How To Make A Solar Generator For Your Grow OP - Page 2

mywayorthehighway · #11 03-29-2008, 11:01 AM

Thanks, I'll bare that in mind if I ever get rich and can move to the mountains. lol.

ultranyte · #12 03-29-2008, 11:32 AM

Running any kind MH/HPS ballast off batteries will cause it drain very fast. Especially a 1000W light, it would drain that battery so fast the voltage would drop and stop providing enough juice to keep it going. since most voltage converters have a voltage gauge it would keep shutting off.
Not to mention the cost of the batteries and panels would be far more expensive then buying a generator and a few hundread liters of diesel. A system that won't fail.

This is a good idea for everything except running MH/HPS

southfloridasean · #13 03-29-2008, 11:50 AM

Well thats if you use a car battery or something similar. They have many different batteries such as those made just for solar use that will give the end user complete optimization of the system.

willygoat · #14 03-29-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamm Bamm

Is there a way I could run my 1000HPS from a solar setup like this?

There is always a way. Just remember, to provide this much converted DC power, you will need massive panels arrays, battery banks and a large inverter. Be prepared to spend a good deal of money to generate this amount of wattage.

AverageJoe21 · #15 03-29-2008, 01:49 PM

Even with about $20,000.00 worth of solar panels and battery's ext you would have trouble keeping up with the power demand

paddy510 · #16 03-30-2008, 11:52 AM

The best way to use solar power to grow plants is to grow them outside under the sun.
A 1000w light would require about 3000w of panels and over 3000 amp hours worth of battery to run for just 12hrs per day every day for 2 months without fail.
it was about $6+/watt for solar panels last time i looked. and about $1/AH for batts
could buy a lot of weed for the cost of that type of setup.

Wind power on the other hand would be a bit cheaper, if you can build a wind generator yourself, but you need a good supply of wind. The battery requirements would still be the same though.

ripper · #17 03-30-2008, 12:03 PM

CFL it!

10 char

ScarletteSky · #18 03-30-2008, 12:11 PM

rep for you!!!!

specialkayme · #19 03-30-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddy510

The best way to use solar power to grow plants is to grow them outside under the sun.
A 1000w light would require about 3000w of panels and over 3000 amp hours worth of battery to run for just 12hrs per day every day for 2 months without fail.
it was about $6+/watt for solar panels last time i looked. and about $1/AH for batts
could buy a lot of weed for the cost of that type of setup.

Wind power on the other hand would be a bit cheaper, if you can build a wind generator yourself, but you need a good supply of wind. The battery requirements would still be the same though.

True, but all of that cost pays off. Even if you payed $50,000 for a solar set up, not just for your grow area but your entire house, it pays for itself. A typical homeowner, if they were to get a solar array pays for itself within 8 years. It's just like me telling you that you have to pay the next 8 years of electricity bills up front, then for the rest of your life you get free energy. We all will spend that much money on electricity anyway, and in the long run you make out like a bandit. 8 years of electircity for the price of a lifetimes worth of free electricity .... not a bad deal.

southfloridasean · #20 03-30-2008, 04:19 PM

As I stated in an earlier post China has solar panels for extremely cheap. They also sell panels by 220 & 320 watt per panel. So figure if you had an op that pulled 4000 watts you would only need 12 panels. There are all types of panels. All are diff in l x w x h. You can get smaller panels that are thicker that can fit your roof without looking cumbersome & ridiculous.