hack#22 - solar panel for lighting

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Automatic Porch Light using Solar Power.

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Objective

• Having a porch light that switches on at dusk and switches off at dawn, automatically.

• Powered by a single solar panel.

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Item 1 – Solar panel 12V 10W

• https://www.lazada.com.my/12v-10w-watt-polycrystalline-cells-solar-panel-poly-solar-module-battery-charger-13254147.html

• RM93• RM93

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Cheaper – Solar panel 12V 10W

• http://www.lazada.com.my/10-watt-10w-polycrystalline-solar-panel-12v-ready-stock-28045065.html

• RM76 – no longer available• RM76 – no longer available

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Item 2 – Solar Charge Controller

• https://www.lazada.com.my/dual-usb-pwm-102030a-solar-charge-controller-12v24v-lcd-displaysolar-panel-charge-regulator-models10a-83267837.htmlmodels10a-83267837.html

• RM34.70

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Item 3 – 12V 7.2Ah GP Battery

• https://www.lazada.com.my/genuine-gp-12v-72ah-rechargeable-sealed-lead-acid-battery-gpp1272-29285514.html

• RM60• RM60

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Item 4 – 12V White Light Bulb

• https://www.lazada.com.my/e27-5w-6000k-led-bulbs-lamp-for-dc-12vwhite-light-101540546.html

• RM14.20• RM14.20

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CostItems Price

Solar panel 12V 10W RM93.00

Solar charge controller RM34.70

GP 12V 7.2Ah Battery RM60.00

12V DC White Light Bulb RM14.20

• Not inclusive of labour, wiring, conduit & installation charges.

TOTAL RM201.90

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Calculating The Load

Power for Bulb 12V 5W• Dusk to dawn = 12 hours.• 12 hours x 5 Watt = 60WH.

Power from 12V 7.2Ah Battery• 7.2Ah x 12V = 86.4WH• Being a sealed lead acid

battery, you get only 50% of that power.

• 86.4WH x 0.5 = 43.2WH • 86.4WH x 0.5 = 43.2WH (<60WH; inadequate)

• If 12V 12Ah;12Ah x 12V = 144 WH50% would be 72WH. Enough.

• https://www.lazada.com.my/genuine-gp-12v-12ah-rechargeable-sealed-lead-acid-battery-gpp12120-96324854.html (RM129.50)

Power from Panel 12V 10W• Dawn to dusk = 12 hours.• Kuala Lumpur Daily Daylight

Average = 6 hours• 6 hours x 10 Watt = 60WH.• So 1 solar panel 12V10W

can generate enough power for one 12V5W bulb.

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The Installation

Solar panel on roof top.Solar panel on roof top.

Wiring from solar panel to solar charge controller.

Wiring from solar panel to solar charge controller.

roof top.roof top.

Solar charge controller.Solar charge controller.

Solar charge controller.Solar charge controller.

12V bulb12V bulb

12V battery12V battery

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Connecting Everything – Step 1

1. Connect battery to solar charge controller. It will detect the type of battery.

1. Connect battery to solar charge controller. It will detect the type of battery.

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Connecting Everything – Step 22. Connect solar panel to solar charge controller. It will detect the type of solar panel.

2. Connect solar panel to solar charge controller. It will detect the type of solar panel.

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Connecting Everything – Step 3

3. Connect light bulb to solar charge controller.

3. Connect light bulb to solar charge controller.

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Connecting Everything – Step 4

4. Click on this button 4x until you get this work mode display.

4. Click on this button 4x until you get this work mode display.

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Connecting Everything – Step 5

5. Then press on this button for 5 seconds until it starts blinking.

5. Then press on this button for 5 seconds until it starts blinking.

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Connecting Everything – Step 6

6. Then click on this + button once so that it displays “00”. Then the light will switch on from dusk to dawn. “24” means that it will be on 24 hours. You can set from “00” to “24”.

6. Then click on this + button once so that it displays “00”. Then the light will switch on from dusk to dawn. “24” means that it will be on 24 hours. You can set from “00” to “24”.

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Connecting Everything – Step 7

7. Then click on this button once to save the setting. Now you’re done.

7. Then click on this button once to save the setting. Now you’re done.

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Conclusion

• As expected I couldn’t get the light to run from dusk to dawn due to the wrong capacity of the battery. I should have bought the 12V12Ah battery instead of the 12V7.2Ah battery. Wrong battery instead of the 12V7.2Ah battery. Wrong advice received.

• I should cover back the cost of my investment within 100 days of use. It should last for 2 years.

• The light was bright enough to illuminate the porch.