My Cabin Build/Reno

[Sammconn]

Welp.
Another year, another project.
Part of my time stranded this spring will be used to do a couple projects that having the hounds around for would be tough.

First up. Get that water tank into the cabin.

To bring everyone up to speed.
It was brought into the sunroom through a rough window opening last year. Has sat in the way ever since.



As the work continum goes, work begat work.
Moving things out of the way in the sunroom followed by cedar removal. Revealing the ever sickening reddish colour of the original.



Then had to gut the old bedroom. Out with the frame all the crap under the bed. All of it.








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[Sammconn]

So the room was emptied of all but the batteries and inverter. All in the box and their connecting means.

And this is where the work conundrum begins.
You see the flooring in there is 50 cent junk that we used just to clean up the floor years ago.

Welp follow along as work begins.



You can see the two types on the left. Well not much of the oak like but it’s there. Removed the joint and unkeyed the planks that had to come out.



Moving along.



And somehow I was able to rekey it all and voila part one of the work conundrum completed.




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[Sammconn]

Now time to open the wall.



A bit odd framing technique, but I’ll it will still come out and fit the tank.



Somewhere along the way this came into the cabin.

And like normal for me.
I didn’t take pictures as I was givin’ er.


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[Sammconn]

At this point the work conundrum got me again.
There wasn’t room to get the tank in and keep the battery box.
So out came all the batteries, tank in, wall closed back up.
So with the cabin power off, solar disconnected work began in the dark. First step was mailing the paneling back on. Then position the tank. Then battery rack and batteries.



Then all my per work and planning came in.



New cables fed, inverter and charge controller relocated and connections being made.



Power back on and time to clean it up now that it is completely visible. But that will come later. For now it’s been a long day. I must have my Friday nite pizza and a beer or two.


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[Sammconn]

Shoot.

Just realized I didn’t document the 2kW change.



The original 1060 watts of panel.



And original CC.



Old panels removed. Three new 2 x 6” verticals and horizontals added to the new dimensions.





And like that 1980 watts of panel up.



Voltage check is below the threshold of smoke for the new charge controller so it’s go time.



Gold.



New charge controller.

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[JR]

Nice job, just deep cell batteries for now?

Also see you are just using a regular inverter with a separate solar controller. Just wondering if you chose that, is what you had or otherwise.

[Sammconn]

Nice job, just deep cell batteries for now?

Also see you are just using a regular inverter with a separate solar controller. Just wondering if you chose that, is what you had or otherwise.

When I started this all out I wanted speparate pieces.
So if one part failed the rest still in operation.
I found this inverter and it has some really good operation parameters. Like -20.
As the place wasn’t/isn’t always heated that was an important parameter.

Now since going to the new controller I’ve been down a few rabbit holes.
I’ll be acquiring a Victron multi plus at some point and putting this inverted as a backup.
Will still be seperate CC and inverter, but charger will be integrated.

[JR]

I have been looking at the GroWatt setups. 48v input. I have four 12v/200ah batteries now (Lipo)

http://growattinverters.com/Off-Grid-Storage-Inverters/44-622.html

[Bob Smith]

As fast as things change in this arena I am waiting to do anything. I don’t have an area where I can get full sun all day and unlike a lot of areas we have plenty of cloudy days to upset the apple cart.
Heat pump system yes, PUD for power yes, for now I can live with that.

[Flyin6]

Big bunch of work
This man never sleeps!
Like that floor

[Sammconn]

Well shoot. While looking at ice pictures I stumbled across a couple other things I accomplished this past week.

First was the building of the new battery stand.
As I’m using lead acid batteries, having them warm is important for capacity. Since I generally have the place warm or make a trip to warm it, having the batteries in an insulated box was counterproductive.

So on to a rack I went.



I am slowly using up all my salvaged material and this old stand was part of the build.
I cut off the feet and bottom section for legs. Added them to an angle perimeter and made the rack.



Added some new paint to put the lipstick on the pig, added 3/4” plywood base and called it done.




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[Sammconn]

And much to my dismay and to my procrastinations credit I had to do some work on the pizza oven.



I talked to my concrete guy to discuss what I did wrong. Have a plan for the next try.

