Posted: 2/9/2025 9:11:20 AM EDT
| Does anyone have suggestions on how to provide lighting when there is no power source in the barn? The nearest available power is several hundred yards away and getting power ran to the barn just isn’t in the cards this year. Ideally I would like to have some constant low lighting on overnight with brighter working lights available if need be. The section that needs to be lit is roughly 1,200 sq ft. Car battery connection? I’m curious what’s available today. |
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Get a 200 watt solar panel, a couple 12v batteries, a cheap solar charge controller and some DC lights (on wires). You'll have to mount the panel somewhere that gets good sun. Add a simple DC switch between the batteries & the lights and that should do it. charge controller 200w solar panel 12v Lights on string |
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Originally Posted By dw00120: Get a 200 watt solar panel, a couple 12v batteries, a cheap solar charge controller and some DC lights (on wires). You'll have to mount the panel somewhere that gets good sun. Add a simple DC switch between the batteries & the lights and that should do it. charge controller 200w solar panel 12v Lights on string It really is that easy. Mount the solar where it gets best sun. Put a fuse near the battery, probably a 10a DC, run some 16 ga stranded to your favorite LED lights that have a dimmer. Let there be light. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Originally Posted By RED_5: modest solar panel array and LED lighting ? You can cut the plug off most “string party lights” as most are 12v. A few panels, simple inverter, and small battery. Just saw post above With links! Perfect |
have gun will travel
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
|
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRQXBDt?tag=arfcom00-20 are so much better than HF. 8 of these or equivalent. wired for 80v, 4 series https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY29MBYM?tag=arfcom00-20 1 of these. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLGPVF4Z?tag=arfcom00-20 1 to 4 of these, and a 2kw inverter, just run 120v lights+ most power tools. |
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Amazon light string These work well in our back yard. They kick on every night for 6 hours and can be controlled with the remote. Solar panel is small like a camera panel. You would probably need a couple strings of them to get a reasonable amount of light. |
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I recently did just that, I went with a https://us.ecoflow.com/products/delta-2-portable-power-station And some rigid solar panels. So far I'm very happy with the setup. |
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Solar, Battery, Generator, Some combo there of. How often and for how long are you talking? I mean a few hours at most every now and then, I'd recommend either a few rechargeable battery lanterns or one of those Dewalt Job site lights that use the same rechargeables as the drills. If all (or most of) the day and often, I'd recommend looking at a small solar setup. I'm actually considering doing that in one of my sheds. Mostly just as a project to mess around and learn, more so than out of need. |
LARUEMINATI
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
| Solar & deep cycle battery(s) would seem the easiest. At the tractor shed I have a 100watt panel charging a single deep cycle/RV battery. I use 12v LED lights inside & out. The outside lights (one over each roll up door) are motion sensing. It's worked well for years. For constant on overnight you would probably need more panels & possibly multiple batteries to handle the load over low sun periods. |
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Subscribed. https://www.harborfreight.com/350-power-station-350-running-watts-294-wh-capacity-70082.html Could you use this with LED lights and solar panels? |
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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By the time you pay for some of these solar/battery suggestions, you could have rented a trencher and put in the wire and conduit back to feed your barn 120/208vac. |
What is a democrat? Someone who wants everything you have, except for your job.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
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If you search solar barn lights on amazon. It has a bunch of self contained setups. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DF2T7M4C?tag=arfcom00-20 |
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Originally Posted By turbo_infidel: I recently did just that, I went with a https://us.ecoflow.com/products/delta-2-portable-power-station And some rigid solar panels. So far I'm very happy with the setup. What rigid panels did you use? I have the same battery pack but the folding panels |
have gun will travel
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
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Originally Posted By piciphant: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRQXBDt?tag=arfcom00-20 are so much better than HF. 8 of these or equivalent. wired for 80v, 4 series https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY29MBYM?tag=arfcom00-20 1 of these. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLGPVF4Z?tag=arfcom00-20 1 to 4 of these, and a 2kw inverter, just run 120v lights+ most power tools. @piciphan I Need to put in lights in an outbuilding that has no power. Your first link no longer work as Amazon isn't selling it any longer .... what did it link to? 2nd Link: 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller: 12V/24V DC Output 3rd link: 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery,2560Wh Capacity, Thanks |
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Originally Posted By DVCER: Store the batteries in an old cooler. Thank me later. Hell you could also mount the controller and load distribution right on the lid of the cooler, I would probably put it on the bottom of the lid just to keep dust off. Thanks @DVCER I know nothing about doing this [yet] and tips like this are gold. Depending on how many batteries I may need [this is going to light a 40 x 60 shed] could I build a box with foam sheet insulation, bigger than a typical cooler, and achieve the same result? |
