Off-grid solar installation [lighting]

so i have been over with my dad this weekend, and the generator at the stables has died and i suggested simply installing a 12V solar panel, battery bank, and replace all lighting with 12V LED units and do away with the genny/long term costs. Getting the barn on grid will cost £1500-2k connection charge, then the bills after this which he isn't prepared to pay. So i would like to price up the build, and get some advice off you folks as i know little to nothing about this subject!! He would also like the future option to add a large inverter to run a powertool or pressure washer on rare occasions when repairing stuff/cleaning the horsebox/yard etc.

In my head i will need a large solar panel, outputting 12V charge to a bank of lead acid batteries, a small fused 'distribution board', lighting fixtures/switches etc. Seems simple enough - or will i need some added control gear etc?

So next step is I am working out what lighting i would install, to get the average daily load so i can find a panel of suitable size. In the meantime, is there a type/brand of panel anyone can recommend me suitable for year round working in all weathers/light conditions?

attached some pics of the stable, can see the cheapy solar lights he already installed - will be putting two large LED floods off PIR sensors on the outside, then internal worklights over the four stable rooms and the central area.

Thanks!!

its looking like around 200w lighting load, lets say 250w, twice a day for around 45min-1hour while they put horses out/in before and after work, often in the dark.

so realistically thats 42aH a day (2*(250/12)) maximum, and that's assuming they have all lights on! Say 10hours useable daylight average a day, that makes around 50w charge average required.... So if i put in a 300w panel and a few batteries parallel, i think that would be ample, even in the winter.....

i think?



Edited by mk2_ginger_biscuit69 - 12 October 2014 at 11:59pm

You could always stick a wind turbine up as well!

Hi Ginge

Most of my grills are cut with solar energy. I have a single 80 watt panel which charges 2 x 75 amp/hr Yuasa leisure batteries (in parallel)  and that then goes to an inverter and provides mains power for my workshop.

The workshop is opposite my cottage and does not have mains. I used to have a long extension lead going across the road but for several years now I have done almost  everything with solar.

It sees me thru most of the year and I only had to resort to the extension  lead a couple of times in the depth of winter. I  do actually have a second panel waiting to be fitted so don't expect any problems this year.

Incidentally I just used a cheap (non MPPT) controller and thus far it hasn't given any problems.