One of the common questions that people ask once they are interested to embark in tiny houses experience is concerning the electricity.
How do tiny houses get electricity? Can we use plugs inside the house? Can we use the same appliances that we use in a fixed house? All these questions are reasonable and the answer to them is easy yet varies.
In fact, one of the greatest things when it comes to living in tiny houses is the fact that you cut down on electricity and water usage. You will start using them moderately and considerably. Actually, there are several methods to obtain access to essential utilities.
The question of how to get electricity to your tiny house depends on the amount of electricity you need? This is the only possible way to know how to do so. The last things you want to do is run a cord illegally and get busted.
Once you start living off-grid, you will realize that electricity can be generated either from solar panels (which is the most expensive one), standard hook-ups (the most common one), power generators, wind.
In this article, we will briefly go through each one of these ways to obtain electricity and explain the process. Depending on your budget and needs, you get to choose the right one for you. Your budget will be the most prominent determinant in your choice.
Let’s take a look at the different ways you can get electricity in your tiny house.
Table of Contents
STANDARD HOOK-UPS
This is the most commonly used way to get electricity inside your tiny house. This method works perfectly for those who don’t move around a lot. That means even if they have a mobile tiny house they usually move once or twice per year. You can find these hookups in the nearest backyard of a stranger or simply in an RV park.
While this is surely not rocket science, there are, however, a couple of things you should keep in mind in order to make your journey easier and cost-effective.
Before starting anything, the first thing you need to do is to check the power supply box and cut down the power (just in case the camp Hookups have any faulty installation that might burn all our electronics). As you may know, an RV Park induces a different amount of power supply.
Therefore, it is important to bring along a converter with you in case the camp does not provide the same exact power as you demand. Once you have done checking all these you can simply plug it in and play it. There you are!
Reminder, this option may not be the greatest for those who are pro-green life and are trying to reduce the carbon footprint.
Solar panels
Solar panels are the most popular source of power supply. In fact, it is considered common off-grids hook-ups used by owners of tiny houses.
Once you don’t have access to services and utilities, the Off-grid hook-ups come to help. They are mostly used in areas that are still underdeveloped or in isolated spots. While some people use solar panels as an alternative solution to the power stock (cases of emergencies), others use it as their primary source of power supply.
The thing is that this electricity alternative is expensive and not all people can afford it.
Therefore, before even thinking about purchasing solar panels the first thing you have to do is to estimate loads of energy needs to power your electronics and other needs.
This initial procedure is a very important one as it will decide how many panels you need and your budget. Unluckily, those who wrong estimates, end up purchasing larger systems that aren’t needed. So they either overestimate or underestimate their power demands.
With the right and exact estimations, you will see how much it is easier to manage the size dimension of your solar system.
Here are some of the advantages of using solar panels to generate power.
First thing, these panels are cost-effective. Nerdwallet claims that owners with solar panels power supply save up 20 per dollar, on average. That’s actually good money once it adds up.
In fact, renewable energy companies are ready to provide you with good offers as they will be happy to see their products used and put on the market for a good value. Second, the government itself encourages and pushes people to adopt environmentally-friendly lifestyles. Consequently, energy tax laws become reduced and deductible.
Third and last, is the easy installation factor. Many people think that installing solar panels demands lots of efforts, time and energy, which is not the case. It only takes a couple of days to finish the whole installation process and the outcome is more than rewarding and satisfying.
You need to comprehend that your tiny house power supply will rely heavily on solar energy. Before starting the installation procedure, you need to make sure that your panels are well connected to the sun. That means they have to fit perfectly in positions where the sun shines the most. The placements should be picked carefully.
Windmills
One of the greenways to produce electricity is by using windmills. Few people who live in tiny houses have mounted wind turbines on the roof cover of their houses and enjoyed another renewable energy.
Of course, we are not talking about those enormous windmills you see when you are on a road trip across the country; those we are talking about are pretty much the smaller versions. This choice of electricity alternative is ideal for those who intend to live off-grid, especially in windy areas.
Using windmills definitely comes with some benefits. First, it is very affordable and cost-friendly. It almost costs around half the price of using solar panels power supply at both investment and installation levels. Second, It is environment-friendly.
They are far from having and negative or destructive effect on the environment as they don’t necessitate power grid.
There are, however, a couple of important things to keep in mind, First, the windmills rely heavily on the existence of winds or else they won’t be able to generate enough power needed to supply all your necessities. Therefore, you have to be careful with this choice and do our research and study before purchasing and deciding to install one.
Second, they are challenged to be damaged in case of a lightning storm. Lastly, they can quite noisy. For your benefit, it is recommended that you use windmills hands in hands with solar panels as they both rely on certain climatic circumstances.
Power generator:
Another great option when it comes to off-grid hookups is a gas generator. As long as you have and you can reload it anytime, you don’t have to worry about your power supply. It will definitely meet and satisfy your electricity needs. Different generators provide different supply capabilities.
For example, if you were to choose an electric generator, you will end up with tiny storage volume that cannot fulfill all of your needs. Besides that, you will have to charge it more often.
However, with a gas generator or other ones, all you have to do is to bring along some fuel with you and you can live at peace. Therefore, you have to make sure that you got yourself the right one.
The Diesel fuel generator is the most prevalent one. It is cost-friendly and cost-effective. More importantly, it comes with the highest rate of electricity.
Some of the benefits of using power generator include:
- Freedom of movement:
The greatest thing about living off-grid in a tiny house is to be able to move freely and whenever you want.
While some people enjoy staying at one sport for a long period of time, others prefer to change location quite often. That’s the joy of living in a tiny house after all. By using a power generator, this lifestyle becomes easier and convenient.
- Cost-effective:
This is the deal for people who are reductive in terms of daily power supplies. As most of the time, they will be using their surroundings, especially outdoor spaces, to adapt to things around them.
- Environment-friendly generator alternative:
While the idea might be hard to absorb as it is difficult to diminish the carbon footprint while using power generator but it’s possible. Nowadays, people favor using propane tanks. The later doesn’t require as much power as a normal house would.
VERDICT
As you can see there are different alternatives to generate electricity in your tiny house. The most recommended one will be a power generator if you can afford one, especially if you plan to live off-grid. If you are an advantageous type, solar/wind power makes a good option as well. With the solar panels, you can save money and you use it all year long. It is highly recommended to mount solar panels while utilizing a generator as well. The solar generator can be the best decision you can make, the kit includes both a generator as well as several solar panels.
