Martin's Old Off Grid Log Cabin

A full description of a low cost solar powered 12 volt LED lighting system at a back-country cabin.

[@CedarworkshopNet]

I like the idea of a light in the out house. Very fancy, good idea. (The motor oil containers is a nice decorative touch)

[@jsm1488]

Another way to have lights is to use solar landscaping lights that will charge during the day and come on automatically at night. Maybe rig a small switch on them to turn them off. Great cabin. Thank you for posting your videos.

[@kimberlyrav]

YOU ROCK AND I wish you would upload more videos!! Some of just you hanging out and doing your thing, like cooking or just of whats going on outside, you are so fortunate to have this beautiful place and I know you know that, God is good!

[@ShannonHilldilesmavis76]

I really like your setup,quite envious actually.I will be doing a similar set up in the coming months.Keep on keepin on.

[@musicmanron1969]

if i works for you and your happy with it then who cares what anyone else thinks. good idea, and thumbs up for resourcefulness. I'd like to have my entire home set up for being off the grid.

[@fire7side]

As cheap as I am, I would have had a couple LED that I plugged in to different places. I live in the woods in Wisconsin with grid power, but just use 3 trouble lights with fluorescent bulbs in them. Love your cabin. I want to go off grid someday just for the experience of it.

[@rclamb04]

nice cabin and some great ideas, thanks

[@frankweltner7185]

I never thought anyone could use those 45 watt panel sets from Harbor Freight. You've proven me wrong. I try to be Spartan in my life, but I believe you have definitely beaten me in that regard. Thanks for the insight into your life. I appreciate you and you life style, sir.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Thanks not only for the 'current' information; but also for the atmospheric videography to show the results!

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

These sources are changing all the time and vary widely in price. I have not bought any in a few years. You are after MR16 two prong 12 volt LED lights. My latest lights were much brighter (48 LED) than my early 12's and 32's. I paid $25 for some early lights and later found them on the internet for $5. Some sources also had the socket base with two wires protruding which made wiring them up a lot easier.

[@drewthomasarnal5378]

Awesome video. You have a very nice set-up for what you need.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

A timely request. I just returned from 3 weeks at the cabin and my goal while there was to capture on film what I spend my time doing. Stay tuned.

[@JoshSmith-pg6gn]

I read the comments and I suggest you keep it like it is!!!! This more more more crap is exactly why a beautiful peaceful place like yours is so rare. Need more power. Then a driveway to carry the batteries. Then a garage to keep the car. Then a well so u can wash it. Then a furnace, ac, cable tv. Mights well stay home

[@lindalai9092]

I share your sentiments.

[@wizewoods9130]

@@lindalai9092 Me to

[@bonniejo5246]

Wow, what a practical, inexpensive way to have some power. Using old car batteries! That arrangement makes sense for a friend who has a dwelling similar to yours. Definitely sharing your videos with her. Thanks bunches!

[@1acrehomesteader43]

Sweet little setup. I'm currently putting together a little solar system for my off grid cabin.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Things have improved since I put in my system but my original set-up is still working. I may pick up one of the Harbor Freight newer kits so I will have all the power I need for the 5 watt LED's that are cheap now, really cheap now and not even available when I put in my system. A 5 watt 12 volt MR16 really lights up the cabin.

[@curtismarean6963]

When I had my off grid homestead, we used 2 golf cart batteries (6 volt each) hooked in series on the same solar array as you have. Worked great.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Great tip! That is a very popular set-up.

[@harvdog5669]

@@TheNorthwoodsman1 Hey Martin, good Saturday to ya, it's almost gone now.. so Martin, how come you keep so many cook pots in your kitchen at the cabin ??

[@southernontariocanada]

​@@TheNorthwoodsman1 you are welcome

[@neilwilliamyoung]

I love your videos Martin.Keep up the good work buddy.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Thanks

[@WoadedCelt]

I really appreciate this video. I was looking at these solar panels at Harbor Freight this week and wondered if they would power my cabin. Thanks to you, I know now. Great video too, nice to see how other people have set their cabin.

