Help me design/build some solar lights

[Adeptus Mechanicus]

So I've got a few newish 7ah and 9ah 12v batteries (alarm/UPS batteries) lying about and am constantly replacing the crappy solar lights in the darker corners of my yard. Usually the batteries fail first, but sometimes the panels go first.

I'd like to use some of the above batteries paired with a solar panel, light and solar charge controller and attempt to package these into something that isn't a hideous eyesore.

Where do I start? I suspect I'd need to size a panel and solar charge controller to the battery and light. Suggestions for where to pick these up?

 

[Steamy Tom]

so exactly what you said, panel and charge controller, enclosure etc.

you need to know your lights usage so that you can work out how much usage it pulls out of the battery to work out what you need to replace

so like 10Wh light, for 8 hours, 80Wh

ok i need to replace 80Wh of power in 5 sun hours for example and assume like say 20% losses, so i need to replace 100W in 5 hours means i need at least say a 20W solar panel.

the terminology here obviously isnt 100% correct but give you the idea. you also need to factor in days with no sun etc as well as possibly a cut off etc.

 

[Lupus]

so exactly what you said, panel and charge controller, enclosure etc.

you need to know your lights usage so that you can work out how much usage it pulls out of the battery to work out what you need to replace

so like 10Wh light, for 8 hours, 80Wh

ok i need to replace 80Wh of power in 5 sun hours for example and assume like say 20% losses, so i need to replace 100W in 5 hours means i need at least say a 20W solar panel.

the terminology here obviously isnt 100% correct but give you the idea. you also need to factor in days with no sun etc as well as possibly a cut off etc.

Yup and a 7ah battery will give at most 84w but that is to flat flat. You'd need 14ah battery to cover 8 hours at night.

 

[TheChamp]

Communica, or PC link, they have very decent service. Try to take your tie and consolidate everything you need to qualify for the free delivery if all your stuff exceed some amount.