Off Grid Solar (PV) to 12v LED

I am considering getting some solar panels and pushing 36VDC to a regulator to power my LED boards. I figure that I can supplement my PAR, off grid, at a reasonable price. I'll most likely have to switch power controllers, and integrate batteries if I run dark, but it looks promising. I have priced out the panels, and I calculate approximately 3KW to be $1500. That price is just for the panels. The wiring, voltage reg., and mountings are not included in the estimation. Even if I double the cost to create the system it's better than the $600 I'm shelling out for electric a month.
I don't want to convert from DC to AC then back to DC again; it costs too much. The wasted EMF as heat is disparaging, and in my mind only in place to feed the solar craze. I have been searching and picking brains for input.
This thread is for anyone who is interested in this endeavor, has knowledge of Photo Voltaic's (PV's), or has input on LED boards. Please contribute, ask questions, and share experiences. It will be great to create a supplemental solar system that can remain incognito.

I have an 8.5 kW grid tie system. There is some DC/AC conversion losses, but it is not that significant. However, batteries are extremely expensive. The other big issue I see with running direct DC from the panels is that the power provided by the panels isn't enough on cloudy days or 4 hours before or after solar noon assuming no tree shading. With a grid tie system, you don't need to worry about batteries, time of day or bad weather conditions, and any excess goes back on to the grid for your neighbors to use while you get a credit, and when there isn't enough the grid keeps your lights in.

I see your point about excess production during the full sun hours, and it would be nice to sell back that electric. The only detriment is that the grid tie system is so bloody expensive to start ~ $24K, as compared to ~$3K. The lights would only be at full power with full sun, but it might be a nice supplemental, almost like natural conditions. Therein lies the dilemma of the batteries. They are expensive and short lived, but they would scavenge the excess and rectify voltage irregularities. I would maintain a base system attached to the grid to keep constant light output.

the leaves are my solar panels

3 grand is a lot of vodka

I hope you make it back ...lol

good luck

How about a solar system like you are talking. Add a small generator to keep the batteries topped off. If you were in a legal state. I would say a greenhouse, solar panels, and COB LED's would be an excellent combo.

Mean well make step up and step down dc to dc drivers.

So hook your solar to the batteries and then the batteries to the step down driver then to the boards.

The boards and solar are both dc so its fairly straight forward.

I was looking into doing the same thing except a little larger scale and with a wind turbine added. I want to grow vegetables indoors. I want to raise fish also and build an aquaponics system.

ZxcStaz said:

I am considering getting some solar panels and pushing 36VDC to a regulator to power my LED boards. I figure that I can supplement my PAR, off grid, at a reasonable price. I'll most likely have to switch power controllers, and integrate batteries if I run dark, but it looks promising. I have priced out the panels, and I calculate approximately 3KW to be $1500. That price is just for the panels. The wiring, voltage reg., and mountings are not included in the estimation. Even if I double the cost to create the system it's better than the $600 I'm shelling out for electric a month.
I don't want to convert from DC to AC then back to DC again; it costs too much. The wasted EMF as heat is disparaging, and in my mind only in place to feed the solar craze. I have been searching and picking brains for input.
This thread is for anyone who is interested in this endeavor, has knowledge of Photo Voltaic's (PV's), or has input on LED boards. Please contribute, ask questions, and share experiences. It will be great to create a supplemental solar system that can remain incognito.

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I would run a 48 volt system. How many watts you talking about anyway?

Get 12 335 watt panels
24 6volt trojan L16 batteries
A midnite solar 200 amp controller
An Aimes 10,000 watt or 12,000 watt pure sinewave converter
Need 2/0 wire min on batteries and connectors.
Need cutoff at panels and inside before charge controller
Also need your panel boxes dedicated to your solar setup
Need a couple of 2000 watt wind turbines for when its cloudy, wind usually blows then.
Also need a genset to charge batteries when the other 2 methods fail. A Kohler 6svg that runs off propane.

If you dont know what your doing with the batteries they will be toast in a year or two.

