I am building a remote place in the woods and I want to have some lighting without using a generator. (16’X16′ with two or three lights)
I am thinking of using a 12v boat type battery for this. Need to know best type battery to use, type bulbs etc.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions as to how best to do this please post a reply
Replies
Arrow
How do you plan to charge the batteries?
Jeff
I was thinking of using one of those battery booster things they sell that you recharge at home. The place is on the river and has a pretty heavy shade factor (lots of big hardwoods) so I 'm not too sure about using Solar but I will check out the websites .
I am not sure what you are talking about a "battery booster" thing, but I think that you are talking about one of those small batteries that are used for starting cars when the battery has run down, but not totally dead.
They really don't have enough power for something like this.
You need to figure how much lighting (and other equipment) that you want to operate and how long. From that figure the amp-hours that you need.
Thanks for the replys . I will only have two or three 12V bulbs and maybe a radio or small TV. I've got a 2000Watt generator in a lockbox about 150 ft off in the woods with a 10 Ga wire through the trees but its noisy as hell and I don't want to run it unless I'm sawing a board.
Arrow
The battery booster thing won't work, not enough amps.
I used to build radio transmitter sites, all needed back-up power if AC failed. Some didn't even have AC power from the grid and were stand alone.
First thing you need to do is figure out what you plan to have (lights, TV, radio, etc.) and work out a rough amperage you think you will use.
Then you need to size the battery to the usage.
Carrying batteries back and forth is a real pain in the #### (this is first hand knowledge, as I've done it enough.)
You might think of a small generator just to charge the batteries, gas is easier to carry.
Here in Vermont, we have people living off the grid all the time, so this request isn't very unusual.
I have a retired electician friend who used to specialize in off grid power systems.
If you want more help, just ask.
Jeff
You could burn gasoline in a generator to charge 12-volt batteries and then power 12-volt bulbs directly or turn 12 volts into 120 AC through an invertor.
Or you could use the gasoline in a Coleman latern. Really. Each is about the aquivalent of a 100-watt bulb. $40 at the store. A lot less for the propane ones.
David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
David
Yeah, there a few ways to approach this problem.
Need more info before I would start to give a better suggestion.
I was generally remarking about the generator and gas.
When I set up transmitter sites, we used huge battery banks (batteries weighed about 500 lbs ea.)
The generator was sized to power the site and charge the batteries fast. The idea was to charge the batteries with one 8 hr run a week and then have the batteries power the site for the rest.
Outside sources of power (grid, solar, etc.) were taken into account in the design phase and then put together.
A friend has a home built using power from a generator. We added solar panals and a battery bank after. Kept the generator as a back-up. The system is sized so well that he only runs the generator now for maintenance.
Jeff
I didn't mean that (Gas lantern message) as a reply to your message. Rather as a general thought on a more simplistic approach.
To quiet down a generator, digging a well-drained hole in the ground helps. As does a well of hay bales between you and it.
David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
David
No problem.
Jeff
This is a better question for a solar energy type site. I assume you're planning on using 12VDC lights, so there's no converter needed. I do know a regular car battery won't last long. You need at the very least a marine type battery. They're built to withstand being totally ran down, then recharged. Golf cart batteries are even better. Batteries designed specifically for solar systems are the best.
If it's just occassional use, then a small solar battery charging system may work for you. Just a little trickle charge to keep the batteries up to speed. Solar suppliers carry a large variety of lights meant to run off of batteries just for your application. From cheapo's to really nice looking light fixtures that run off DC voltage.
There are safe ways to wire up such a system that prevent overcharging of the batteries, ect.. Amazingly enough I just saw an article about this at http://www.backwoodshome.com. I haven't read the article yet, but that's one of my favorite magazines, and they cover these types of things fairly well. They'd know who you should talk to to design a system that meets your needs.
You can get standard edison based bulbs in 12 volt versions. But for longer battery life I would plan on using floursencant.
RV and marine suppliers, as well at the solar/alternate energy places is the where to look for them.
Back in our boating days, our local (inland) NAPA carried the 12v house-hold (edison) base bubs, much cheaper than the marine stores. Use any lamp you want. Burning 2 or 4 bulbs should get you through the weekend on a standard deep-cycle battery (made for deep discharges and recharges). Longer stays, you can run the genset for an hour or two to top off the batteries every few days. Or hook to the truck and drive to town....on the boat, we had a second alternator 140amp, on one of the Diesels to charge the 12v living power system.
Actually I think that you can get them a Wally World. They do have a lot of RV stuff there.
But, it is really meaningless until he figures out what and how long he wants to operating them and what else.
Look at LED's, they are heatless solid state lights. Check these out and see if they meet your needs, with modifications.
http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productList&function=search&categoryId=SOLAR
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/jsearch/searchResults.jsp?