Solar lighting

[Csail]

What is the best way to design a solar powered lighting security system that only comes on when its dark. I would like to use a seperate battery from the main boat batts. For internal lighting to give the impression someone is onboard.

 

[awol]

Pay an engineer?

 

[jcmmarine]

Very simple. solar panel to separate battery to security light.

Only problem is calculation, winter output of solar panel must exceed winter output ot security light.

 

[William_H]

Our local hardware chain I think has daylight switches and in fact various solar panel and light combinations. Being mid summer it is popular as Chrissy decorations. Although almost useless as sun doesn't set till 9PM.
Anyway an alternative might be to open up one of the cheap garden solar post lights. Disconnect the LEDs and fit a small relay (low voltage) as a switch. Or you cn buy a small clock timer. This can then switch your main lights powered by solar panel and separate battery. You might consider using NiCad or NIMh batteries as they don't mind being totally discharged.
good luck 0lewill

 

[Csail]

Cheers mate, what is the olewill bit about??

 

[simonfraser]

check the power the relay uses. when i posted a thread a few weeks ago, the relay uses more than an led or four. so just leave the led's on 24/7

 

[rosssavage]

It's some sort of internet slang... LOL, SWMBO, IMO etc.

 

[William_H]

A self deprecating name for an old bugger with nothing else to do but give dubious advice on this forum and occasional sailing in a highly strung trailer sailer. olewill with a little "o"

 

[Georgio]

You need one of these.....

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=217708&&source=14&doy=6m12


looks good to me.

 

[Superflid]

[ QUOTE ]
Pay an engineer?

[/ QUOTE ]

Which bit of "Practical boat owner" are you having difficulty with? Let me guess.....

 

[Amari]

Maplin's blurb on your link states light comes on for 5 - 40 seconds. ?not quite what csail wants

 

[Jonny_H]

There was a gizmo in one of the yachty mags recently - it stuck to the inside of hatches with a solar cell on the upward side and a light on the lower side. It was self powering and had a daylight on-off switch thing.

It would only light up the area below the hatch, but if you had a couple of hatches it could give off enough light so it looked like someone was onboard.

Can't recall how much they were, but I'm sure they were less than £30 each - could be much cheaper than solar panels etc.

Jonny

 

[rich]

I have been useing a system like these for the last 3 years, with the led's in 1 light fitting, it does look as if someone is onboard.

ps, throw the globes away.


solar lights

 

[Drascomber]

Bought an 'on at night only' switch for my anchor light from B & Q. I think it was about £10.

 

[maxi]

PBO carried an article about a year ago, where a reader contributed a very simple and very cheap daylight/nightime switching circuit to drive an led light - b------d if I can find it again though, but worth looking.