You will be looking at around 20k.

whitebb2727 said:

Mean well make step up and step down dc to dc drivers.

So hook your solar to the batteries and then the batteries to the step down driver then to the boards.

The boards and solar are both dc so its fairly straight forward.

I was looking into doing the same thing except a little larger scale and with a wind turbine added. I want to grow vegetables indoors. I want to raise fish also and build an aquaponics system.

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If you have the space Wind or other turbines are the way to go. No messing about with conversion to and from DC, and no nasty spikes from conversion either. Works at night too, and in bad conditions, and doesn't require diodes to make sure it isn't running backwards. Can be stopped too, making it safer for a lay person to connect and disconnect, unlike solar which are always producing if there's light.

Biggest issue with wind is making sure the voltages are stable, which is why you tie it into grid power, and use CT's and brakes.

Also, it feeds right back onto the grid with no issues.

Xcoregamerskillz said:

If you have the space Wind or other turbines are the way to go. No messing about with conversion to and from DC, and no nasty spikes from conversion either. Works at night too, and in bad conditions, and doesn't require diodes to make sure it isn't running backwards. Can be stopped too, making it safer for a lay person to connect and disconnect, unlike solar which are always producing if there's light.

Biggest issue with wind is making sure the voltages are stable, which is why you tie it into grid power, and use CT's and brakes.

Also, it feeds right back onto the grid with no issues.

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I'm going off grid.

Solar and wind are both dc. It wouldn't be complicated for the op to use solar on leds. They are both dc.

For my setup, most my appliances are gas. The rest I would need to invert. The lights and smaller appliances you can get in dc.

I would prefer to run wind and solar. Ill need a battery bank. I know it will be costly but I don't mind.

I shouldn't complain. Out electric is really cheap here. 2 story house with a family of six only runs me about 120 to 140 bucks a month.

I also have a gas well. It doesn't produce much any more but its enough to run a generator. I've been looking at low rpm continuous duty l.p. generators.

I have a 48V system with custom made LED fixtures.
I chose 48V for maximum efficiency without getting into electrical safety code issues with higher voltages.
The Lead Acid Batteries are only 7Ah each which is enough for clouds and short interruptions. $16 each.
The 1440 Watt MPPT is very good but a little pricey at $375. Great technical support, unlike the cheap controllers.
When the Solar Voltage drops to 42V, the system switches to the 48V power supply.

Putting up solar panels to use the sun > to make electricity > to make light > to grow plants, is terribly wasteful and inefficient.
If you have a ridiculous amount of space, and a ridiculous amount of money it might be a fun experiment.
Not cost effective by any means, especially when compared to growing in a greenhouse and using the sun's light directly.

whitebb2727 said:

I'm going off grid.

Solar and wind are both dc. It wouldn't be complicated for the op to use solar on leds. They are both dc.

For my setup, most my appliances are gas. The rest I would need to invert. The lights and smaller appliances you can get in dc.

I would prefer to run wind and solar. Ill need a battery bank. I know it will be costly but I don't mind.

I shouldn't complain. Out electric is really cheap here. 2 story house with a family of six only runs me about 120 to 140 bucks a month.

I also have a gas well. It doesn't produce much any more but its enough to run a generator. I've been looking at low rpm continuous duty l.p. generators.

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Wind can run either A.C. or DC. It's a turbine, so the DC will be in pulse, using a commutator, or you can get it to straight A.C. and just use all of your normal stuff normally is what I was getting at.

DaveInCave said:

Putting up solar panels to use the sun > to make electricity > to make light > to grow plants, is terribly wasteful and inefficient.
If you have a ridiculous amount of space, and a ridiculous amount of money it might be a fun experiment.
Not cost effective by any means, especially when compared to growing in a greenhouse and using the sun's light directly.

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You are making assumptions and ignoring benefits of indoor growing.
There are places that do not have electricity, or it is very expensive.
Indoor growing is a clean, controlled environment, minimizing pest control, and not subject to unwelcome visitors.

