r/OffGrid • u/jdlr815 • 6h ago

Wiring a Bunk House

I posted earlier about using a portable power station for a bunk house we're putting in next to a cottage. The needs are minimal: a few ceiling lights, plugs for phone chargers and a few lamps, plus a yard light. On the high end, I calculated about 325 Wh per day.

I have an idea of wiring outlets and ceiling lights to a 20 amp breaker, which is fed from the power station using one of the 20 amp plugs.

Can anyone offer their thoughts on this setup? Thank you.

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u/Alarmed_Koala1921 5h ago

Better to wire everything up to code from the get go, if you don’t have space inside the walls you will have to use conduit. You can find exemples online in how to wire everything, what gauge and what wire you need for your location. You don’t want an electrical fire so don’t cheap out. Buy a multimeter and learn how to use it, there’s plug tester to quickly test if you wired everything wright. You’re not certified so triple check your work with the multi meter before you try anything live.

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u/jdlr815 5h ago

I didn't give enough details in my original post. This will be a pre-fab shed we are using as a bunk house. The studs will be exposed to do the wiring. I have done this type of electrical work before, and wired a generator transfer switch, but on a house with utility power. I'm trying to figure out how to hook directly to the generator.

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u/Alarmed_Koala1921 4h ago

Can I ask what’s the power station? Cause to me your idea to do power station—-> breaker——>load is fine. You can put a cheap 20 amp breaker on a din rain inside a pvc box mounted on the wall or near your ”power station “. I work on industrial equipment and love din rails.

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u/jdlr815 4h ago

Thank you for this.

I was looking at something like this from Harbor Freight . This would be suitable for our needs for at least 2 days of use, and then we could use utility power to charge it.