So….



This happened.
And I’m glad I did it. Took all of 15-20 minutes only to smash it out.

At least I kept the forms too (didn’t get them to the burn pile). Pays to be doing too much at times I suppose.


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[JR]

Cold cement?

The batteries are in the house right? What about fumes?

[Sammconn]

Cold cement?

The batteries are in the house right? What about fumes?

No I was a little too dry on the mix, did not have quite enough water to fully hydrate.
Then didn’t mix it long enough.
Then didn’t vibrate it together well enough.

So a few issues.

On the battery fumes, there is a window in the room that opens to the sunroom.
Exhaust fan out there if need be.
To be honest the only time I’ve ever smelled them was a I was experiencing battery failures last summer. As they dropped a cell they really took to boiling.

[Sammconn]

Oh yeah, another little project on the go.
Buddy a few cabins down inherited some 90-100 foot hydro poles. Cedar ones.
So he sold the sawmill he had a tad faster than planned and had to cut in haste. Well as the saying goes, haste makes waste.

Am me being stupid, err frugal brought a bunch of the junk pile home.



So I got busy with a skillsaw and table saw.
And quickly ran out of ambition, but not before making some useable stuff.



All at rough 2X at the moment.
I’ve brought out my bandsaw to do more this summer. Not getting stupid without ER access.



Used one chunk as a live edge project.


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[Sammconn]

I had to run the charger for a few hours last week when it rained for two days off and on.

So with the electrical all changed it came to light that the charger output cable was undersized. At least to me it was, as it got hot! Like checking it every 10-15 minutes hot. Now I could still touch it, and Lester has been around forever, but too hot for me.

Staring down a second day of rain or snow tomorrow I’m expecting to need it again possibly.

So out it came, tore apart, and the suspect cable removed.



The original was marked as 12awg but seems too small next to the 10awg I’m replacing it with. If I get bored I might pull out my wire mic and measure it but I doubt it.



It is a very robust charger and added ring terminals and redid the connections.
For those wondering it is a Lester E series, 24 volt smart charger. For floor washer machines and the like.
Will do a test run but suspect it will not be hot now.


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[Sammconn]

So to not let any grass grow under me today I started to tackle the uneven crib and decks.



There was a time not many years ago these were all level and even. The yard drains to the junction of the side deck and walkway and flushes soil out the bottom onto the lake.



So I had to dig out rock. Yes rocks again today.



And I popped the deck out with the big bar. Still not so good.



Time for some sketchy stuff.



Tie quad to tree…this is smart right…



Press the go button.



Voila.


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[Sammconn]

So now I’ve got some digging to do by the looks of things.





Grabbed four eight foot two by six and made some legs to cantilever the first section over and off the winch.
I then attached to the left section and winched it out of the way as well.

It was at this point I began looking for shovels.
Couldn’t find any. Phoned HH6 and everywhere she tough no go. We came to the conclusion that I’ve worn out and broke them all.

So off to my buddies cabin to borrow his.
That resulted in an island tour to check on ice and ended my day.
Not a lot done, but hey I’ve got a bit of time on my hands.


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[JR]

Nice work. Funny, when I saw the dock with the rock work. The uneven panels got my eye too.

[Sammconn]

Well. I started digging in the mud and quicksand to get the end of the crib down another 3-4 inches.

I found ice.



So this may take a couple days to accomplish.
I was able to get clearance under most of the crib beam so with a forecast in the mid 60’s there is hope.



Here is where I believe the undermining is coming from. I see this as the drain for the yard.



And a bit of a profile of what need to be removed.



And the quicksand like clay.




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[Flyin6]

I have real-live quicksand in the small pond. There would be no way to get out of that if you weren't attached to something. It's clay-ish but your first step into it you are knee to crotch deep. While you wiggle or make any movement at all you get deeper and deeper. I tried to dig that crap out with the excavator, but no-joy. I went down 6 feet or more and just stayed in it. That's where I dug up that huge snapping turtle. To this day if I manage to get it uncovered while messing with the skid-steer where I covered it in dirt on the slope of the dam, I am stuck.
Maybe some hippies will decide to go swimming in there some day and just like that, we'll have fewer democrat voters.

