solar powered lights for garage?????

[1BADLS1tuner]

Hey guys what would it take to run 15-20 4' T8 fixtures off solar power???

Im not very educated on it, just curious lol....


this is what i know:

Solar Panels charge the batteries, then the batteries run a power inverter, the power inverter runs your appliance...


How many batteries/panels/converter size would be needed to run 15-20 T8s for a day?

 

[Falcon67]

At sunelec, an 800w off grid system (panels, inverter) runs about $1700 - less the batteries. Figure $1000~1200 for the batteries.

 

[kbs2244]

The $ will depend on how much you use the light and therefor how big a battery bank you need.
I would look into 12V lights.
They use them in RVs.
That would avoid the loss in the use of the inverters.
I don't know if they come in sizes for shop use.

 

[rabidsquirrel]

Off the top of my head, I believe the NEC limits either the amount of batteries, size of the battery bank, or the amperage in a residential house. I'll dig out my code book and check. Be careful, DC power is really dangerous.

-edit-

I read it wrong, 690.71 (B)(1) says that you cannot have have an operating voltage over 50 volts, so you're good to go.

If no live parts of the system are exposed while doing maintenance on the batteries, you may install them according to 690.7

 

[1BADLS1tuner]

I have done alot of reading and researching and I just dont think its feesable, as i would still end up using backup lights alot of the time...

I will spend ALOT of time in the garage as its my second income...

In a few years it will make more sense, especially since my city office will be changing meters, the new meters will be able to run reversed for homes will alternate energy options!

 

[theoldwizard1]

I read it wrong, 690.71 (B)(1) says that you cannot have have an operating voltage over 50 volts, so you're good to go.

If no live parts of the system are exposed while doing maintenance on the batteries, you may install them according to 690.7

Years ago, the automotive industry looked at raising the voltage in cars. They wanted to go to 48V but were limited to 36V because the 48V system required a 56V charging system, over the 50V "high voltage" limit which would require many additional safety requirements, both for operation and maintenance/repair.


The industry gave up because it was not reasonable to expect every electrical component in a vehicle to make "the jump" all at once. Also, electronics would cost more as they needed more complex power supplies to drop to 5V. The interim proposal was a dual voltage (36V/12V) was just too expensive.

Continued improvements in "rare earth" magnets have made electric power steering and A/C possible (although not necessarily inexpensive).

 

[trainer]

I think the answer would be to use LED lamps . Current 4' t-8 LED's are about $60each and draw 17 watts. theres no ballast and they run on 100 to 277 volts.
SO you could run on half the amount of solar panels/batteries.

 

[1BADLS1tuner]

I think the answer would be to use LED lamps . Current 4' t-8 LED's are about $60each and draw 17 watts. theres no ballast and they run on 100 to 277 volts.
SO you could run on half the amount of solar panels/batteries.

LEDs would be the way to go if a person could afford it, but by the time you purchase the panels, lights, batteries, ect..... you could pay to run flourescent lights for a long time....