Tiny House Utilities: Electricity, Water, Propane, Internet and All That Jazz!

TINY HOUSE UTILITIES
Electricity, water, propane, internet and all that jazz!

Tiny House Systems
Power (on and off-grid)
Water (fresh and waste)
Propane (safety!)
Internet
Our Power Setup
!  What we have:
!  Heavy-duty 30amp RV extension cord
coming from the “big house”
!  120v breaker box, wired for AC power like
a normal house
Our electrical panel

Electricity Options
!  If THOW, RV-style 30 or 50-amp

hookup is great so you can plug in at RV
parks while traveling
!  If power needs are high, may need 2
power inputs, not just one (for radiant
floor heat, etc)
!  For AC, RV standard is 120v. 240v
would be more suitable for permanent
house on a foundation
!  DC (solar) is a great alternative for off-
grid living
Our house “plugged in” at and RV park
Estimating Power Needs
Refer to a chart or use an

electricity usage monitor to find out
how much power you will need
On of Off-grid?
Consider pros and cons for each
Availability of utility connections
Cost/payback period
Power storage needs
True need vs. “cool” factor

Solar Off-grid Power
!  Can live where city utilities are not

provided
!  Can avoid increasing energy
prices
!  Has limited collection and storage
capacity, must pay much closer
attention to usage: conserve
!  Need back-up generator to be
safe?
!  Can be expensive investment (take
“Tiny House Build” solar array!
many years to pay back vs.
paying for grid power)
Solar Components
!  Basic components consist of:

!  Solar (PV) panels
!  Charge controller
!  Battery system
!  Inverter
!  Inverter is not 100% efficient –
typically 5% - 20% is lost in DC to
AC conversion
!  Research the correct type of
panels and components for the
amount of sun/shade you get and Basic off-grid solar components
your collection and storage needs
Things to Consider
!  Consider using DC current for your

entire house, choosing appliances and
fixtures designed for DC
!  Consider using a propane fridge,
stove, and/or water heater to help
keep electricity demand low
!  Since tiny houses usually do not use
much electricity, cost off-grid solar
(including battery bank) installation
may take a long time to “pay back”
Propane refrigerator
Plugging into the Grid
!  No up-front costs
!  Power usage typically low, so
monthly costs are small
!  On demand – no need for storage,
backup generator, etc.
!  If designed right, can hook up to
virtually any power outlet that can
deliver enough amperage
!  You can still feel good knowing
your house uses just a fraction of
the power of a larger house
The Tiny Project 30-amp RV power hookup
Water Options
!  Possible sources: !  Basic Water Setup

!  City water !  Source > hose/pipe > hookup to
!  Well water house > PEX supply lines > Water
heater > appliances/fixtures > drain
!  No running water (hand collected,
pipes > disposal
minimal use)
Example RV-style water inlet

Tank or No Tank?
!  To keep tings simple, we

did not include water
storage tanks, either for
fresh water or greywater
!  If using fresh water tank,
then complexity increases
with need for a pump.
Make sure pump and all
connections are in an
accessible place for
maintenance
Jenna and Guillaume’s water tank setup
Greywater Options
!  Sewer/septic
!  Filtration wetland/pond
!  Gravel-filled filtration
buckets, down a slope
!  French / Branched drain
system
!  Portable water tank,
dumped off-site
Branched drain system
“Blue Boy” greywater tank

Sewage or Black Water
!  If have sewer/septic
hookup, then normal flush
toilet is an option
!  If you have a THOW, then
requiring a sewage
hookup severely limits your
available places to park
!  Otherwise some
composting solution is
most common
!  Composting toilet
(expenses, problems
reported)
!  Humanure Bucket system
(nearly free, simple if up Loveable Loo composting toilet
for the task)
Our Propane Setup
!  We use propane for both on-

demand hot water and for our
range/stove
!  Inexpensive way to heat things.
Electricity needs for heating
elements are very high
!  Two large propane tanks (always
stored outside) with switchover.
Black pipe supply lines come into
house, then short flexible hose
delivers propane to appliances
Our 2 40 gallon propane tanks and regulator

Propane Safety
With propane safety is always first! !  Keep pipe connections under the house or
stub up into the house so joints are accessible
for maintenance if a leak occurs
!  Tanks always located outside the house
!  Do a pressure test and check for leaks with a
!  Always install a propane detector or even detector (or soap test)
better an electric auto-shut-off switch at the
source !  Use an exhaust fan to vent out the products
of combustion and moisture from cooking
Propane detector
Internet Options
!  Connect to existing house via cat-5

cable
!  Use wifi signal booster to reach
house
!  Satellite internet (typically slow,
not best option)
!  Mobile hot-spot if data needs are
not too high
!  Use library, coffee shop, etc if no
need for internet at home.
Cat-5 cable coming into our house

from “big house”
For tiny house plans, photo book, resources, and articles about the
realities of tiny house living, visit us at:
Tiny-Project.com

Tiny House Utilities: Electricity, Water, Propane, Internet and All That Jazz!

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Tiny House Utilities: Electricity, Water, Propane, Internet and All That Jazz!

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Tiny House Utilities: Electricity, Water, Propane, Internet and All That Jazz!

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

TINY HOUSE UTILITIES

Electricity, water, propane, internet and all that jazz!

Power (on and off-grid)

Water (fresh and waste)

Our electrical panel

! If THOW, RV-style 30 or 50-amp

Refer to a chart or use an

Consider pros and cons for each

Availability of utility connections

Power storage needs

True need vs. “cool” factor

! Can live where city utilities are not

! Basic components consist of:

! Consider using DC current for your

! Possible sources: ! Basic Water Setup

Example RV-style water inlet

! To keep tings simple, we

Branched drain system

“Blue Boy” greywater tank

! We use propane for both on-

Our 2 40 gallon propane tanks and regulator

! Connect to existing house via cat-5

Cat-5 cable coming into our house

You might also like

!  If THOW, RV-style 30 or 50-amp

!  Can live where city utilities are not

!  Basic components consist of:

!  Consider using DC current for your

!  Possible sources: !  Basic Water Setup

!  To keep tings simple, we

!  We use propane for both on-

!  Connect to existing house via cat-5