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Originally Posted By Deuskid: @piciphan I Need to put in lights in an outbuilding that has no power. Your first link no longer work as Amazon isn't selling it any longer .... what did it link to? 2nd Link: 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller: 12V/24V DC Output 3rd link: 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery,2560Wh Capacity, Thanks Originally Posted By Deuskid: Originally Posted By piciphant: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRQXBDt?tag=arfcom00-20 are so much better than HF. 8 of these or equivalent. wired for 80v, 4 series https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY29MBYM?tag=arfcom00-20 1 of these. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLGPVF4Z?tag=arfcom00-20 1 to 4 of these, and a 2kw inverter, just run 120v lights+ most power tools. @piciphan I Need to put in lights in an outbuilding that has no power. Your first link no longer work as Amazon isn't selling it any longer .... what did it link to? 2nd Link: 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller: 12V/24V DC Output 3rd link: 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery,2560Wh Capacity, Thanks 100w 12bb panels werchtay %24 efficient. for $50, shop around. |
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I’m gonna make a wild ass guess and say 400w of solar, if you have a decent exposure. Shaded will need more. That’s a decent size structure. At least 2 big batteries. Probably over 1500$ all in for minimal setup. How far is this from line power? 1500 bucks is only going to get you 12v. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Originally Posted By DVCER: I’m gonna make a wild ass guess and say 400w of solar, if you have a decent exposure. Shaded will need more. That’s a decent size structure. At least 2 big batteries. Probably over 1500$ all in for minimal setup. How far is this from line power? 1500 bucks is only going to get you 12v. It is about 350' from the house and I was told to estimate $3 a foot to run a line from there to where the building is. All that is really needed is lights. I have a shop near the house. The shed is used to store a tractor, a skid steer and related attachments and implements, as well as other stuff not needed at the house. It is also a drop of about 120' from the house [on a hill] down to the shed, at the bottom of the hill. The shed roof is south facing and open to sunshine @DVCER |
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Originally Posted By Deuskid: It is about 350' from the house and I was told to estimate $3 a foot to run a line from there to where the building is. All that is really needed is lights. I have a shop near the house. The shed is used to store a tractor, a skid steer and related attachments and implements, as well as other stuff not needed at the house. It is also a drop of about 120' from the house [on a hill] down to the shed, at the bottom of the hill. The shed roof is south facing and open to sunshine @DVCER I don't see why it should cost that to run a wire, IF all you are running are a a few LED lights. You have a tractor, you can cut a trench. Drop a 12-2 underground rated wire. A 500 foot roll of underground wire should cost about $ 650 or so. It may be less expensive to get it cut to length, but probably not much difference, and this way you have the extra wire. Drop it in the trench, cover the trench, and you have electric at your shed. Now, you are not going to draw a lot of amperage through this wire, but you can run a few LED lights, and a battery trickle charger to keep your tractor / skidloader battery charged over the winter. You will probably only draw 5 amps or so before your voltage drop exceeds 5% (a common standard), but for your uses, even if the voltage dropped below 110 volts or so, it is not going to hurt an LED bulb or trickle charger. A motor is a different situation entirely. You will be limited to a few amps. You could, if you needed more power there, put that trickle charger on a battery and use an inverter to provide that temporary power. You are over thinking this if you are certain that the amperage draw will be minimal. 100 Watt equivalent LED bulbs will draw 15-20 watts. 5 of them will only draw 1 amp of electric. You have plenty of capacity for LED bulbs. |
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Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy. - Heinlein
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy. - Heinlein
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Originally Posted By turbo_infidel: I recently did just that, I went with a https://us.ecoflow.com/products/delta-2-portable-power-station And some rigid solar panels. So far I'm very happy with the setup. I have the folding ones and don't like them and want permeant solution (I have the delta 2 with extra battery) lol I see I asked exactly the same question before man I"m going crazy |
have gun will travel
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
|
Originally Posted By Deuskid: It is about 350' from the house and I was told to estimate $3 a foot to run a line from there to where the building is. All that is really needed is lights. I have a shop near the house. The shed is used to store a tractor, a skid steer and related attachments and implements, as well as other stuff not needed at the house. It is also a drop of about 120' from the house [on a hill] down to the shed, at the bottom of the hill. The shed roof is south facing and open to sunshine @DVCER If you are sure you never want 120v, solar would be cheaper than trench/wire/panel/etc. But if it were mine, I would probably run a few #6 Al and a ground in conduit. That’s just me. Maybe 3-4k $ in material alone. You could definitely use 12g UF pretty cheap and have a few amps, Unless you want it permitted. I doubt any inspector would approve that. Solar would give you plenty of light. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Lots of overkill here. But, we all (including me) love overkill. I assume you aren’t working out there? A few solar motion lights with remote solar panels will probably give you enough light for the few times you are out there at night. Then a couple smaller always on solar lights with remote panels. My recommendation won’t be a lot of light but will be enough to park equipment inside and be able to walk around without stumbling over stuff. If you want to be able to actually work out there, then I’ll have to agree with the run power to the shed recommendations. |
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Originally Posted By Lucifer_Sam: Whatever tool system you've bough into will probably have some lighting set ups that will work with their batteries. I know Dewalt does because the Amish around these parts use a lighting setup for dewalt. |
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