[Sammconn]

Did some more slopping at the crib. Can’t call the goo I was removing digging. The sun got into a few more inches, made melty of the surface ice and turned it into a slurry of sorts. You can see it running into the holes at the edges.
I did however get the top clearanced three more inches and the darned thing ain’t dropping.
I will leave it be as I suspect Jack Frost has a part being played.



I am debating embracing this drain. I have pipe here and am debating driving it out to shore. Then add some excavation and ballast and pour cement. Just not sure all the effort will survive the freeze thaw cycles. So I’m pondering that for about another day. This needs to dry out regardless before I can dig any further.

So off to the next project.



Time to reform the pizza oven base.



As I got to this point HH6 needed to talk…
Then didn’t answer…
Anyhoo, grand baby is coming.
She’s a leavin’.

And yes I crushed most of the old concrete to rubble as well. Couple more chunks to bust up but nearly back to gravel…

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[Flyin6]

So, all that timber, and concrete, and blocks being carried out there on your boat?

You are on a complete island, right? No land bridge/road at all?

[JR]

Anything for pizza!

[Sammconn]

So, all that timber, and concrete, and blocks being carried out there on your boat?

You are on a complete island, right? No land bridge/road at all?

It either comes via boat in summer or via sleigh in winter. (Spring for normal folks)
Winter is much simpler as you can deliver it to where it needs to go.
Summer you have to wrestle it in and out the boat, the go where it’s needed.

 The Timbers all came on a sleigh. Just can’t find the pictures of when. Mama likely has.
That was a load, Timbers and at least a lift of 8 foot 2 x 6 amongst all the rest of whatever it was.
I do remember the trailer was covered nearly completely about 3 feet high.

[Bigdave_185]

Have you ever used your pickup truck to take stuff out In the winter ?


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[Sammconn]

I don’t. Some do.
Usually I don’t have the time or need when it can happen.

Snow depth on the ice is an issue, so generally by the time it’s down I’ve already hauled.
I NEED to empty trucks and trailers asap for ADD reasons so when I get home I haul.

I don’t ever ‘plan’ it for good times either.
And until recently, we’ll even still, I can not replace MY truck with the same thing.
I have no use for the gadgets it has, let alone all the new crap.
So it doesn’t go on ice.
That’s a me thing, as it’s totally good to go for a long time generally.
Another factor is I can’t get up to the yard either, so I’d have to haul on sled regardless.
This is probably the biggest reason to be fair.

[Bigdave_185]

I don’t. Some do.
Usually I don’t have the time or need when it can happen.

Snow depth on the ice is an issue, so generally by the time it’s down I’ve already hauled.
I NEED to empty trucks and trailers asap for ADD reasons so when I get home I haul.

I don’t ever ‘plan’ it for good times either.
And until recently, we’ll even still, I can not replace MY truck with the same thing.
I have no use for the gadgets it has, let alone all the new crap.
So it doesn’t go on ice.
That’s a me thing, as it’s totally good to go for a long time generally.
Another factor is I can’t get up to the yard either, so I’d have to haul on sled regardless.
This is probably the biggest reason to be fair.

Fair enough.  I hadn’t given thought to the amount of snow that would sit on the lake, or the snow pile at your property that I’m sure is feet not inches like we get here now


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[Sammconn]

Well. Today I needed to get some concrete placed. There for the cement heads I said it the way you say it supposed to be.

I’m inside a week to get home likely and need to tend to this better this time than last.

Not a lot of pics as I poured this between two meetings this morning in just over an hour.



I hydrated it slightly more and vibrated it in hopefully enough.
Couple hours of set up and not quite ready to finish.
It’s now floated and brushed where needed, covered with packing blankets and wet. Should be good.
Zero beers involved this time around and I think I’ve got a winner. Will unwrap the package next week.
It’s been raining off and on since I poured it so had to get it covered as soon as I worked it.


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[JR]

You finish this?

[Sammconn]

You finish this?

Sadly not finished yet.
Life and other events got in the way.
It is on the docket as the only summer project this year so plans are to have it up and running by end of July...
We shall see.

[JR]

Cool, I know how life gets!

Let me know when your up there, maybe we can meet up?