DrMisunderstood said:

You are making assumptions and ignoring benefits of indoor growing.

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Not making any assumptions or ignoring anything.
The sunlight is free and orders of magnitude better quality than indoor lighting.

DrMisunderstood said:

There are places that do not have electricity, or it is very expensive.

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Exactly. So you want him to invest several thousands of dollars, and use more area, to produce a poor substitute for something he can get for free.

DrMisunderstood said:

Indoor growing is a clean, controlled environment, minimizing pest control, and not subject to unwelcome visitors.
.

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None of the things you mentioned can't be achieved in a regulated and climate controlled greenhouse setup. It has all the benefits of indoor growing only cheaper, easier, and better.

Indoor growing is only cost efficient in places where climate is extremely hostile, and/or there aren't enough light hours in a day, and/or it is heavily urban area with no agricultural lands and logistical difficulties to transport produce from such lands, and/or energy is carbon neutral and extremely cheap.

In all other scenarios, there is no rational reason to grow indoor.
There are plenty of other reasons, but they are not rational.

This refers to legal place of course.
In places where Cannabis isn't legal, then discretion is the only justification you need to grow indoors.

But the OP wrote "off-grid" so I figured it's not a very densely populated area.

Xcoregamerskillz said:

Wind can run either A.C. or DC. It's a turbine, so the DC will be in pulse, using a commutator, or you can get it to straight A.C. and just use all of your normal stuff normally is what I was getting at.

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I am not well versed on wind turbines. I think I would rather run everything dc that way it can be stored.

I get what you are saying.

I've been researching. I am going to sit down and do some figuring. Figure exactly what I need.

The simplest would be the generator. Free gas is hard to pass up.

DaveInCave said:

Indoor growing is only cost efficient in places where climate is extremely hostile, and/or there aren't enough light hours in a day, and/or it is heavily urban area with no agricultural lands and logistical difficulties to transport produce from such lands, and/or energy is carbon neutral and extremely cheap.

In all other scenarios, there is no rational reason to grow indoor.
There are plenty of other reasons, but they are not rational.

This refers to legal place of course.
In places where Cannabis isn't legal, then discretion is the only justification you need to grow indoors.

But the OP wrote "off-grid" so I figured it's not a very densely populated area.

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I don't know.

In illegal areas it is more of a risk to grow outdoors.

With a small 2 x 4 x 6 cabinet I grow all I need. Its easier to conceal and control smell if stealth is a necessity.

A bigger room or a couple tents could be concealed just as easy.

whitebb2727 said:

I am not well versed on wind turbines. I think I would rather run everything dc that way it can be stored.

I get what you are saying.

I've been researching. I am going to sit down and do some figuring. Figure exactly what I need.

The simplest would be the generator. Free gas is hard to pass up.

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Wind, gas, hydro, or the alternator in your car, all turbines create electricity by passing a magnetic field over conductive wire, inducing voltage. The fluctuation of the intensity cause an alternating voltage and polarity, A.C. electricity. A commutator makes the voltage pass one way, and will give you pulse DC, all positive voltage, but in waves. If you have any questions few free to PM me.

Xcoregamerskillz said:

Wind, gas, hydro, or the alternator in your car, all turbines create electricity by passing a magnetic field over conductive wire, inducing voltage. The fluctuation of the intensity cause an alternating voltage and polarity, A.C. electricity. A commutator makes the voltage pass one way, and will give you pulse DC, all positive voltage, but in waves. If you have any questions few free to PM me.

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I know how it works. Im an industrial maintenance tech by trade with an associates in electronics. I worked with triple phase 440 and 660. Also worked plc's. I hate ladder logic.

Anyways, just meant I have never worked withwindmills before.

As far as the car alternator, you can make one put out a.c.

DaveInCave said:

Not making any assumptions or ignoring anything.

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I'm doing horticulture research on LED lighting. Why would I do that outside or in a greenhouse? Because it's not rational? You are making assumptions.