Yup.

Have you gotten any closer to figuring out the total load (in watts) that you expect to drive? And what sort of estimated run-time do you need? And where you live, how many hours of full sun do you get in whatever season has the least full sun?

These will drive the sizing of both the panel and the battery.

 

as the lighting portion of my project is not urgent, I haven't figured out wattage, but lets say 30-50W for several hours once a year and maybe a couple hours a couple times a month and maybe 15 minutes twice a week.

my roof will be pitched roughly 9/12, facing SSW and will get sun almost all day.

 

Aw, heck. I was planning based on a couple of hours a day when I was suggesting those huge panels.

Yeah, You're probably just fine with a 100w panel, a decent controller, and a single SLA battery in the 20-25Ah range.

 

REVIVING THREAD!

Shed is done and dark inside.

I have a semi-dead optima yellow top. Can it be revived? Where is a cheap place to get Joe's battery suggestion of 20-25 AH for super cheap. First place I saw was over 70 dollars.

 

You have an Interstate place near you? Go in, ask for "blems". Got one for my wife's Tracker for $40, tax included.

 

kitchen related instead of shed related, but relevant to this thread:

High Power LED Under Cabinet Lighting DIY - Great looking and BRIGHT @ only 23w!

 

Only $41!

100 Ft. x 14 Gauge Outdoor Extension Cord

J/K

Just to throw out a number to use as a brightness reference, one standard 48" florescent tube emits ~2000 lumens.

As efficient as those LEDs are, and guessing at the charging versus discharging time ratio, I wouldn't think it would take a large solar cell at all to keep a battery topped off. A trickle would likely be sufficient, even in the short days of winter.

$16

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-watt...ger-68692.html

 

I am perfectly ok with buying a cheapo 100W kit for $180 if it means never having to worry about it.


and a couple of these doo dads:

Figure if each strip runs at ~2 amps and I got, say, 2... then I need about 4 amp hours per hour I plan to run it, right?

if that means I run for two days for 2 hours each without sun, I need 16 AH of useable capacity, but everyone says to only use half the charge... so I need 32 AH total.

Joe's estimate was close... but I sitll don't know where to get cheap deep cycle batteries. Probably nowhere. I think I saw some internet mention $2.50-3.00/AH as a reasonable price.