Ice house wiring advice

I finally bought a 6.5′ by 14′ + 3’v shell and am prepping to wire it up. I plan to use this for fishing, hunting and family camping so I am leaving it simple and wide open inside so I can move different setups in as I please (bunks, heat, a/c, nothing, etc). It has a door on the driver’s side, two windows, and a toy hauler ramp.

External trailer lights are already in, but I thought I should ask about what all I should plan to wire in before I have it spray foamed since people with experience probably know better what you miss having. I want to keep it minimalist so less things can go wrong. At this point I am thinking:

12v:
-3 led light fixtures on ceiling
-external led light over side door
-external light over back door

120 outlets:
-high outlet on front passenger side of v for tv
-low outlet on front passenger side of v
-low outlet near back of passenger side

Other things I am considering:
-3 swtiches by the door for each external light and overhead series (these have switches on them too, but wall switches would be nice).
-2 12v connections between the 3 overhead lights for 2 fans.

What am I forgetting/what will I wish I had?

Thanks!

Internal, and outside speakers? Run them to where you plan on a radio. RCA wire from Radio to TV, then get a radio/DVD player. Coax to antena. Even if you don’t plan on an AC, I’d run the wire just in case, leave it coiled up in the ceiling, just don’t connect it in main junction box. Outside outlet, I use it a lot camping to use electric griddle for breakfast, and coffee on the picnic table with wifey before kids wake up (priceless). Coax cable near a fish hole to near TV to hook an underwater camera up and watch on TV. Also I don’t know why everybody runs their propane lines external but I’d run that inside the wall too. Give me a little time I may come up with more.

Drifter.

USB outlets in strategic locations. Probably best to get ones that connect to 12 volt, but you could also get 120 volt as well.

MNdrifter wrote:

Also I don’t know why everybody runs their propane lines external

Drifter.

one word,,,, SAFETY,,,, Propane lines on RV’s are subject to a lot more jolts and stress than propane or natural gas lines in homes. If a leak develops, better to have it on the outside. The less line inside means the less chance of any leak being on the inside. That is also why the LP tanks are fastened to a rack on the outside or in an outside compartment.

Put extra outlets. I wired my wheel house and a year later decided to add stuff to it. It would have been way easier to install extra outlets etc then to fish and hide wires once the walls were on. Think of every possible think you might run microwave, tv, dvd, etc then a few extras. 12 volt I would do the same thing. it is not going to hurt to add a extra usb charger or wall sockets. Put extra lights in the dark corners of the fish house so you can see better at night when trying to find things. I’m on my third year and think I finally have it decked out to the wy I want it. After the first year you will decide to add little things to make it just a little better.

Thanks!

So I think I will up the overall number of outlets, and definitely think about an external outlet. Do you have any problems with salt and crud in the outlet – or do they make something that is better than the typical outdoor outlet?

USBs I think I will just stick to the simple plug converters, or maybe get some of the outlets that have both plugs and usb. I’m mixed on running coax or any specialty cables permanently because the tech always seems to change (might have hdmi outs on those cameras someday!).

Do whatever you like, however the reason I suggested the 12volt USB outlets is so in the middle of the night you can have your phone charging and not need the generator running for just your phone. Otherwise install a couple 12volt cigarette lighter type plugs.

Also if it were my house I would install all 12volt LED strip lighting and even some red LEDs to keep from spooking fish in shallow or clear water. Making sure everything is dimmable.

Making a majority of your essentials 12volt with a solar trickle charger on the roof would keep you from needing a generator except for TV, cooking, etc.

I may have missed seeing this but…
12v to power fan on furnace?
110 outlet for a battery charger?
I will say that my two 12v LED ceiling lights give way better light than my 4 110v bulbs.

I used no wire nuts, I soldered every connection I could as I did not want to have to pull the wall apart when/if wires rattled apart.

I would consider not going the minimalist route and deck it out just in case a few years down the road you think about selling it.

I know I’m probably in the minority on 12 volt wiring but I see zero need for it. Generators are so light and quiet these days why not use it all the time? Battery operated LED interior lights and flashlights last so long they are all that’s needed as a quiet time backup. Even battery hole lights will last a whole season on a couple batteries. 12 volt batteries and chargers are no longer needed in my humble opinion.

Boss wrote:

I know I’m probably in the minority on 12 volt wiring but I see zero need for it. Generators are so light and quiet these days why not use it all the time? Battery operated LED interior lights and flashlights last so long they are all that’s needed as a quiet time backup. Even battery hole lights will last a whole season on a couple batteries. 12 volt batteries and chargers are no longer needed in my humble opinion.

12V definitely are needed for a majority of people. Many more options for flush 12V LED lighting (mostly camper/RV lights). I think the biggest reason for still having a 12V setup is because forced air furnaces use 12V. I understand you can use an AC/DC converter and a generator to run the furnace but its definitely a peace of mind thing knowing I can still at least fish all weekend if something goes wrong with the generator.

As far as wiring goes, this is what I installed and it is the cats-meow for an 120VAC/12VDC setup. Little bit of money but well worth it in my opinion. Gives you the option to run off batteries or off of a generator if you need 120V for outlets or TV. When the generator is running there is also a converter/charger inside to keep your battery charged and run your 12V system. Pretty easy to wire, just need a battery disconnect, a few regular AC breakers (same ones in your house), and some fuses.

https://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Dynamics-PD4045KV-Mighty-Distribution/dp/B002XRU6FM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1471619222&sr=8-5&keywords=progressive+dynamics

It wouldn’t hurt to run one or two extra 12V and 120V circuits around the shack about mid-height for upgrades later on. Might not use them but it is only an extra $10 in wire and it beats tearing up a wall to add that 2nd TV later on.

Since you mentioned camping, I might also add that with that power-center you have to ability to use 30amp service whenever you go camping to power TV, Fridge, Air Conditioner, ect. I went the expensive route and used all Furrion products for my external power supply (plugs, cord, adaptors) but the quality is top notch and the light notification on the receptacle/cords is very handy. There are obviously cheaper options and shorter cords but this should give you a good idea.

Receptacle – LINK

Cord – LINK

Adaptor (30A to 15A for generator or at home) – LINK

My wall mounted furnace doesn’t need 12 volt so that’s not a thing for me.