Advertisement
Message Forums |
|
 Topic: Using a solar panel for lights
|
  |
12/9/2011 at 5:11pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bell tent & lavvu & Coleman Avior X2
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 25/4/2006 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 1391
Tent Reviews: 3
| Site Reviews Total: | 4 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0  |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
No, you do not need a leisure battery. Small lightweight NiMH rechargeable battery packs are all you need for LED lights. You can get plenty of charge into the NiMH packs even during an overcast day, if you need to, and that'll provide plenty to power LED lights all night. In practice though, like I said a few posts ago, I've found that taking 12V 3700mAH NiMH packs, already charged at home, one pack will power my set of quite bright LED lights all night for at least 4 nights in a row. Even when I got home the voltage of the pack I used had only dropped to 10V or so.
The 20W solar panel I have can quite happily be used to charge the 3700mAH packs without any charge controller. They reach full charge after about 4 hours on an overcast day. However, good 20W panels are expensive. The one I have is a rollable one, which typically sells for over £200, and I was just lucky to get hold of it for £100. If all I wanted to run was some LED tent lights then I wouldn't bother spending that sort of money - I'd just use the rechargeable battery packs and charge them from the car if necessary.
|
|
|
3559 Visitors online !
Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite
[Message Forums]
[Caravan Sites & Camping]
[Company Listings]
[Features / Advice]
[Virtual Brochure]
[Shop!]
[Reception]
[Competitions]
[Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]
[Event Diary]
[Contact Us]
[Tent Reviews]
Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
