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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7905   
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I guessing this type of set up is only likely to be good for a little lighting and maybe a radio? At work we set up a solar system for a security gate and it forever ran flat during prolonged dull days. Eventually added a small wind turbine to it and worked will with combined. Unfortunately i wasn't really involved so don't know the details or specifics. Maybe look at Maplin? James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641 MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557 Instagram @suffolk_rovers |
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27th Nov 2016 9:35pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3750
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Cheers,
You can run a caravan for a few days easy with one 110 amp leisure battery so I think with the correct battery maybe even a few in series it would last better? I've seen kits such as this which sounds like it would work for a simple light switch... relatively cheap also. I will have to look into it for more power 
These were just a quick ebay search for kits... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121214707866?ssP...1436.l2649 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOLAR-PANEL-DIY-...Swo4pYNygY |
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27th Nov 2016 9:43pm |
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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7905
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A little bit of googling found this, probably more than you want but might be of interest...
http://www.windandsun.co.uk/information/so...DtU1vL3E7g James MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641 MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557 Instagram @suffolk_rovers |
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27th Nov 2016 9:50pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3750
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^ Will have a read and look stuff up.
Cheers, like anything there is a lot to look at / read |
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27th Nov 2016 9:58pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971 
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What are you trying to power in your garage?
If it's just for lighting then you don't need much. If you're trying to run power tools or a compressor then you're going to need pretty beefy batteries or a generator. |
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27th Nov 2016 10:25pm |
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6298  
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you might want to have a look at this too?
http://www.navitron.org.uk/products/off-grid-systems |
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28th Nov 2016 8:12am |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3750
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Hello
Just lights would be good for starters but bright enough so you can work, not candles dimly glowing |
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28th Nov 2016 10:13am |
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| David T Member Since: 01 Sep 2016 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 190 
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A Machine Mart generator for around £120 will power lights and small power.
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28th Nov 2016 10:30am |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3750
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^ I'm after no ongoing cost if possible? so spend some money on the kit then it free
Thanks though |
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28th Nov 2016 10:32am |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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In that case, a 100W panel, an MPPT controller (if you go for a smaller panel then get a PWM controller, but 100W and above it's worth having an MPPT one. They're more efficient particularly in marginal conditions but have a higher quiescent load) and a battery.
12V LED lights and you're good to go. Shouldn't be too expensive, you can also get 12V PIR floodlights for outside. I built a setup similar to that for pumping water out of a river earlier this year. Last edited by Cupboard on 29th Nov 2016 9:27am. Edited 1 time in total |
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28th Nov 2016 1:53pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3750
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^ Thanks will have a look at the items you mention.
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28th Nov 2016 2:03pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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What might have been a bit more useful is if I'd posted what I bought!
http://www.sunstore.co.uk/12v-100w-Monocry...Panel.html was the panel, it seems to be fine http://www.sunstore.co.uk/search.php?mode=search&page=1 controller http://www.sunstore.co.uk/EP-Solar-MT-50-Remote-Meter.html display for controller It's worth having the display, it tells you how the battery is doing, how much the panels are putting in to the battery and how much your load is. You can also configure it to switch off the load if the battery gets too low. You don't have to fit a controller at all if you won't want to, the panel will just be clamped down to the battery voltage. The problem with doing that is that if you've got a moderately sized panel you can over-charge the battery, which is where a basic controller comes in. That will stop you over charging the battery and give you some sort of monitoring but you're still basically clamping the panel voltage down which isn't going to be the optimal point for the panel. A solar panel's output current and voltage can vary, the maximum voltage is when you have no load (could be 20-30 something volts) and the maximum current is in to a dead short. Maximum power is somewhere in the middle and varies depending on the panel and conditions, but for the panel we have in moderate sun was high teens voltage. The MPPT controller adjusts how much current it draws from the panel and works out the point at which it's getting the most power. It continually adjusts it up a bit and down a bit to see if it's still at the maximum power point. MPPT controllers make a biggest difference when the conditions are marginal which is when you need the best performance anyway. Solar panels tend to use special "solar connectors", but I guess you could always chomp them off and just crimp normal connectors on. I bought a pair of the special connectors (because the panel was pre-fitted with leads that had them on), use them to connect to my supply cabling and then straight in to the controller. I didn't fuse my cabling because the current rating of the cable was above the short circuit current of the panels. I did fuse the connection to the battery. Lights, there are loads available from cheapies to really expensive ones but basically they're the same as LED worklights you get on Defenders. |
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29th Nov 2016 12:51pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3750
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^ Many thanks will have a look at this lot
What battery(s) did you go with? |
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29th Nov 2016 1:23pm |
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