ICEHOUSE POWER

[cold one sd]

What do you guys use to power your permanents and drop downs? Batteries? Howmany? Generators? Size and type? Anyone have one of the 1000 watt 2 cycles that they sell on hsolist? I bid on one yesterday and got it. I hope it works for me. Thanks.

[Ryan_V]

I just use batteries. I have 2 deep cycle, usually only go through one, that runs my lights. I also have an old car battery to run the radio and fans. have never had to switch out batteries, but don't usually spend the night or go for over 5-6 hours at a time

[don of cambrige]

I to use 12v power. deep cell. i stay out at night and if the battery runs low i charge it with the truck or if the ice is'nt safe yet i have a 12v genarader. it sure is nice not haveing to pump the lantern and deal with broken manntels no fading in and out. Brighter.

[cold one sd]

I have 9 sealed lead acid 12 volt batteries in mine and I have all but one tied together in parallel. The 9th one is there just in case. I have been on the ice for several days and have no problem with dim lights of anything else. I would really like to hear from someone that has one of the 2 cycle 1000 watt generators to find out how they like it. Thanks.

[MJCatfish]

Just bought an 8 x 16 drop down house. The guy who had it before me used a 110 system with a little Honda generator. Not sure what wattage it ran, but it ran three 95 watt bulbs and a t.v./vcr or a radio with no problem. He would stretch about a 25 ft extension cord outside and you could barely hear it humming. The only problem with it is that he didn't throw it in with the deal. Now I'm using deep cycle batteries. It's kind of pain, but for now it works. I also know a few guys that have solar panel chargers on the outside of their houses. They usually have two batteries out there and only have to switch them back and forth once in a blue moon.

Now I have to decide whether I want to go with 100 volt or 12 volt.

MJ

[don of cambrige]

Just to let you all know when I said generator. I ment a chevy alt. Belted to a 5 hores briggs. Hey it works great and did'nt cost nothing.. GOOD FISHING

[cold one sd]

MJCatfish, I had mine set up so I could use it as 110 or 12 volts by changing bulbs in the light fixtures. I had 50 watt 12 volt bulbs in the sockets when I used 12 volts and switched to 110 volt bulbs when I used 110 volts. Just keep the battery isolated from the system when using 110 volts. now I have all 12 volt camper lights and I am 12 volt all the way.

Don, the price on the generator is right. I bought a cheaper generator as the 1000 watt Hondas are about $700.00. I have to keep peace with the wife.

[straydog]

cold one - IS 9 12 volt batteries, like over a thousand dollars worth the batteries? Just curious I have a generator but always use 2 deep cycle marine batteries.

[hanson]

FINALLY, FINALLY got my new shack onto the lake. Maiden Voyage was saturday in the -30 degree temps.

I put (3) 12v RV dome lights in the house. House is 7'x12'. Each dome light has 2 bulbs so you can control the light levels in the house from 1 bulb on up to 6. Lets just say I don't need to have them all on at once. I was pleasantly surprised by how much light they put out.

Currently running off of 1 deep cycle battery but I'm thinking of jumping to 2 for longer weekends. I've got the coleman lantern with for emergencies.

[bigtruckderbuck]

I use a 12V deep cycle to power two florescent lights, a tv, a satellite receiver and 4 computer fans. As long as I have two batteries on hand, I've never had a problem with running out of power. This is my first year with the fans and satellite dish, so I'm not sure exactly how long everything will run on one fully charged battery, but so far it's looking like 6+ hours. Last year I regularly got 10+ hours from a single deep cycle battery running the lights and tv.

In my opinion, the hassle of hauling batteries to/from the fish house is justified when considering the noise that I'd be subjecting myself and everyone around me to with a generator. I've heard that newer honda generators aren't quite as loud as others, but I still haven't checked one out myself.

It sounds like you already bought a generator. If you find that it is too loud for you, I remember reading on this site a while ago about an insulated box that someone made to keep his generator in. This apparently dampened the noise quite a bit.

Hope this helps.

[kooba]

I also have a 61/2 by 14 ice house on wheels that I power with two deep cycle batteries. My father graciously lets me borrow his generator from time to time to use. It is a 2000 watt honda that is extremely quite. I use this to charge the batteries when they get low and also during the day run the TV and Lights to save on the batteries. I still need the battery to run my heater because of the fan. would really like to know how people like there solar chargers though. KOOBA

[hanson]

I'm curious too but I've heard that the solar charges don't work very effectively in the winter time due to the angle of the sun. They work great in the summer but not the winter. Any truth to this?

[GoodToGo]

I have the 12v/110v setup too. I also have an outside outlet. When running TV/fan I can hook up the truck to the outside outlet and let it idle. Quieter then a generator I guess. Make sure you put fuses in line, I almost learned the hard way, only the extension cord burned up!

[cold one sd]

I confess! If I had to buy em I wouldn't heve em. I work for a communications company and we removed a pair gain system that was aboout a year old and put a newer model in its place. Rather than junk the batteries I took them home. Each battery has has six 2 volt batteries in it like a six pack. If one of the 2 volt batteries goes bad I have some spares. The ninth battery weighs about 80 lbs and I don't hook it up in the string. I thought it would be nice in case someone ran low on juice or needed a jumpstart. I'm sure they are expensive batteries. I used 5 rv lights, a fan and a stereo for about 8 hours a week ago and they showed full charge after 30 minutes of charging. The generator that I bought is about 2 db louder than a 1 kw Honda,so it really shouldn't bother anyone. I will probably use it in the evening while on the ice.