Solar power

[Survivor Johnny]

Not solar but... I have been thinkin about a water wheel with gears and belt to do anternator charging a battery bank with an inverter

 

[loafman]

http://www.georgiapower.com/about-energy/energy-sources/solar/solar-projects/

 

[Jero77]

I don't know if your 12v lighting is DC halogen, but you might get more out of a charge if you invert it to 120v and use CFL's for light.

I actually found some 12v led bulbs that fit a standard light socket. They have really good light out put and only draw 1/4 amp each.here is a link to a 5W bulb, the ones I bought were 3W and plenty bright, really extended the life of my charge http://www.tmart.com/E27-5W-12V-5-LED-High-Power-White-LED-Light-Bulb_p111174.html

 

[Swamp Fox]

Check out Engineer 775 on YOUTUBE he has some great solar advice.

 

[Nonliberal]

Check this guy out. He's totally off grid and runs on the min.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLnZLypphgk


His channel is solarcabin

 

[buddy5954]

I actually found some 12v led bulbs that fit a standard light socket. They have really good light out put and only draw 1/4 amp each.here is a link to a 5W bulb, the ones I bought were 3W and plenty bright, really extended the life of my charge http://www.tmart.com/E27-5W-12V-5-LED-High-Power-White-LED-Light-Bulb_p111174.html

Nice... and you eliminate the loss associated with an inverter.

 

[Jero77]

Nice... and you eliminate the loss associated with an inverter.

That's what I was after, I still have an inverter circut for 120 but I installed a switch between the batteries and the inverter so I turn it on only when I am using it

 

[SSDawg]

The difference in most panels is not that dramatic.....the real place you need to do your research and spend your money has to do with the charge controller, inverter (if you plan to invert from DC to AC) and then the batteries themselves. I hate to say it, but battery technology is not were is should be regarding the capacity (Amp Hours) and the life span of batteries (not only in time, but number of discharge/re-charge) is very poor.