Load shedding - lighting

Snyper564

Snyper564

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Hey all,

So I am installing solar geysers on Monday, have a gas hob back up, internet sorted and most devices in the house run on battery (laptop ipad etc)

As much as I would like full blown solar we realised that a large portion of the roof actually doesnt get sun due to shade from the trees. Dont really want to cut them down.

So my goal is comfort with load shedding and power outages.

I have two options set up solar for the lights only or power the lights by a battery bank charged from the grid. Can I select this only from the DB board (will get professional to do just wondering)

I can install 18 lights needing 3-6w each so about 50-100w in total thats the whole house on at once.

Has anyone only powered their lights in this fashion what are my options here. Essentially I want to be able to have light for 24-48 hours or be charged via solar. Honestly im sick of running around with a magneto light :p
 
Yes it’s as simple as only linking their circuits of the DB board.

But also I’d recommend getting a professional in to actual comment on your solar needs and not just assume trees are a problem.

Panels could go on other roof sections or might not be a problem with the trees at all for 80% of the day.

For just 18 lights thought it would be pointless in cost to go solar just for that. Then rather do an inverter + batteries and charge off grid and run most of the house from it.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Yes it’s as simple as only linking their circuits of the DB board.

But also I’d recommend getting a professional in to actual comment on your solar needs and not just assume trees are a problem.

Panels could go on other roof sections or might not be a problem with the trees at all for 80% of the day.

For just 18 lights thought it would be pointless in cost to go solar just for that. Then rather do an inverter + batteries and charge off grid and run most of the house from it.
Click to expand...
Thanks might be worth it then, I am more than happy going solar just thought the trees are more an issue than they might be. Anyone can recommend a solar expert in the Pretoria area?
 
Snyper564 said:
Thanks might be worth it then, I am more than happy going solar just thought the trees are more an issue than they might be. Anyone can recommend a solar expert in the Pretoria area?
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Greensun have been damn good in Cape Town and I think they operate up there as well.
 
As a simple option you also get light bulbs with built in batteries that you could use.
 
How simple it is depends where the DB is and how full it is. A lot of people either start out this way or only do this. I would recommend doing all the lights and then one or two plugs.
If your lights stay on and you have internet and tv running loadshedding is not such a big issue. I have a small setup, 3kw inverter, 4 Lead Acid batteries and 600w of panels on one half of my house. It runs all the lights, all the plugs, a freezer, tv, fish tank and internet and is good even with the 4 hour loadsheds.
 
I am a solar fan, Just lighting you get 12v light strips that are bright, about R35 each then you need a battery, I run on solar the whole day I bypass the grid using a sonoff, Get the bulbs with the batteries built in that will be the easiest, depending on what type of bulbs you have, shop around there are good prices, and for outside get led floodlights with a solar panel, they will automatically charge and turn on when it gets dark.
 
UYScuti said:
As a simple option you also get light bulbs with built in batteries that you could use.
Click to expand...
how does it know when the power is off vs when the light switch is off and when there's no power would using the light switch operate this light?
 
Im running one of those emergency lights in my bathroom.
When you switch the light off the bulb stays on
It doesnt care if you switched it off or if there is load shedding, it stays on until the power resumes or the internal battery goes flat
 
Pineapple Smurf said:
If I bought kak ones then what fancy ones that are better are out there?
Click to expand...

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Dan C said:

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Click to expand...
That's some weird voodoo stuff that it knows if loadshedding happened or whether you turned the switch off.
I love it
Have you tried these yourself?
 
I have a mecer inverter and 200ah batteries. I had a sparky pull the ligths and 2 or so plugs from my Db and install on a secondary one. Tv, internet and lights don’t miss a beat during loadshedding.
 
Pineapple Smurf said:
That's some weird voodoo stuff that it knows if loadshedding happened or whether you turned the switch off.
I love it
Have you tried these yourself?
Click to expand...
Yes, I have 3 of them. But all in lamps. So it could be that your bulb is not detecting your circuit correcly.. don't ask me to explain how it actually works. Mine just works :)
 
heartbroken said:
I have a mecer inverter and 200ah batteries. I had a sparky pull the ligths and 2 or so plugs from my Db and install on a secondary one. Tv, internet and lights don’t miss a beat during loadshedding.
Click to expand...
^ This is the answer we have been looking for :thumbsup:
 
Dan C said:
Yes, I have 3 of them. But all in lamps. So it could be that your bulb are not detecting you correct circuit..
Click to expand...
Huh? No idea what that means. Im running one cheapy in my ceiling light in bathroom.
 
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