[@BlackHeartGuitar]

Wow, I will see how this works in a couple months, but I'm using 4 RV lights at 70 lumens. 0.7 Watts. I will charge up battery with an auto trickle-charger for now. What you are doing seems so counter intuitive! Thanks for posting!

[@popoqwer]

Awesome ... The Spirit of the Original Americans lives on ... great vid, Thanks for sharing.

[@samella35]

+popoqwer The "original Americans"? U know Christopher Columbus wasn't part of the original Americans.

[@dimond1806]

Thanks for sharing. It is always neat to see how people have set up their systems and how they use them. I think you said it best when you said it is amazing how stingy you can be when you have to conserve energy. Great video please keep more coming.

[@TheRealAmyBlair]

This is awesome! You have a great channel. I just ordered one of those harbor freight solar kits a couple of days ago....looking forward to experimenting with it!

[@NYCamper62]

NIce cabin. I have two kits on susan's mounted to a salvaged picnic table at camp, use a latch to keep them in 3 different positions.

[@davemi00]

Long time subscriber from 2015 So this is a special treat.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

And the system is still going strong.

[@garychynne1377]

LIGHT IS WONDERFUL. EVEN WATCHING WHALE BLUBBER BURN FOR MONTHS IS BETTER THAN DARK. YOUR ACTUALLY A PRETTY MODERN GUY IN THE PLEASURES OF MOTHER NATURE.COMFORT MEANS A LOT. THANK U GARE

[@GILLEBRATH]

That,s a great little set up ,you have going there,I have wondered for some time about power here in my cabin ,I,am in the dark except for lanterns flash light,till power comes back on,it,s expensive rates and increasing, I,am too dependent on the grid as well ,this is all I really need to light up the place,thank so much for this.

[@uncledread5279]

Nice Cabin! Great location!

[@pastornater]

I am going to do something similar at my cabin. I have a mini root cellar below the cabin with trapdoor access. I plan to use sealed deep cell batteries in there. The root cellar will keep them above freezing. With the system I should be able to use the root cellar as a wellhouse as well keeping many important things from freezing. Cabin is in Northern WI.

[@Allthatremains612]

I must say i love your set up.

[@chicagochris1988]

Thank you for sharing this great video! I much enjoyed it my friend

[@Singapom888]

Great video and very clear - good to have real figures for voltage output too: thanks.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Yes, I agree. In my calculating by the seat of my pants I know what the different loads will do to my battery per hour. Even then the capacity of the different old batteries has to be taken into account. It is such a simple system and my needs are so low that I have never gotten any better numbers figured out.

[@larryjacobs5713]

Really enjoyed this video! Thank you Martin!

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Sauciflash]

Congratulations on such a beautiful place. Thank you in the name of earthlings for living in a way that's friendly to the planet.

[@douglassmith3062]

You think that just because he lives in a cabin, he's somehow (good) for the planet?..Jesus your easy to please..1 where do you think those solar panels are made,answer china..2. he'd have more power if he used deep cell batteries. ..3. He's burning wood..that's not so good for the atmosphere. ..I could go on&on..I love his videos. .but it's not the perfect place..it's really nice and peaceful. .no disrespect to you..have a great life..

[@rainandfog4322]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Getting ready to do this myself and this is really helpful! Take care!

[@TheRealAmyBlair]

I will! Most people I've come across think they do just fine. Looking forward to it!

[@kendrasmith6637]

Nice to be able to have solar there. Thanks 😊

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

It really is!

[@richsimon3310]

I'm a big fan of yours Vic!

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

thanks for writing, always nice to hear how they are accepted.

[@marknichols7861]

A wonderful cabin - well done!

[@RickMarshallMaps]

Nice video. Great for brainstorming what can be done off the grid.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

I took another 45 panel set in last month. Now in the winter I have all the power I need. 135 watts total is working great for the short winter days and long nights. This spring one 45 set is all I will set up. The days are so long I do not need much for lights.

[@hippyraverocker]

Very nice video and setup, thanks for sharing.

[@icurnet]

I want a cabin, thanks for sharing!

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

thanks for the suggestion, I have always meant to upgrade them but did not know where to start looking

[@JWnFlorida]

FANTASTIC!! VIDEO!!! Thank You Sir!! God Love and God Bless You and Yours!! You are providing a Fantastic Service for your fellow man by providing such GREAT! Information! Thank You Once Again! Please keep posting Videos!

