Ideas for wiring a new permanent house?

[mnhunter2]

Need some advice on wiring my first perm house, will want 12v lights and fans and ligher jacks for phones also 110 for a generator? Should I go with the LED lights?

[hoggs222]

I'd look at the fish house supply HSOforum. Do a google search for it, since I can't post a link here. They've got plenty of options for fish houses.

[Augusta]

mnhunter,

I am in the process of finishing my new perm as well. I went with the standard 12 volt dual light fixtures. I know that LED lights are supposed to use less battery and all, but I also know that you can covert your existing 12 lights to LED by simply buying special LED light bulbs (at a premium). I've seen them on a certain HSOforum, but just not sure if I want to go that route yet. I would love to hear some feedback as well.

[icealotta]

I finished my latest permanent house this last year. It is my 5th and have learned a bunch each time in terms of wiring for all purposes and conditions.

I wired all the outlets for 110 and all the inside and outside lights, fans, house jacks, and other low voltage items 12v. I installed a high quality onboard battery charger that never over charges a battery and monitors it at all times. I then installed an inverter (12v to 110) so when I my generator isn't running I flip a switch to activate the inverter. The 12v items continue to run and most all the 110 items are also being powered via the inverter.

It took a little bit of tricky wiring, some fancy switches, two fuse boxes (110 and 12v), etc. but it is everything I hoped it would be. The inverters you can buy these days can convert 12v power very effeciently to 110 which we didn't have just a few short years ago.

As far as LEd lights, I tried them and although they do burn far less juice, they didn't work well in my set up as far as illuminating all the floor space. They may work well in others. I went with standard RV ceiling and wall lights that you can buy at any RV center. They run for hours and hours without much drainage.

[Augusta]

Ice,

Can I ask where you purchased your 12 volt fuse box?

[Biggerfish]

What gauge wire do you all recomend for the 12 volt system?

[Augusta]

I used 12 gauge wiring but only because I am running more than one item off the the entire circut. I think alot of people use 14 gauge.

[icealotta]

As far as where I purchased the 12 volt fuse box...they carry them at any auto parts store. Very simple to install including two holes for screwing it to a wall inside your utility box, etc. For around $13.00 you can get one of these with up to 8 circuits. The negative wires all run directly to the negative battery post and the positive wires all run to the fuse box. Then, one heavier gauge positive wire runs from the fuse box to the positive battery post. It's nice to run as many individual items to the fuse box as possible so in the event there is an internal wiring or fixture problem it doesn't shut the whole show down (potentially jeopardizing fishing) and pretty much tells you where the issue may lie. I agree with Augusta in the 12 guage approach. Although 14 guage may be fine for most applications, if any doubt, go with heavier wire to those fixtures where there may be more draw.

[Big Dave2]

Icealotta, I have a few questions about your set-up:

Do your lights, fans, etc, run only on 12 volt?

If so, then is the only thing the generator is doing is running the outlets and the on-board charger?

Thanks,

Dave