Back to the Cabin

Well, after far too many delays, progress is coming to the cabin again. I was able to get a few more projects completed and some additional ones started.

To begin with, my wife insisted on a shower. And remember we do not have electricity, a well, running water, septic or anything. It is completely off the grid. After much research and planning. The decision was made to build a solar - gravity feed shower. This is a really easy project as it turned out and it seems to be working very well.

First was the platform, I needed to build a strong platform that could hold a fifty gallon drum full of water. Or about 450-500 lbs. Treated 2x4 was the answer, and a lot of strong bracing. Its a simple structure that is anchored into the ground with four 24" pieces of rebar with a nut or washer welded to the top.

The construction of the actual shower was simple. The barrel was washed thoroughly, all though all it had in it for years was dog food. We cleaned it with soap and water and rinsed thoroughly. A 5/8" hole was drilled three inches from the bottom. A piece of 3/4" threaded PVC coupling was threaded into the hold using Teflon tape and plumbers putty for good measure. From this a short piece of 3/4" pvc, a ball valve, another short piece and a shower head. This is supported with a small 1/2"x 4" support.

Open the ball valve and water flows, close it and your done.

I am still in the testing phase, so I am not sure how long it will take the sun to heat the black barrel and fifty gallons of water. The plan is to fill it before I leave so it is warming while I am away, and will be ready upon arrival. Although to help, I opted for a black barrel to retain more heat. And filling is done now with buckets. The final version will tap into my 12 volt system and we will connect a bilge pump from a boat to take water from the rain barrels to the shower barrel.