[@UTubeGlennAR]

Nice video, thank you for sharing. FYI: Any shadow on a Solar Panel will provide a more direct path for the free electron in the SP to get back in balanced rather than to do some work for you on it's way back to the SP in order to get back to a balanced charge.. HOWEVER, the darker the shadow on a SP, the more direct a path back the the SP the electron has, even if it is a tiny shadow from a tall stick of grass. So, keep the source for any shadows as far off in the distance as possible (if you simply cut the tall dead grass only a foot or two from your SPs, making small but DARK shadows) you will harvest much more power from the same SPs........ Obviously you can not do much about all the tall trees in the distance but their shadows are not as harmful as lots of little but dark shadows just a few inches/feet away that you can take 2 min to cut off.....

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

+UTubeGlennAR Others have alerted me in the past so I now cut the weeds and grass far enough to the south so no shadows hit the panels in the winter time. Thanks

[@UTubeGlennAR]

good to hear this. have you noticed any increase in out put?

[@risasb]

Your methods are very sound for your purposes. Solar was priced out of our reach when we lived like this in our 70s Oregon homestead so we put a battery isolator in the Jimmy and a pair of used golf cart batteries behind the back seat and plugged the car into the house whenever we got home. There was a small marine battery at the house, all our lights were 1/2 amp taillights with automotive spst switches, and we had a small inverter which we could use to play records if we did not do it too often. Kero lamps were our backup and life revolved around the wood cook stove. The voltmeter would drop about 2 volts over a few days and then it was time to drive to town for supplies again.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Amazing, all before LED lights and these cheap solar panels.

[@ss109guy]

Very nice. Thanks for taking the time.

[@kidzrback]

Nice video. I was gonna comment about using deep cycle batteries, but you addressed that at the end. I have about a 300Watt system on a grid tie inverter for my house. I want to add a battery to it just for experiment. I was gonna go for a deep cycle, but maybe I'll try yours of just using some old car batteries and see how it goes.

[@subdawg1331]

awesome loved your ideas , thank you for sharing this...

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

During my last visit to the cabin I paid more attention to how my different batteries performed. The higher cold cranking hour rated battery would not discharge at half the rate of a smaller rated amp hour battery. I started going two days before the best battery would drop to 12.55 vollts. This was lighting the cabin with 48 and 20 LED lights for 5-6 hours.

[@movies55]

that s a great idea,,it can works here at calexico ca,where is very hot in summer and the energy bills are very expensive...thank for share your video...

[@TJPisano151]

Great video thank you for sharing your ideas

[@johncarter55]

Ah...yeah! I just finished my first LED (9leds) 12volt 18ah sealed lead battery night light for my laundry room. Like your overhead bed light ...works the same. 10 amp charge controller is excellent regulates the voltage needed.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Wiring the panels in series and then using the MPPT controller to bring it back to 12 volts is something that I plan to do. This winter I will look up and see if raising the panels on poles will give me enough time in the sun. I would miss a lot of morning and late afternoon sun but that may not mean much.

[@Mark2790]

You don't need to be so frugal with your power usage. You could slowly scale up your system with more panels and batteries. I love your lifestyle.

[@ksw824]

Thank you for made this video. Here is south korea. My dream is just like this.

[@warriorgrandma4392]

absolutely amazing. this is a man with a plan

[@dukeman7595]

Are you happy living as you do ? If yes, than that's what is important. Good luck.

[@MsNevadakid]

nice setup pard.. (happy trails)

[@frankweltner7185]

I've come back here several times. You show how stingy a guy can get to conserve as much power as a person can possibly squeeze out of a minuscule solar system. The use of zoned lighting is very instructive and almost elegant in its mastery of electric minimalist architecture. The use of cheap auto batteries also shows what can be done there.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Frank Weltner I just returned from 3 weeks at the cabin. Still using the same set-up but erected a framework to hold the panels in the winter time location. It will be easier to take the panels up on a toboggan than pulling the individual sheet metal sleds all that way in deep snow. For fall I found that one 45 watt set was giving me all the power I needed.

