![]() ![]() Self-contained solar powered lights are the easiest of these two options, and also are the most affordable. In the course of our off-grid years, we’ve used both. Solar-Powered Lights for Off-Gridįirst up (unsurprisingly) are solar lights, and these can take two different forms: self-contained solar lights and lights that use a solar-charged battery to power the lights. The four basic options for off-grid lights are:īelow, I’ll outline the specifics for each of these lighting options. The string LED lights we use in our off-grid yurt. In writing this, I assume that you’re not living in a full-size off grid house-meaning I assume you don’t have a large power supply (solar, wind, etc.), because in that case you’re probably already wired for traditional lighting. Regardless of your unique situation, this post outlines and summarizes your off-grid lighting options. Maybe you’re looking for off-grid lights for a cabin, a hunting camp, a tiny house, a van, or whatever the next iteration of off-grid living might be. Power over ethernet lighting if you are computerse.We’ve lived in an off-grid yurt in southern Vermont since the spring of 2016 and have used a few different lighting options. There is no doubt that a simple dc circuit from the battery or remote terminals such as dc distribution center or lvd lighting or load control (pv charge control?) to a dc led, most likely from rv, signage or specialty maker supply shops will be most efficient. ![]() If you need spartan, dc strip or sign lighting stick-on mounted to a suitable support, like 1/8" or 1/16" aluminum flat bar stock or wood slat or something then mountable is great as are the led panel lights. This application will open the widest chouce in fixtures and replacement lamp tubes etc. Look for 100 or more limen per Watt and suitable light directivity for the area and task and the color hue you need or want. If you have or are going to have ac power on, ac light can be fine. Especially when dc water pumps are in the mix, and so will use an SPS to supply cabins and RV dc power distribution. I like a step down or buck boost switching powersupply to maintain 13.8V for 12V nominal appliance. The highest charging Voltage has to be considered in loads unless power supply is between the battery that can accept the systems highest voltage is used to control output to loads as a step down or buck-boost etc. This will allow use in pv charged battery based systems up to 24V. If you are using dc rv light retrofit led lights are great and many will allow an input range of like 8V to 32 or more Volts. I am taking it this is area lighting for your living quarters? shipping has been quick (they are west coast, I'm in AL and I've seen three days to me) I've installed a few thousand feet of their products around work, when I had a 30a sled PSU die they replaced it with no hassle. in my case using half a LED strip in a floro fixture turned out great.Įdit: I'm very happy with the supernight brand strips, specifically the seller "ebesttrade" on amazon/ LED strip where the florescents used to be. using drop-in's from ebay/amazon for many locations. I'm converting my motorhome (all 12vdc lighting) to LED currently. get a decent soldering iron (the $20-30 refurb aoyue's from sra-solder are good) and some copper 2 conductor wire 16-18ga or so.Īlso look at RV lighting for fixtures and such. I try to mount them to something that will function as a heatsink, I can't say this has made a major difference. you should dim them with PWM and not voltage, but I do typically run the ones I deploy at work at 10-11v to increase lifetime. mount it where your eyes can't see the LED's.ĥ050's will use more energy than 3825's, strips with 60 led/meter will use more power than 30led/meter. I prefer a much solar bigger panel, about 3 ft square mainly because my winters are very overcast for most of the winter. Here's a cheap 12v system with (too small) solar panel and 2 LED lights. They make 12vdc LED lights too with round plugs you use to connect to your DC power. How bright did you want the lights? Did you want them all on one string connected to one switch to make it easy to turn off and on? Some are big enough to hold an 18650 battery, some hold a single AA cell.īrighter LED lights use more power. They also make bulb-shaped LED lights with a rechargable battery in them and micro-usb port. You plug any USB light into it and it dims the light for you. I also made a USB dimmer which can be used with any LED light. The power banks are recharged by a 12v lead acid battery which is charged by solar panels. I'm sure they make these in "the wild" also. I also make custom LED lights which I can dim so I can use even less power if I just want a moonlight mode, or full lighting mode. I have several small/portable battery banks with USB ports. ![]()
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