The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => General Board => Topic started by: JOE.G on September 24, 2019, 05:22:54 PM

Title: Solar Light and power Questions For a small out building.
Post by: JOE.G on September 24, 2019, 05:22:54 PM
Hi, I have a small 20Lx12Wx10H with an attached 10x12 Shed, It was an old chicken Coop and Run that I am turning into a storage shed and Small equipment storage. At this time I dont plan to run power out to it and i was wondering if I could put some Solar powered lights and and maybe a small charger for Battery Tenders. I dont plan to do any work out there but would like to see if I had to go out there at night to get something.
Power for a Battery tender or 2 is just a plus.

Any ideas and links to ones you recommend? How much sun do these need to charge? I only would need the lights for a few Minutes at a time I think and not on a daily basis.

Thanks for the help.
Hi, I have a small 20Lx12Wx10H with an attached 10x12 Shed, It was an old chicken Coop and Run that I am turning into a storage shed and Small equipment storage. At this time I dont plan to run power out to it and i was wondering if I could put some Solar powered lights and and maybe a small charger for Battery Tenders. I dont plan to do any work out there but would like to see if I had to go out there at night to get something.
Power for a Battery tender or 2 is just a plus.

Any ideas and links to ones you recommend? How much sun do these need to charge? I only would need the lights for a few Minutes at a time I think and not on a daily basis.

Thanks for the help.
Title: Re: Solar Light and power Questions For a small out building.
Post by: btulloh on September 24, 2019, 05:56:14 PM
It can work well for that purpose and can be a pretty simple, small system.  I set up a something very similar to that and I'm very happy with it.

My system uses an 80 watt solar panel, a 30amp charge controller, and a 35ah AGM battery.  I use it both with a small inverter to power standard LED light bulbs (120v) and also use the 12v output on the charge controller to to run some lights made from short lengths of LED strip lights.  Either way (or both) are easy and effective.  In the summer, my solar panel is almost fully shaded and it still keeps the battery fully charged for occasional use of the lights.  

You don't need battery tenders - the solar panel and the charge controller handle the whole task.

It was an effective little project with good results.  It also taught me a lot about solar power systems since a small system functions the same as a much larger system, but much lower cost.  

After doing a lot of research on batteries, I splurged on an AGM type battery because it requires less maintenance and tolerates cold weather better.

Here's a link to a site with a lot basic info on designing a system.  (There are many resources out there.) Solar System Design (http://www.solardesigntools.com/charge_controllers.php)
Title: Re: Solar Light and power Questions For a small out building.
Post by: btulloh on September 24, 2019, 06:04:10 PM
Kit system:  Amazon - Solar Kit (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DCEKKQ0/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B00DCEKKQ0&pd_rd_w=yY0Ef&pf_rd_p=45a72588-80f7-4414-9851-786f6c16d42b&pd_rd_wg=3P2pN&pf_rd_r=B7HN9YC77QJ7DK918H70&pd_rd_r=1d661757-b0f5-4e7c-8758-5dfa1c5acf4f&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFCUVRVWjRJNEI3UDMmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA5MDQxMDMxMUlDMTBTSllNWkVQJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2Nzg2NTkzRk1UVDdZWVVQMVAzJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==)

One caution if you plan to use an inverter:  Use a small inverter (200watts) for a small system.  A larger inverter loses efficiency in a small system and draws unnecessary current even when not powering much.  Also you probably want a switch in the inverter circuit so the inverter is not drawing power when you're not using the lights.

200 watt inverter (https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=200+watt+inverter&qid=1569362712&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-4)
Title: Re: Solar Light and power Questions For a small out building.
Post by: lxskllr on September 24, 2019, 06:45:31 PM
Using AC at all is the long way around, no? Seems like it would be ideal for OP to keep everything in the native DC. Less equipment costs, and fewer inefficiencies.
Title: Re: Solar Light and power Questions For a small out building.
Post by: Ianab on September 24, 2019, 06:48:35 PM
Get one of these as your battery tender. 
https://www.amazon.com/SUNER-POWER-Waterproof-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B07N2PR267 (https://www.amazon.com/SUNER-POWER-Waterproof-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B07N2PR267)

Maybe a kit like this for the lights?
 https://www.amazon.com/Foldable-HKYH-Lighting-Charger-Emergency/dp/B013BBD70O?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_4 (https://www.amazon.com/Foldable-HKYH-Lighting-Charger-Emergency/dp/B013BBD70O?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_4)

They reckon 8 hours of light with all 4 lamps on. 

When you need mains power for a long period of time, then things get more complicated, but to just have some lights to switch on, it needn't be over complex. 
Title: Re: Solar Light and power Questions For a small out building.
Post by: btulloh on September 24, 2019, 07:20:36 PM
That second kit that Ianab referenced would be a nice turnkey solution if those lights would give you all the light you want. Everything is there and no thinking required.  

I wonder if two 2 watt bulbs and two 3 watt bulbs are enough, but you could see where you're walking. Worst case, it's returnable. 
Title: Re: Solar Light and power Questions For a small out building.
Post by: Ianab on September 24, 2019, 07:47:31 PM
Daughter has a 3watt LED desk lamp. It's powered by a little 500mA DC wall-wart. I just went and checked how bright it was...

Still got purple spots in my vision  :D

It would be like wiring in 4 x 25w incandescents, and you should be able to read a book if you were sitting under one. It's not "workshop" lighting, but it's "walk around and be able to find things perfectly OK" level. 
Title: Re: Solar Light and power Questions For a small out building.
Post by: Magicman on September 24, 2019, 07:49:54 PM
Some of These (https://www.homedepot.com/b/Lighting-Outdoor-Lighting-Outdoor-Security-Lighting/Solar/N-5yc1vZc7qfZ1z0z3pd) put out an amazing amount of light.
Title: Re: Solar Light and power Questions For a small out building.
Post by: btulloh on September 24, 2019, 07:55:07 PM
Lots of good options. Motion activated might be convenient. 
Title: Re: Solar Light and power Questions For a small out building.
Post by: JOE.G on September 25, 2019, 10:20:56 PM
Ill look though the site posted as soon as I get a free min. I am just looking for a simple system that helps me get around if I am out there in the dark to find something. The shed is fairly large but its just for storage for equipment.