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Christmas Light Conversion. (Read 805 times)

Lobo

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Australian Politics

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Sydney
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Christmas Light Conversion.
Nov 25^th, 2011 at 2:11pm

I want to convert all my 240v /24v AC adapted Chrissy lights to run off solar power.

I was thinking along the lines of using a car/truck battery and solar charger.

1. Is the idea feasible?

2. Any clues on how to go about doing it?

3. Any published books available?

Something like....
Solar panel/charger...battery...plug-in switch panel....lights.

Any help gratefully accepted.

froggie.

"What's in store for me in the direction I don't take?"-Jack Kerouac.

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Life_goes_on

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Re: Christmas Light Conversion.
Reply #1 - Nov 29^th, 2011 at 2:03pm

Considering that you're unlikely to be running the lights all night....

Two car batteries and one, perhaps two solar battery chargers should do the trick. Just be careful of the amperage that the batteries are putting through the lights as you will be bypassing the 240/24v transformer.

You can often pick up cheap solar chargers through electronics disposals places like Oatley Electronics.

"You're just one lucky motherf-cker" - Someone, 5th February 2013

Num num num num.

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Lobo Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 7408 Sydney Gender:	Re: Christmas Light Conversion. Reply #2 - Nov 29^th, 2011 at 2:17pm Thanks, life. The adaptor output is 24v ac 250mA max:6VA. Would the DC from the battery affect the aystem as it is geared to AC? If not, could I run the battery direct to a powerboard/s and use the existing 240/24v transformers?
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Doctor Jolly

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Re: Christmas Light Conversion.
Reply #3 - Nov 29^th, 2011 at 2:27pm

Lobo wrote on Nov 29^th, 2011 at 2:17pm:

Thanks, life.

The adaptor output is 24v ac 250mA max:6VA.

Would the DC from the battery affect the aystem as it is geared to AC?

If not, could I run the battery direct to a powerboard/s and use the existing 240/24v transformers?

Most efficient is to wire the 2 batteries up in series to give you 24v.
The lights will use stuff all power. A very small solar panel 5 to 10w will be fine to keep them going. Or recharge the batteries once a week at home.

Other option is to get an inverter to take 12V and make 240V AC and run the lights through the original power sockets. More expensive and less efficient.

You'll need a timer to turn them on at sunset and off around midnight. DC timers can be a little pricey. Can you do it by hand ?

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Life_goes_on

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Re: Christmas Light Conversion.
Reply #4 - Nov 29^th, 2011 at 2:32pm

Oooops... I missed the AC requirement.

You'll need a 24v DC-AC inverter. If you're handy with a soldering iron you can knock one up - from memory there's not too much to one.

Or you can get a 12 or 24v DC to 240c AC inverter and simply plug your lights into that.

Option A would be way cheaper but quite a bit more difficult (research, building it, testing it etc)

Option B would be more expensive - but less fun.

"You're just one lucky motherf-cker" - Someone, 5th February 2013

Num num num num.

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Lobo Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 7408 Sydney Gender:	Re: Christmas Light Conversion. Reply #5 - Nov 29^th, 2011 at 4:50pm Thanks, doc and life. I feel that this could be a bit of an ongoing project. Will keep you posted. I hope.
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Life_goes_on Gold Member Offline Posts: 4772 400kms south of Yobsville, Qld Gender:	Re: Christmas Light Conversion. Reply #6 - Nov 29^th, 2011 at 5:47pm Don't let the idea of building a DC to AC converter yourself put you off. There's few components, you're not playing with mains type voltages and it's a basic beginners level project.
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