Jump to content

Log in or register to remove this advert

Lighting for a building with no power


Ashes_Firewood
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi all

 

We've got a steel frame agricultural type building that's approximately 15m long x 8m wide x 5m high at it's highest point and 4m high at the lowest. One side is open and the other 3 are clad or have doors. It's got no power at all.

 

Think it'd cost too much to have it connected to the grid with it being a long way from anything else.

 

Are there any good solar powered lighting systems out there capable of providing a good level of lighting inside a building of this size? I can't imagine the lights would need to be on for much longer than 3 hours at a time in an evening. Don't need any electric power points in there as the only machinery we use in there run off the tractors.

 

I've done a quick google but the stuff I've found seems to be for lighting smaller areas than this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Log in or register to remove this advert

  • Replies 38
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

We have a generator that's more powerful than that. But it's noisy and it gets used for other things as well so don't want to tie it up.

 

We like the idea of solar power, it's quiet and free lighting after the initial set up cost. This building is in the sun pretty much all day as well so would be ideally suited.

 

Hopefully someone has done it already

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can't help you specifically - but at a much smaller scale I messed around with solar powered Christmas lights. I concluded that you don't get much power from a single solar panel, especially in winter. (E.g. a day's weak winter sun would get 15 minutes or so of light from a 3m string of LED bulbs - from a 10cm square ish solar panel). The same panel in full sun in summer would give an hour or two of light. So I imagine you'll need a good area of (more modern) solar panels and a hefty battery. And maybe to top the battery up from the mains every so often?

 

This chap set up a more serious solar panel install for his house - might help you with panel area, wattage, amp hours etc.:

Peplers In Rye: Eco-refurbishment - installing off-grid solar PV (part 2)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cheers, that doesn't sound too promising!

 

This is the kind of thing I've found when searching online Solar Lighting Kit in a box with 8 LED Bulbs but I don't think the lights they provide with that kit would be able to light up such a large space adequately and there's definitely not enough cable length either. So I guess it needs to be something along those lines but bigger

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi, I think that LED lamps off a good car battery being trickle charged by either a small 12v wind mill or a solar panel or both could be the way to go.

I recently fitted some LED bulkhead type lamps in a similar shed, they were only 7 watts and really quite bright although the light is kind of `sterile`.

There`s loads of different LED stuff available now and it draws so little power that it shouldn`t take much to keep the battery charged.

Hope this helps, cheers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


  •  

  • Featured Adverts

About

Arbtalk.co.uk is a hub for the arboriculture industry in the UK.  
If you're just starting out and you need business, equipment, tech or training support you're in the right place.  If you've done it, made it, got a van load of oily t-shirts and have decided to give something back by sharing your knowledge or wisdom,  then you're welcome too.
If you would like to contribute to making this industry more effective and safe then welcome.
Just like a living tree, it'll always be a work in progress.
Please have a look around, sign up, share and contribute the best you have.

See you inside.

The Arbtalk Team

Follow us

Articles

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.