Hermit Deluxe

Hermit Deluxe 2012 Design Challenge

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Guest Post by Joe Chipman

Since 2009 I have been designing and building two tiny houses for my own use. The Bunkhouse and the Hermit DeLuxe as seen in past posts on tinyhouseblog.com. http://tinyhouseblog.com/tag/the-hermit-deluxe/ and http://tinyhouseblog.com/stick-built/the-little-bunkhouse-in-the-woods-plans/ The Bunkhouse is complete with two twin beds, a 4 ft wide 2 ft deep closet and a 4 ft wide writing desk with a view out a window all in 64 sq ft.

Based on the Bunkhouse design, I am building and very near complete the Hermit DeLuxe a 160 sq ft tiny home on wheels. The Hermit DeLuxe sleeping arrangements has two bunks above the workbench and bathroom with a ladder access to three foot tall loft and a twin bed loft arrangement with a desk below on the other end of the Hermit DeLuxe.

Because I am nearing 50 years old and overweight I can forsee problems with these sleeping arrangements. In light of these problems I am planing to build a 24 ft – 30 ft caravan style tiny house on wheels in the future with readily accessible sleeping compartment based on my past designs.

These drawings are just the last 64 sq ft of a unfinished design called the Captain’s Getaway. I favor designs based on built-in furniture and using every inch of space like in wooden sailboats.

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Hermit DeLuxe Update 2011

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This is an update from Joe Chipman builder and designer of the Hermit Deluxe, the Bunkhouse and the Hermit. You can purchase the Hermit Deluxe plans here: Hermit Deluxe Plans

July 2011

Over the winter 2010/2011 I finalized the high and low voltage rough wiring, finishing with the 12 volt main panel under the desk, boxes and piping for the batteries, solar panels connections and charge controller connections.

Wanting better insulation then fiberglass, I install foam insulation with R16 in the walls (3 in. foam) and R24 in the ceiling (4 3/4 in. foam).

Then I foil taped aluminum foil to the face of the foam and left a 1/2 in. air gap between the foil and the backside of the wood paneling to reflect most of the outgoing heat back into the Hermit DeLuxe. I am hoping with the high R-value of the foam insulation and foil reflection effect heat the Hermit DeLuxe quite easily even in the coldest winter days.

I am also working on a rocket stove design to heat the Hermit DeLuxe. I will be building this design or something very similar in the next couple months. With the rocket stove design in mind I custom built the roof thimble and installed in the ceiling right before I finished the paneling on the ceiling.

In the spring, as soon as the weather allowed, I installed the last three windows and trim. I am amazed the amount of light I have in the Hermit DeLuxe with the 8 windows, better then I hoped! I installed the interior window jam extensions and insulated around the windows and door jam.

In preparation for the summer camping season, I updated the rain water system and sawdust toilet at the solar camp. It is so much better having 110 gallons of water available instead of just 35 gallons. This sawdust toilet is what I will be building in the Hermit DeLuxe.

In May, I located and obtained a nice pile of free pine and poplar boards (stored outside for 3 years and turning black) heading for the burn pile. In the last couple months I have been milling these boards into the tongue and groove and when needed end match paneling. This has meant a lot of long days in my mom’s work shop planing, using the table saw and buried in sawdust, but it is well worth it. The wood paneling installation is proceeding well and I hope to have the final wall completed this month and on to building the upper bunk framework, upper closet and shelves.

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Hermit DeLuxe News Years Update

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Joe Chipman continues to work on the Hermit DeLuxe and is giving us an update on the electrical. He has taken lots of great pictures to help you learn. Be sure and check out the electrical diagrams at the bottom of the post. This information will be included in the next update of the Hermit DeLuxe plans. I’ll let Joe take over and explain what he is doing.

I have been working right along as time and building funds would allow. So far I have the high voltage wiring complete and a good start on the low voltage. I have the 30a 240vac and 20a 120vac weather proof electrical connection mounted exterior rear of the Hermit DeLuxe with a 20a 120vac 100ft extension cord plugged in to the grid. The 30a 240vac electrical connection comes from the exterior junction box and goes to the main 240vac panel in the front of Hermit DeLuxe. The 20a 120ac electrical connection comes from the exterior box and goes to the inverter switching box tied though for now and to the main 240vac panel, and with the transfer switch the main 240vac electrical panel can be feed by the 30a 240vac feed or the 20a 120vac feed. Keep in mind the 20a 120vac feed can be grid or the inverter when finished.

The four 15a 120vac electrical curcuits wired out of the main 240vac panel, #1 main lighting and upper bunk receptacles, #2 Desk receptacles and lighting, #3 Kitchen receptacles, #4 Ref receptacle and rangehood. Main lighting includes main light switched from exterior door, kicthen sink and main bunk, sink light switched from kitchen sink, kitchen undercounter lights switched from kitchen sink, bathroom light and exhaust fan switched from front wall next to bathroom, undercounter light switched from workbench left side, workbench receptacles, upper bunk receptacles, upeer bunk light switched from ceiling next to exhaust fan, exterior light over exterior door switched at exterior door, exterior gfci receptacle next to exterior door. Desk circuit includes (7) desk receptacles, exhaust fan and lighting system above desk switched right of desk window, receptacle right of main bunk window half switched at main bunk. Kitchen circuit includes (2) above counter kitchen receptacles. Ref circuit includes receptacle for ref and a wire out for the rangehood.

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Hermit Deluxe Update

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It all started last summer with the near completion of the Bunkhouse. Wanting more of a little house on wheels and using the designs I use with the bunkhuse the Hermit DeLuxe was born. Working last winter on two different designs I finally decided on one and got it up … Read more