I think solar is a GREAT idea. I am however mathematically challenged and my eyes stat to glaze over when people start talking details.
For instance: If you have a 15 watt panel does that mean you can power a 15 watt lightbulb? I already know the answer is NO but I don't understand why.
OK - someone who can speak plain English - please help me 🙂
WildernessReturn wrote:I was at Princess auto last night and they have a whole box set solar setup.
4 x 15wat pannels
stand
regulator
inverter
something else?
cables for setup
all for only $499 - I did a quick look and the panels alone were $150 each.make sure you pop into Princess auto if you can, they have a huge selection of 12v stuff as well as solar right now, the largest collection I have seen.
It sounds reasonably priced but what can you do with it?
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*´¨`•.¸¸Anita <>< *.•´¸¸¨`*
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Quack, Cluck, Moo, Hee-Haw, Meow and Baaaaaaa from Shalom Engedi Farm
http://adventures-in-country-living.blogspot.com/
Picked up a small solar panel at Canadian Tire this week and am 1 step closer to having a light in my tempo this winter. I now have a panel, charge controller, and plenty of handy wires to hook everything up. I am using an old alarm system battery right now, but I am not sure it is any more good. Even though the panel is only 1 watt, with the infrequent use of a 12v LED light, I should be able to make it work. The panel is on sale this week for 9.99...as opposed to 29.99. You may want to check it out. It is meant as a trickle charger for small batteries like a lawn tractor or motorcycle.
Denob - would you be able to take some pictures of your mini solar setup? I bought the same little panels at Canadian Tire a few months ago - on sale too 
but they don't come with instructions. What kind of light do you use - or what does a 12V LED light look like?
If you respond feel free to treat me like a 10 year old 😆 and overdo the instructions! 🙂
(`'•.¸(`'•.¸ ¸.•'´) ¸.•'´)
*´¨`•.¸¸Anita <>< *.•´¸¸¨`*
(¸.•'´(¸.•'´ `'•.¸)`' •.¸)
¸.•´
( `•.¸
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Quack, Cluck, Moo, Hee-Haw, Meow and Baaaaaaa from Shalom Engedi Farm
http://adventures-in-country-living.blogspot.com/
I will try to stop off at Canadian Tire this week to pick up the LED light and get the whole setup done (which means setting up the tempo too!). Hopefully I will have a post for you all by early next week.
I will try to stop off at Canadian Tire this week to pick up the LED light and get the whole setup done (which means setting up the tempo too!). Hopefully I will have a post for you all by early next week.
Thank you!!!
(`'•.¸(`'•.¸ ¸.•'´) ¸.•'´)
*´¨`•.¸¸Anita <>< *.•´¸¸¨`*
(¸.•'´(¸.•'´ `'•.¸)`' •.¸)
¸.•´
( `•.¸
`•.¸ )
¸.•)´
(.•´
Quack, Cluck, Moo, Hee-Haw, Meow and Baaaaaaa from Shalom Engedi Farm
http://adventures-in-country-living.blogspot.com/
yes, thank you, I'd like to see that setup as well.
Solar power requires 4 main pieces of equipment...
1 - solar panels to collect energy from the sun
2 - charge controller to regulate how much power will be put into the batteries to prevent overcharging
3 -batteries to store the power you collect
4 - inverter to convert the 12vdc (most popular) energy in the batteries to 120v ac (like home power)
there are so many variables in a solar system that make it very difficult to explain here. Basically, you need to find out how much power you will need. Decide what you want to run and for how long without recharging your batteries. That will lead you to how many batteries you will need. That will lead you to how many panels you need to recharge those batteries in a certain amount of time.
There are many online resources available, just do a google search....this site may help.