off grid lighting / shed lighting

[alex_m]

I live in a truck with LED SMD strip lights all round, powered by leisure batteries and solar panels, a 1m section will provide alot of light and only use 0.3amps, although they only really provide ambient light, so you'll need a lamp or similar with a more powerful light (20w) for working on stuff in the shed.

We have 3 x 80w solar panels feeding 450ah of batteries and on a sunny day in july we were getting 12-14amps from 11am-3pm. Now we're lucky to get 6amps midday.(prob down to 2 in jan/feb).

[carpenter1]

so what set up do you think i need for the 30'' x 30'' shed?

lights, batties and solar charger

[alex_m]

is that 30ftx30ft?

if so that's alot of space to fill.

 

We have 8 of these to light a 27ftx8ft space...

(warm white)

New 1M 3528 SMD 60 Leds LED Strip Lighting 12V DIY Party Clubs Decor 5 Colors | eBay

 

We have 2 225ah Lucas batteries, they are very good quality and also come in a 110ah version....

LUCAS 663 / 664 HEAVY DUTY | 12V 110ah Battery. Truck | Lorry | Leisure | Marine | eBay

 

and for a charge controller i'd get a Steca pro series. (a pr2020 would suit your needs)

It has a display screen that tells you how much battery is left, how many amps the panel is porducing and other cool functions.

Steca PR 1010, PR 1515, PR 2020, PR 3030 Steca Elektronik GmbH

 

and for the panel a single 80w monocrystaline should suffice and you can always add more.

Biard 80W 12V Monocrystalline Solar PV Panel White Frame for Caravan, Boat | eBay

[carpenter1]

yes 30 foot by 30 ft shed,

[SB1]

In my garage which isn't on mains I'm using both 12v strip lights and 230V high frequency fluorescent lights running from a sine wave inverter off of another battery.

 

The mains strip light is above the workbench and gives a good light to work under, whilst the 12v strip lights are OK for area lighting of the rest of the garage.

 

It's worth having a look at nightsearcher or rite lite rechargeable lights, expensive new, but work very well.

[predator]

can i ask what your doing in your shed pease log tter etc ?? only i,am thinking on the same lines by fitting a alternator from scrap yard as theres room on the engine to fit a pully belt etc thus lighting anywhere so to speak to charge a battery start a flat battery on car etc and run lights as long as your splitting wood etc may add a radio too lol pimp my splitter

[carpenter1]

to split logs in the dark evenings now

[Woodworks]

An alternative approach would be gutsy head torch. Probably not so nice as a well lit shed but much simpler and cheaper. You get them now that kick out a 1000+ lumens which is more light than needed for normal use.

[Woodworks]

Like this Hope R4 LED Vision Lightweight Headlight from Pete Bland Sports - The Running Specialists.

[predator]

just to revive this topic i,ve been struggling to see tonight so i,am looking at fitting a led worklight or lights to the rear of my jeep roofrack as mostly i,am working at the back on trailer or log splitter so thinking led,s the way to go low battery drain etc as my jeeps fitted with 2 large heavy duty batterys so i,am thinking i will get many hrs lighting without killing the jeep from starting up etc can anyone reccomend any decent led work lights that will mount easy to a roof rack