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Lighting up the outdoor kitchen

thomas rubino

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Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A

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posted 3 years ago

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Hi All;
I installed 48' of LED string lighting on the smoke shack today.
It works on 110vt or directly off of a 12vt battery.
I highly recommend them for any outside building , they work great!

BECCALIGHTING Outdoor String Lights 12v Safe Low Voltage Hanging LED Landscape Lighting 12 Volt DC 12VDC for Gazebo Pool Deck Patio Poles Backyard Garden RV Solar-Powered Off-Grid Living 48ft 48 Feet

I have solar panels that will be going up soon to keep the battery fully charged

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Douglas Alpenstock

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posted 3 years ago

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... and you have created a winter space where people want to gather.

Gerry Parent

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posted 3 years ago

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Wow Thomas that looks great!
After all your hard work of building it over the summer, the smoke shack finally gets to be in the spotlight.

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Mark Reed

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posted 3 years ago

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Yes, that does look great! I was thinking of doing something exactly like that, well not exactly because until you posted, I didn't know how or what to buy and now, I do. Thanks!

Could a dawn dusk sensor be incorporated in the install?

Nothing ruins a neighborhood like paved roads and water lines.

thomas rubino

master rocket scientist

Posts: 6659

Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A

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posted 3 years ago

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Hi Mark;
At the peak of the roof there is a motion sensing light for approaching the building after dark.
The new lighting could be put on a dawn/ dusk control.
But no need to light it up unless we are cooking out there.
Saves on 12 vt battery that way as well.

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J. Graham

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posted 3 years ago

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Your title just gave me an idea. A rocket burner, not for heat, but for light.

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Mark Reed

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posted 3 years ago

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Thomas, I see that you are in Montanna where if I'm not mistaken it gets a little chilly sometimes and that your battery is outside. I was worried that exposure to the cold would be an issue for the battery. In reading I found that batteries will not charge if it is too cold and that they might be damaged by trying.

Is that not the case in your experience or do you do something to counter it? I found little 12 V heaters online that might be used along maybe, with an insulated enclosure.

What type of battery do use?

Nothing ruins a neighborhood like paved roads and water lines.

thomas rubino

master rocket scientist

Posts: 6659

Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A

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posted 3 years ago

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Hey Mark;
I'm in Western Montana not Minnesota.
Quite a bit more temperate here than the Midwest.
As soon as I hook up a solar panel , that battery will be receiving a charge.
Charging produces heat internally so it should be fine.

For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
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Douglas Alpenstock

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posted 3 years ago

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Mark Reed wrote:Thomas, I see that you are in Montanna where if I'm not mistaken it gets a little chilly sometimes and that your battery is outside. I was worried that exposure to the cold would be an issue for the battery. In reading I found that batteries will not charge if it is too cold and that they might be damaged by trying.

As long as a flooded/wet cell lead-acid battery is kept charged, it will not freeze and will accept a charge. It's trickier if the battery discharges fully and partially freezes; in that case it has to be warmed before recharging. Sealed lead acid batteries, especially gel cells, require more coddling.

Edward Norton

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posted 3 years ago

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Thanks for another update. This is such an inspirational project.

Cargo bikes are cool

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Mark Reed

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posted 3 years ago

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Douglas Alpenstock wrote: Sealed lead acid batteries, especially gel cells, require more coddling.

What do you mean by more coddling? That you have to be careful not to overcharge or over drain?

Nothing ruins a neighborhood like paved roads and water lines.

Douglas Alpenstock

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posted 3 years ago

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I was only referring to freezing temperatures. Lead-acid gel cells had an electrolyte that was like thin jello, and charging them while frozen was a no-no. You don't see them now except in specialized applications. Most sealed lead-acid batteries these days are an absorbed glass mat, and seem more tolerant of freezing temperatures. All you can do is check the manufacturer's documentation for warnings.

thomas rubino

master rocket scientist

Posts: 6659

Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A

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posted 3 years ago

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I have finally added solar panels to my smoke shack.

I bought these panels in 1983, 2.2 amps @ 12vt
They were take outs from 1970,s southern California solar farms.
They were my first solar panels!

I removed them from my system years ago.
They have been leaning against the wall of the cabin ever since.
They finally get to see the sun again!

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For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
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jordan barton

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Location: Coastal Salish Sea area, British Columbia

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posted 3 years ago

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thomas rubino wrote:I have finally added solar panels to my smoke shack.

I bought these panels in 1983, 2.2 amps @ 12vt
They were take outs from 1970,s southern California solar farms.
They were my first solar panels!

I removed them from my system years ago.
They have been leaning against the wall of the cabin ever since.
They finally get to see the sun again!

wow those must have been top of the line back then thomas. 2.2a x 12v = 26 watts! wowza! what was it 10 dollars a watt?
I have seen a number of older panels here on the island . The one you are showing is new to me.

the panels are probably meant to be hooked up straight to a battery eh? without a charge controller.

Its amazing what a small array can power. Our garden water pump is directly fed from 130 watts of solar. 2 - 50 watt panels and one 30 watt panel. Both panels are at least 25 years old. now they pump a 12v water pump!

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thomas rubino

master rocket scientist

Posts: 6659

Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A

3540

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posted 3 years ago

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Hi All;
Added a charge control to my smoke shack solar system.
Even at only 2 amps each, those panels were over charging the battery...
I've been running the lights during the day to keep the battery from bubbling!
So a 10 amp renogy charge control has been added. It has solved the problem!

Last years grass seed has sprouted up and things are looking pretty spiffy out there this spring!

The outdoor kitchen / smoke shack is a huge improvement over the canvas pop up tents I was using for the previous 10 years!
Snow and rain just slide off rather than collapsing the roof like they did before!
The high open roof keeps the air breathable unlike the low pop up tents.
My new lighting setup is working great!

If you don't already have one then start construction this summer!!!
Outdoor kitchens are awesome!

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For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
Visit me at
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John C Daley

pollinator

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posted 3 years ago

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Why the door?
Do you have insect screens in the wall holes?

John Daley Bendigo, Australia The Enemy of progress is the hope of a perfect plan
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thomas rubino

master rocket scientist

Posts: 6659

Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A

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posted 3 years ago

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Hi John;
The door is to keep the Mastiff from going inside, its a kitchen not her dog house!
No insect screen's are needed in my area.

For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
Visit me at
dragontechrmh.com Once you go brick you will never go back!

thomas rubino

master rocket scientist

Posts: 6659

Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A

3540

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posted 3 years ago

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And here is Molly the Mastiff "guarding" the burgers on the grill.
Note how appropriate sized the smoke shack is to become Mollys new heated all weather dog house...

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For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
Visit me at
dragontechrmh.com Once you go brick you will never go back!

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