Shed and Garage Solar Lighting
Shed And Garage Solar Lighting
Light your shed or garage with solar powered lighting
lighting | solarCurrently one of the commonest uses of
Solar power is to provide lighting for domestic
sheds and garages which are not connected to the mains electricity. It is usually not economically viable to extend a ring main from a house to an out-building, particularly when most sheds and garages are used infrequently at night. However, on those occasions that you are scrabbling around in the dark trying to find something you wish you had adequate lighting.
Photovoltaic Solar Panels are perfect for this purpose. During the day when you do not need lighting, the panel charges up a battery, and then during night when there is no sunlight, you can draw power from the battery for lights. Depending on how often you use your shed or garage at night, and on how many hours the sun shines during the day, you can find a
solar panel and
battery fit to purpose.
Pictured above is an example of the results of the
Solar Mate I Shed Lighting Kit. This will light an area of 16 square metres with its 40 Watt energy efficient
CFL bulb, and a
5 Watt solar panel. A suitable
Deep Cycle Sealed Leisure Battery is not provided (costs around £40), but all wiring, fittings, connectors, and a switch and bulb holder are included. The price of this kit is around £80.
Make Your Own Shed Lighting
If you are capable of installing a pre-packaged
solar shed lighting kit then you are perfectly capable of making your own far better bespoke system and saving a few pounds.
We recommend that you consider ultra-low energy using
12V LED Spotlights, with pre-wired
MR11 / MR16 Ceramic Connectors (available in the
REUK Shop). These bulbs draw just 1 Watt of power while providing easily enoughlight for an enclosed space such as a shed or garage.
Detailed instruction on
Putting Together a Solar Lighting System are available by clicking here. Also of interest is our article
Solar Shed Lighting Circuit Testing in which we look at the real world power usage of solar powered
shed lighting system.
NEW We now have a unique online
Solar Shed Lighting Calculator which will help you to spec your solar lighting system - choose how many bulbs, the battery capacity, and the required solar panel quickly and easily.
Buying the Components
12V Spotlight Bulbs are available for under £4 each, and the
ceramic
bulb holders for under £1.50 each. Then all you need to add is some
red and
black insulated wire, a
rugged switch for £1, and a
fuse and fuse holder for under £1. Assuming 3 spotlights - for example, one acting as a spotlight over an area where you often work, and a couple providing general lighting elsewhere - total costs so far are around £20.
For smaller systems, our
3 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panel (just
£19.99 in the
REUK Shop) is perfect for keeping the battery topped up with charge. Weighing just 165 grams and made from rugged epoxy and fiberglass, these panels are 199mm wide, 136mm high, and 2.5mm thick.
Alternatively a
5 Watt solar panel will cost around £30 (also available in the
REUK Shop:
5 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panel at £29.99), with a suitable 50Ah+
leisure battery costing another £30 or so.
Such a set up will provide you with enough battery storage power to light your shed or garage constantly for a week without sunshine, but the solar panel will keep the battery topped up and healthy. One hour of good sunshine will give you enough power for at least one hour of
shed lighting so even on cloudy days in the depths of winter, you should be able to generate sufficient power to meet the needs of all but the most demanding of shed users.
Note that for most people an old car battery will work just fine and can be obtained free of charge by asking nicely at your local mechanics' garage.
Enhancing Your Solar Lighting System
If you need more lighting add more bulbs, if you need more storage power use a larger battery, and if you do not get much sunshine use a larger
solar panel.
Article Last Modified: 11:19, 26th Mar 2008
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