Solar Lighting for a small barn/shed without power

[poltroon]

We have a three sided shed that will be used for lambing this winter, and it has no power and no lighting currently. I am thinking it will be nice to add in some sort of permanent lighting and I was thinking about a solar solution. (There is good southern exposure for a panel.)

Any lights to recommend or unrecommend? Would we be better off with just battery powered LED lights?

I see fixtures that seem pretty useful in the $50 range including the panel.

We can run an extension cord if we need real light or heat lamps for actual lambing time, but it would be nice to have a lighting option in there year round.

[Texarkana]

I tried battery LED lights in my shed-- they did not hold up well to winter. I was constantly changing batteries.

If you find a reliable and reasonably-priced solar light, I’d love to know! I’ve just stuck with the extension cord route for the time being…

[wildlifer]

Forget the batteries. I use them, but for small stuff (magnetic lights on trailer, etc). I have a great little solar light I picked up off the clearance shelf at TSC for a whopping $15 that is perfect for my 10’x10’ feed shed, but I’m not trying to read novels in there either.

The most critical part is the panel though. If you want to light up something properly, you need a quality panel. It will cost more up front, but they pay themselves off.

I just start with a Google search – retailers in your area are vastly different from mine, I haven’t lived in CA since the late 80’s, LOL. I can tell you, don’t waste your time with Lowes/HD. Northern Tool often has some good inventory.

[rhymeswithfizz]

If you don’t need a ton of light, this is the most amazing invention!
http://deciwatt.org

It doesn’t need solar panels, it doesn’t need batteries. Fill the bag with dirt or rocks, lift it up, and the force of gravity powers the little LED light. It is meant for developing countries. I contributed to their kick start campaign and got a working sample… It’s truly genius.

You can’t buy them yet, but look for them next year!

[poltroon]

Ooh, that GravityLight is quite neat.

I have hand-crank flashlights and radios for my emergency kit.

I am looking at this one just as an example.

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Bright-Lithium-MicroSolar-Adjustable/dp/B00E5TP2VY/ref=pd_sim_hi_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0YR4YZ16QR7XSEJQMYGT#productDetails

[Guilherme]

For a solar light system to work you need more than just panels. They only generate power while the Sun shines (and you probably don’t need any light). If you want power when the Sun does not shine you need a storage medium. The most common and economical are lead acid batteries. If you can use 12v. lighting then your distribution system can be pretty basic. If you need 110v. then you need an inverter.

Here is one alternative:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=984437&gclid=CjwKEAjwkf-gBRCd-b2m2aOo0EQSJABMeQDk0Hj5bnOnVpyhIc_sq54lo_ZQaiMo8_ViR29cGZG7qRoCuojw_wcB&Q=&is=REG&A=details

Here’s a DIY project:

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago92.html

If you use LED lights (pricy but very energy efficient) you might get by for as little as $500-$600 for just light. If you want heat lamps then you’re looking at a LOT more battery power, enough panels to charge them, more wiring, bigger inverter, etc. And probably a lot more money.

Sometimes “green power” requires a LOT of green.

G.

[poltroon]

The kit I linked to includes a panel, a light, and a battery for about $50. There is no need for LED lighting to use an inverter - DC is perfect for them.

[Guilherme]

I would VERY wary of a $50 item in this world. I read the reviews (including the one star one that said “it’s flimsy and it’s going back”).

This stuff is just not cheap if you want quality that will stand up to everday use in the world of livestock.

The “gravity light” is much more interesting.

G.

[poltroon]

[QUOTE=Guilherme;7773265]
I would VERY wary of a $50 item in this world. I read the reviews (including the one star one that said “it’s flimsy and it’s going back”).

This stuff is just not cheap if you want quality that will stand up to everday use in the world of livestock.

The “gravity light” is much more interesting.

G.[/QUOTE]

I’m wary of it too. I’m weighing the cost of my install time and effort against the affordable price. I could also get my own panel, battery, and DC LEDs, and then I could have whatever fixture arrangement I want.

The gravity lights are cool, but not bright enough and not commercially available.

[GotMyPony]

I’m attaching a link for something I originally saw on COTH a few years ago - lights for roofs made out of 2-liter water bottles. It looked pretty cool and might lwork for what you want if aesthetics are not a priority. And the cost is certainly right. The video is only 2 minutes long so not so much of a time investment to check it out.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flwbapbq4Ko

[poltroon]

I need nighttime light. It’s fine during the day. I also need it not to be the kind that is dusk-to-dawn - I only want it on when a human is in there - and motion sensors would trip whenever the sheep wiggled.

[SimpleSimon]

I have two of these lights - one each in my run in sheds. They’ve been up for a couple of years now and work great. We did bypass the pull cord and put in a real switch mounted down lower (similar in height to a switch in your house).

We we had an earlier version as well with a fluorescent light and those held up for a number of years but the LEDs last much longer.

I don’t remember where we bought them but this is the light.

http://www.solartown.com/store/product/gama-sonic-light-my-shed-3-48-leds/#null;