electricians that havent posted. Lol

[@LifeontheMoose]

Exactly! 🙏

[@UKCG_2]

I’m surprised you didn’t add a light “upstairs”.

[@thisismyway]

He ran two outlets for lamps and ran a wire down to a switch.

[@UKCG_2]

@@thisismyway Thanks. I saw him mount two outlet boxes and saw him motion towards the missing switch box, but missed his comments about the use of lamps (as he’d used ceiling boxes elsewhere).

[@thisismyway]

​@UKCG_2 He didn't mention lamps, but I saw him run one wire up to the outlets and another wire down so I speculated the rest.

[@UKCG_2]

@@thisismyway thanks, makes me a little relieved that my sense of hearing is still intact. It does make sense to include a switch downstairs (I.e., so you can turn it on before heading up and can see what you’re doing), but in that case it would have made more sense (to me) to also include a switch upstairs in a three-way setup. That way, you wouldn’t turn off the light at the lamp and then accidentally forget to turn it back on before heading downstairs (I.e. thereby robbing the downstairs switch of its function).

[@thisismyway]

@@UKCG_2 Absolutely, I 100 percent agree with you!

[@cheryleddy5677]

Well we loved watching you work on the cabin...but my oldest Grand Daughter wants to know...Why Red Moose? We've seen deer and all other kinds of wildlife..but no moose that i know of...and certainly nota Red Moose

[@LifeontheMoose]

Please tell her it’s a great question! We saw a couple moose in the neighborhood a few years ago. And the red? I believe it stemmed from a moose print we had at the time with a deep red background. Thanks for watching! 🙏

[@Maxid1]

20:16 I'm ready to buy a piece of land in the middle of somewhere and build a 100,000 sqft "shop" with a small living unit (bout the size of the spur cabin). But the middle of somewhere prices are, you know, pricey.

[@LifeontheMoose]

Yes they are! And I like your size requirements.

[@bwcok7947]

I noticed a pew pew sitting on the front porch. Was that there just in case the hibernating bear decides to take a pee break and check out the new cabin?

[@curtisbartle4381]

We Need MooooorrrePower

[@cchambers8632]

You kept mentioning the cold. Are you going to have a wood stove?

[@LifeontheMoose]

No plans for that at this point. A portable Mr Heater for now.

[@Metanoia_Wanderer]

What kind of batteries do you have powering the wires?

[@LifeontheMoose]

I hope to get a portable power station to power it.

[@DavidBerquist334]

What state is it in Doesn't codes require 2 20 amp circuits 12 gauge wire for kitchen area

[@LifeontheMoose]

WA. Probably for real electrical jobs. I’m just making an extension cord here. Thanks for watching!

[@nicholesmith_exprealty]

Where are the wires coming from? Why do some boxes have 2 wires going to it?

[@LifeontheMoose]

Good questions! The wires all lead to the pronged end of a plug, which will get plugged into the power station. When the box has two wires, that simply means one is continuing on to the next outlet. Thanks for watching!🙏

[@thomasgomez6755]

Front porch light?

[@LifeontheMoose]

Our plan was a solar light of some sort for the porch.

[@ronaldsnider8078]

It look like you for got to wire up and secten switch with for outside for a light.

[@LifeontheMoose]

By design…we’ll probably put a solar light out there at some point.

[@Maxid1]

So you're good for coffee maker with that wiring. Even up to an electric kettle if you want to use that newfangled lectricity and not just keep it on a wood stove like us common folk. That is if you're going to be burning wood in there.

[@gerard6038]

Accidentally hits a box of TNT with the hammer, blows up the entire cabin.

[@curtisbartle4381]

soyi?