AliveBoy Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Afternoon all, I've been thinking of lighting my garage so I can use it at all times, however without mains electricity. Has anyone done this themselves? The garage is 76.05 feet from my house, with 2 other properties and a public footpath in between the 2 destinations. I was thinking of a 5W solar trickle charger attached to a 12V car battery using LED strip lights? I found this: http://www.photonicuniverse.com/en/catalog/full/117-5W-solar-trickle-charging-kit-for-12V-battery-for-car%252C-van%252C-motorbike%252C-boat-or-any-other-12V-application.html It looks like it should protect the battery from the most common death dealing problems and doesn't cost the earth either. All of the other important things like tea and biscuits are close enough that I (Read: Fiancée!) can walk to get them Thanks for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony.r123 Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Best to get a leisure type battery, as used on boats/caravans as they take more abuse. my mate uses a solar kit he got off e=bay on his boat @70w Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Get hamsters and wheels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Either do this . . . and just turn your car lights on or a more sensible option it so get a quiet generator to power them. No sure how long lights would last on a car battery 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flex Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Either do this . . . and just turn your car lights on or a more sensible option it so get a quiet generator to power them. No sure how long lights would last on a car battery Brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 They are good had one for my boat . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 Either do this . . . and just turn your car lights on or a more sensible option it so get a quiet generator to power them. No sure how long lights would last on a car battery That's a kinky get up you've got right there! From what I've "worked out" with my limited electrical knowledge, with a 12v you can get 2-3 hours, providing you have a battery rated with high enough "amp hours". It's all very confusing, but it looks like a 12v leisure battery (as suggested above by tony.r123) would take 10hrs sunlight to charge from a 5W solar panel and would have far higher "amp hours" than a car one. Just need to work out what draw some lights would take and if I'd need an inverter.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK350Z Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Either a small generator or some 12V lead acid batteries, with a solar charger and panels. Powering LED or small fluorescents. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 Either a small generator or some 12V lead acid batteries, with a solar charger and panels. Powering LED or small fluorescents. I'd love to use a small generator, but I'm so close to the neighbours (who aren't exactly fond of my car anyway due to the exhaust note) that I think I'd be hung drawn and quartered for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Probably not the cheapest, but if this is too loud then install in a box with an exhaust outlet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK350Z Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 +1 a louvred or vented box made from pallets with some sound deadening would be surprisingly quiet with modern small generators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marzman Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 My bro used to have a similar problem when i was a kid... but it was about an 80 Meter gap! He used to run an extension chord up the length of our street every time he was in there! I'd either do that (allowing you to use power tools too), or get a portable rechargeable battery pack. You cant rely on solar power imho. I dont know if the below kind of devices are suitable, but this is kind of what i'd be looking into http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/400489652362?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=63&ff19=0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Save up, sell house, buy house with garage attached Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted June 24, 2013 Author Share Posted June 24, 2013 Save up, sell house, buy house with garage attached at 23 in the current climate I'm counting myself lucky that I have a house at all, let alone in the south east I don't really fancy gambling it all for the sake of a garage. If needs be, head torches and inspection lamps under a tarp will keep me going at least for a while longer Thanks for the comments guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Save up, sell house, buy house with garage attached at 23 in the current climate I'm counting myself lucky that I have a house at all, let alone in the south east I don't really fancy gambling it all for the sake of a garage. If needs be, head torches and inspection lamps under a tarp will keep me going at least for a while longer Thanks for the comments guys Was more of a long term planning thing, like get saving and keep an eye out for a better house in like ten years or something 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I am looking at getting a solar trickle charger and liesure battery to run a light and maybe the odd power tool / hoover for the car. Sounds ideal as wouldn't be very often and not for long, sounds like my love-life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted June 24, 2013 Author Share Posted June 24, 2013 Save up, sell house, buy house with garage attached at 23 in the current climate I'm counting myself lucky that I have a house at all, let alone in the south east I don't really fancy gambling it all for the sake of a garage. If needs be, head torches and inspection lamps under a tarp will keep me going at least for a while longer Thanks for the comments guys Was more of a long term planning thing, like get saving and keep an eye out for a better house in like ten years or something Long term planning I'm thinking a half decent drive and a garage hopefully when the other half finishes uni and has been earning for a bit we can look at our options Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 ^ Sounds like a plan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Im looking at the same kind of thing for my newly acquired garage. Think Il build a battery bank with 2 marine/deep cycle batteries and 2 normal batteries and 2 invertors. Big batteries take care of power tools etc little batteries for light/fan and stereo. Solar panel thingy om house to charge them indoors. having read on the net i should get a months use between charges for at least lights and radio was looking at generators but noise and fumes seem an issue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 If anyone can give me info on batteries & invertors I would appreciate it as I haven't got a clue Tried reading up but it baffled me all volts this and watts that I just want a battery that charges itself (solar panel) that could run a light now and again to get stuff and do odd jobs in the garage and a socket to run my DA or a hoover or maybe the odd power tool, but most of those are cordless anyway.... Help 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 (edited) +1 with smd ive just read about it and that's what seems to be norm,im building a box to house batteries then im stuck as to what to get next, got a plug in tube light and 2 normal batteries already, just what invertors to get...so yes...help! Edited June 24, 2013 by jumping350 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I don't think the solar panel idea is going to be cost efficient. Perhaps yes for just lighting using low consumption LEDs, but for stuff like tools you would need something like them solar panels they use to supplement house supply. Haven't looked at prices but I'd imagine that kind of setup wouldn't be cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harryjax Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I had a garage years ago with no electrical supply I used a petrol generator to run tools. Ahh the good old days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.