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MO Cabin
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# Posted: 20 Sep 2020 23:05
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After 10+ years of bringing batteries for lights and filling the back of the toilet tank with buckets of water I have had enough. This is a weekend only cabin and I do not plan on putting too much stress on a 12-volt system at this time. Right now I'm going to start small and keep everything DC, in the future I may add an inverter and have the ability to run AC, but to keep the costs low I would like to add the inverter/charger after I have everything else in place
I am looking at a 54 or 100 amp lithium ion battery from Dakota that will be used for three interior led lights, a USB charging station, three exterior led flood lights and a 12 volt water pump to supply water to the bathroom and kitchen sink. I have a 400 gallon water tank that I fill using 55 gallon drums a few times a year. The electrical system would not get much use, maybe 4 to 6 hours of lighting a night, 3-4 hours of charging cell phones a day, and maybe the RV pump runs for a hour an hour a day. I will add solar panels in the future but because of the low levels of energy consumption I will probably either charge the battery with a generator while I'm at the cabin or bring the battery home to be charged at the end of the weekend
My main question is about lighting. I am looking for lighting fixtures that I can put on the ceiling and floodlights for outside. I would really like to use porcelain Edison style pull chain sockets so that I do not have to have any additional wiring for switches and the push button option on most 12 volt lighting will not be beneficial as the ceilings are 8-ft tall. I have searched several different websites but I cannot find a 12 volt pull chain style socket. Does anyone make a Edison style 12 volt pole chain socket or would it be safe to use a standard 120-v Edison style socket and use a 12 volt LED screw in bulb My second question is about flood lights. I do not want to use motion activated flood lights I am looking for an option that I could turn the lights off and on from the inside of the cabin, do you have any recommendations?
I would also like to hear your suggestions on solar panel sizing, what amp/model for the charger controller, inverter/charger suggestions, battery storage safety suggestions, wire gauge suggestions for runs under 30 feet, and any other suggestions that you would think be helpful as well.
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darz5150
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# Posted: 21 Sep 2020 00:03
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Quoting: MO Cabin I cannot find a 12 volt pull chain style socket.
They have 12 volt bulbs that fit the off the shelf light fixtures.Quoting: MO Cabin 12 volt lighting will not be beneficial as the ceilings are 8-ft tall
I will post a pic of 12 volt led light. My ceiling is 9 feet high.Quoting: MO Cabin My second question is about flood lights. I do not want to use motion activated flood lights I am looking for an option that I could turn the lights off and on from the inside of the cabin, do you have any recommendations
They have 12 volt flood lights available. But I mainly use strings of LEDs from St. Louis lighting. I have them under our gazebo as well for the outside of the cabin.
12 volt led. 9 foot ceilin
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Outside leds. On a switch.
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darz5150
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# Posted: 21 Sep 2020 00:16 - Edited by: darz5150
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Just had a second thought for your outside 12 volt flood lights. Check on amazon for off road led lights.
I put a couple on my side x side that have a spot light beam and flood light beam. Got a pair of them for about $25 bucks. They put out huge amounts of light. Not just the flood lights, but if you want to concentrate the light in a certain area too.
I will also post a pic of 12 volt RV style lighting in our bathroom. In the picture there is also a light fixture behind me above the sink area.
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FishHog
Member
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# Posted: 21 Sep 2020 12:55
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I run 12v Edison bulbs in standard pull cord lights. 6 years in I’ve had no issues. Be sure to buy led bulbs
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jsahara24
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# Posted: 21 Sep 2020 13:48 - Edited by: jsahara24
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I was looking into the same thing some time ago, and I recall the wattage being higher for the 12V lights that plug into the 120V sockets, than the regular 12V that I am used too.
I am certainly naive on this topic and could be wrong, but perhaps someone can confirm as I know its critical to keep power usage to a minimum on these small solar setups.
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razmichael
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# Posted: 21 Sep 2020 14:14
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No issues with E based 12v LEDs in standard light/lamps in our cabin. Only caution, like everything, cheap is not always the best choice. This would be 7-8 hrs ago but the first batch (e-bay I think) I bought we’re a great price - and useless so I needed to replace them almost immediately. Lots more choices now and superb quality available. I have not needed to replace any of my current ones since I got them. I also use 12v floodlights for outside (i integrates them with motion sensors). The ones I got were underwater led floods but, again, lots more now to select from.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2020 07:04
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Before you buy special 12v lights you should check the price of a small inverter and just going to a big box store or the internet and buying a standard Edison's 120v bulb.
Yes you will get some loss through an inverter but your system is pretty small and I see 100ah being more than enough battery for what you want to do.
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MO Cabin
Member
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# Posted: 27 Sep 2020 22:42
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thanks for the suggestions.
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