Solar Lighting Systems
Solar or wind powered lighting systems are perfect for a wide
variety of remote lighting requirements. The high costs of burying long
cables from the nearest mains supply often makes solar powered lighting
solutions highly cost effective.
Common solar lighting applications include garages, carports, sheds,
outbuildings, stables, barns, and a wide range of industrial &
commercial uses.
The benefits of remote solar & wind powered lighting
systems include improved health & safety, minimal
maintenance, silent and reliable power generation and low running costs.
A typical small to medium sized wind or solar powered lighting
system consists of the following components :
- Solar pv panel and/or wind generator
- Charge controller / regulator
- Battery
- 12v or 24v DC Lights
Larger solar lighting systems with long cable runs will often
use an inverter and 240v
mains lighting, as the voltage loss along low voltage cables gets
higher over longer distances. Normally, buildings over approx 10m x 10m
would use a 240v AC system.
At the EDC, we offer to custom design a solar or wind powered
lighting system to your exact specifications. In order to do so, our
design engineers need to know the total wattage of lights being used,
the voltage, and the average daily running times for each light.
High Efficiency Lighting
For all solar, wind and battery powered lighting systems, high
efficiency lights are extremely important. The cost of a solar or wind
energy system is highly dependent on the average energy consumption and
the running times.
Modern CFL light bulbs give 5x as much light as a conventional bulb,
for the same energy use. Therefore, from an 11w CFL bulb, you can
expect to get about the same light output as from a standard 60w
incandescent bulb.
Unlike normal "household" CFL bulbs, which require a 240v AC input
(mains), 12v DC CFL & LED lights eliminate the need for a separate
inverter.
A common mistake with smaller solar or wind energy systems is to use
240v lighting, running from an external inverter. Due to the long
running times of most systems, and inverter power losses & standby
losses, we strongly advise the use of 12 or 24vdc lighting wherever
possible.
Modern DC CFL lights feature quiet, flicker-free operation, unlike
early DC powered florescent tube lighting typically installed in older
caravans or boats. Additional benefits include easy installation, long
bulb life and minimal maintenance. "Warm" or "cold" light CFL bulb
frequencies are also available, making lighting more efficient than has
ever been possible in the past.
Custom Designed Solar Lighting Systems
All of the lighting systems we supply are low voltage
and extremely safe. Current UK regulations require the installer to be
a 'competent person'. Anyone with experience in auto or marine
electrics should find it a simple job.
Alternatively, any electrical contractor will be able to
install the solar lighting kit for you in minimal time. We supply all
the parts required, together with full installation instructions and a
telephone support hotline.
We also offer fully customised solar powered lighting systems
designed to meet your exact requirements - please don't hesitate to
contact us with details of your project.
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