[@harvdog5669]

@@TheNorthwoodsman1 why don't you clear up the access road to cabin. That way when the 8 miles gets to far, you can drive up in your truck..

[@thezenkitteh]

I had to comment about the "cheap aluminum LED flashlights". I purchased me one in California back in 2008 and I still use it for all my flashlight needs. The rubber part over the on/off button is shot but the LEDs still work just as good as the day I purchased it (for only $3). I agree a lot that is sold is crap, however some things aren't so crappy. Just wish more things were made in *insert your country here*.

[@JCIshtruth]

You can also get some nice qualit solar lanterns on Ebay that you just charge in the sun all day and they glow all night. Only problem is you can't turn it off unless a brighter light shines on the cell, I got one I am gonna use to carry to my outhouse.

[@mymetalback]

great video sir, thanks for sharing your know how.

[@teresapoudrier494]

I like it. Simple and cozy. peace

[@robertyoung7823]

Good job bro, nice cabin.

[@ph1sh100]

Good job and great video

[@leecurtis6354]

A friend of mine and me lived off the grid for many years. My son loaned us a solar panel which he mounted on the roof. He used the deep cycle batteries. They cost more. If u don't live there all the time, u can do with just car batteries. I don't know much about solar or batteries. We left ours inside all the time. Used an acdc converter. we only ran a radio and in the past, a c.b. Also, charging a phone. Je had a thing that looked like what you stick a cigarette lighter into inside of a car. It was mounted outside of this big wooden box he had the batteries in. Once, my friend tried just putting more sulphuric acid in the batteries and that didn't work too good. He had a thing that had green and red lights and yellow ones that showed the power available. I like your videos

[@leecurtis6354]

We lived on the lower side of a small mountain with millions of maple trees so sometimes, the power wasn't too great

[@NeoAbo]

Thank you very much, you have given me some ideas to work with. I currently have two deep cycle marine batteries; two of the same 45w panel sets from Harbor Freight as well. The power cords that came with the solar sets are really short. What gauge of wire did you use throughout your cabin? Or can I use standard household wiring? Your sled idea is pretty cool too! I wasn't thinking "outside the box" and mounted them to my deck - I will have to track the and map the sun all year.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

That is something to look into. They had some things to restore batteries years ago and now they finally seem to be getting more press.

[@FloryJohann]

Nice setup.

[@Samt1958]

Great cabin! I want one!

[@bradm190]

Great video! Thanks for sharing

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

You bet!

[@JACK32767]

i just watched a video on your you tube channel and subscribed. I going to see more.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Thanks for the input. A big problem for me is that the cabin sits empty for months at a time and the frost goes deep so there is no way to keep weak batteries from freezing. I am out rambling all the time anyway so would rather use the sled every other day than run all the wire and apparatus. For spring and fall I can have the panels right in the cabin yard and plan to run a line to the cabin from the panels and batteries. I will check out E-bay for a set-up for partial power at home

[@Bkeytx]

When I had the Harbor Freight panels like you have, during a wind blowing rain storm, those panels were still producing 22-24volts at 1amp, so, as long as light is hitting them, they will produce.

[@highground1]

Great Video!

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

The cabin is part of a 1920's era homestead.

[@TimTools99]

Thanks for the video and good information

[@brianmcintyre8940]

For the last year I've been using a head lamp. It's excellent when your by yourself. I sometimes forget I have it on. I've driven to town with it on. Someone told me there. LoL. Rechargeable

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Right on, you walk up to someone and blind them with the beam.

[@RJM1011]

Beautiful job good video thank you.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

The box needs to be on but a little push pin near the LED readout allows you to turn the LED display off to conserve power.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Interesting interpretation of a term, thanks

[@donnavaughn5393]

Thanks you my friend see you soon

[@Zampsolar]

You could still get great power in shade if you used a better solar panel, even in shade a monocrystalline class A panel will be enough for your requirements. Mono panels could be mounted in one spot all year round.

[@im1greatman]

I hope solar power get's better much faster than it is right now.

[@GILLEBRATH]

I,ll certainly be working toward a similar set up,thanks for the great help. I,ve enjoyed all your videos ,the feeding of the birds was special the Marten and the Hare,.also. That cabin ,did you build that ? it,s got a lot to offer there, and rustic too. My place is a post & beam I built ,15 years or so in the making,cheers and best wishes

[@ncacia8]

One solution that I found in having electricity (when ever I want it) is to simple rent a condo in the city.....it cuts down on the amount of time you have to spend moving solar panels, really reduces the number of old car batteries you have to save, plus (and this is HUGE) you never need to buy a voltmeter. "My" buddy Jim tried this (last winter) and said that he had heat All WINTER LONG. I'm going to try this next fall and will get back to you on how well it turned out.

[@louisemissouri4410]

Thanks for that comment, I will have to get more information.

[@TheZonedaydreamer]

great job!

[@tomjeffersonwasright2288]

I have a 45 watt HF system too. Purists laugh at me, but when Hurricane Michael shut off my electricity for 26 days, my cell phone stayed charged, and I had enough battery to play music and have lights. I also had kerosene lamps and an old liquid fuel Coleman stove for cooking, and I suffered no lack. I particularly liked the USB, 6 V, 9 V, and 12 V outlets, as well as the 2 light bulbs of the HF system. Yes, you can get more efficient systems, but not at that price, HF now sells a 100 watt system for the same price as I paid for the 45 watt, years ago. . I have a friend, Crazy Mike, who lives entirely off a single 45 W HF system. He too is somewhat "energy conservative". Between that and saving gas by riding a horse, you can guess how he got his nickname. I use old computer speakers that work of a 12 volt plug in transformer at home, but do well on 12 V direct from the battery too. The MP3 player feeds them sound, and it makes an energy efficient "stereo". I am still working on how to keep brats cool after my ice runs out. I did drill out and bolt the solar panel racks together. They got pretty loose, and the studs that held them got shaky. On eBay, I got some tail light sockets ($1.38) and LED tail light bulbs $1.04 each) that make pretty good lights for moving around at night. My "cabin" is the cabin of a 28 foot sailboat. I deal with much the same challenges you do, but I don't have to worry about bears. LOL Whether Minnesota winters or Florida hurricanes are more of a problem is still to be decided.

[@shirleymae30]

There are some round 24LED tent/camping lights that use 4 AA batteries, that with proper voltage regulators could probably be wired into a 12V solar system, and several could be wired into the same panel or supply and never even put a dent in the power system. Those lights work great with batteries, and i would imagine rigged for a solar they would light the entire cabin area well with very low or minimum power requirements to run them.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Thanks, with the low price I will check into that.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

You are asking a valid question about the amp hour rating of the batteries I use. They are car batteries that vary from 60 to 90 cold cranking amps and vary in age. The higher amp hour batteries should give more power before dropping in voltage but I use too little to be able to give you a factual answer on the difference.

[@KC0ZTR]

I noticed your solar panels are at a fairly low angle, you would get better output VB if you put your brackets on in the other position for winter when the sun is low in the sky. Nice videos, really enjoy our visits to the BWCA.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

On my last trip I did just that. Had them closer to vertical. I have so much extra power now that I do not get too finicky about the fine points, sure makes it easier.

[@jshicke]

OK, I started midway through the series and got so interested, I had to go back and start from the beginning. I had wondered about wind power in a situation like yours. They make some decent small wind turbines.

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

Thanks for the interest. The cabin is in deep forest and would need a really high tower to use the wind. Only vandal I have had is a bear that took one of my gasoline containers from the woodshed. I found it full of teeth marks down the trail. The cabin is so hard to get to that all who get there have been very respectful of it. As for the work, I can only sit still for so long and enjoy working on something in the out of doors.

[@morganfj]

3 - Cont... At the Cabin use GOOD Deep Cycle batteries where you can provide insulation and warmth. Gel cells banked can be keep indoors. These batteries will be your primary batteries for power inversion or direct... A bit of trouble at first, but ends your journeys to transfer batteries and solves your weather problems. ONE MORE ADDITION>>>>

[@TheNorthwoodsman1]

@MegaOutdoorhunter Yes it sits on 40 acres of land surrounded by state lands

[@thefaeryman]

thanks, your right, it's all about what you expect from them. john

[@microdac]

Thanks for sharing!