On Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:52:29 +0100, The Other Mike
wrote:

Currently got a remote observation site (wildlife) with no grid fed
power nor any prospect of it.

Half the site has a few modified 4ft T5's (36W) retrofitted with 12v
IOTA Ballasts (2D12-1-32) fed from a lead acid battery charged by a
solar panel. The other half of the site has 5ft T5's with magnetic
ballasts fed by a Honda EU20i generator which despite being a quiet
suitcase model and loads of additional soundproofing is still way too
noisy. Near silent operation is essential. Hauling fuel is also a
PITA as its a long way from the road.

So I need a way of powering the 5ft T5's (58W) from a low voltage DC
supply. IOTA only make ballasts up to 40W and they need a circa 50v
supply, realistically I need to keep to 12v to keep the solar array
price down.

So thoughts turned to an inverter fed from an uprated solar array and
battery.

A cheap modified sine wave inverter (circa 500W capacity) on a 100Ah
brand new battery fails to even kick even one 5ft tube into life. The
manufacturer says these inverters are not compatible with fluorescent
tubes but doesn't elaborate any further.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get these lights working off
grid?

A change of ballast to an electronic type? (all indications are this
could won't work?)

Moving to a pure sine wave inverter (extremely expensive) ?

A different inverter supplier rather than 'one hung lo china inc' ?'

A ballast supplier that offers 12v ballasts that will drive a 58W
tube?

A homebrew 12V fluorescent inverter, running at high frequency that
will drive 5ft tubes and costs not a lot?

Since you appear to be in the UK, the first product source below won't
be much help, but the concept might be an alternative.

Do you need fluorescent tubes or would LED bulbs be a more efficient
choice for solar powered illumination?

The local home/garden center has 120 volt 7.5 watt LED bulbs (lumens
equivalent to 40 watt incandescent) for $10US each. These bulbs work
with a dimmer, so they are not picky about the power source.

Two of these LED bulbs should provide more light than a 5 foot
fluorescent tube plus provides power savings.

12 volt LED and CFL bulbs are available, but they are usually at
premium prces: http://www.led-cfl-lighthouse.com/

John

On Sun, 19 Jun 2011 22:13:33 -0400, wrote:


Do you need fluorescent tubes or would LED bulbs be a more efficient
choice for solar powered illumination?

The local home/garden center has 120 volt 7.5 watt LED bulbs (lumens
equivalent to 40 watt incandescent) for $10US each. These bulbs work
with a dimmer, so they are not picky about the power source.

Two of these LED bulbs should provide more light than a 5 foot
fluorescent tube plus provides power savings.

Two?

Really?

USD 10?

I thought this was the only one worth bothering with?

http://www.gelighting.com/na/energysmartLED/home.html

450 lumens output

USD 50 a piece

To give me 17000 lumens equivalent (100 lumens /watt * 58W * 3
fittings) that requires 37 lamps costing USD1800

Giving a total load of more than 300W compared to circa 170W

You might be able to see why I keep coming back to conventional
fluorecents every time


--

On Sun, 19 Jun 2011 22:13:33 -0400, wrote:

On Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:52:29 +0100, The Other Mike
wrote:

Currently got a remote observation site (wildlife) with no grid fed
power nor any prospect of it.

Half the site has a few modified 4ft T5's (36W) retrofitted with 12v
IOTA Ballasts (2D12-1-32) fed from a lead acid battery charged by a
solar panel. The other half of the site has 5ft T5's with magnetic
ballasts fed by a Honda EU20i generator which despite being a quiet
suitcase model and loads of additional soundproofing is still way too
noisy. Near silent operation is essential. Hauling fuel is also a
PITA as its a long way from the road.

So I need a way of powering the 5ft T5's (58W) from a low voltage DC
supply. IOTA only make ballasts up to 40W and they need a circa 50v
supply, realistically I need to keep to 12v to keep the solar array
price down.

So thoughts turned to an inverter fed from an uprated solar array and
battery.

A cheap modified sine wave inverter (circa 500W capacity) on a 100Ah
brand new battery fails to even kick even one 5ft tube into life. The
manufacturer says these inverters are not compatible with fluorescent
tubes but doesn't elaborate any further.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get these lights working off
grid?

A change of ballast to an electronic type? (all indications are this
could won't work?)

Moving to a pure sine wave inverter (extremely expensive) ?

A different inverter supplier rather than 'one hung lo china inc' ?'

A ballast supplier that offers 12v ballasts that will drive a 58W
tube?

A homebrew 12V fluorescent inverter, running at high frequency that
will drive 5ft tubes and costs not a lot?

Since you appear to be in the UK, the first product source below won't
be much help, but the concept might be an alternative.

Do you need fluorescent tubes or would LED bulbs be a more efficient
choice for solar powered illumination?

The local home/garden center has 120 volt 7.5 watt LED bulbs (lumens
equivalent to 40 watt incandescent) for $10US each. These bulbs work
with a dimmer, so they are not picky about the power source.

Two of these LED bulbs should provide more light than a 5 foot
fluorescent tube plus provides power savings.

12 volt LED and CFL bulbs are available, but they are usually at
premium prces: http://www.led-cfl-lighthouse.com/

John

Two 7.5 watt LEDs will not provide more light than one 58-watt Linear
fluorescent lamp - not even close. You need to read real data sheetsm
and not just marketing hype.

Vic Roberts
http://www.RobertsResearchInc.com
http://www.cflfacts.com
sci.engr.lighting Rogues Gallery http://www.langmuir.org
To reply via e-mail:
replace xyz with vdr in the Reply to: address
or use e-mail address listed at the Web site.

This information is provided for educational purposes only.
It may not be used in any publication or posted on any Web
site without written permission.

On Jun 20, 3:13*am, wrote:
On Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:52:29 +0100, The Other Mike









wrote:
Currently got a remote observation site (wildlife) with no grid fed
power nor any prospect of it.

Half the site has a few modified 4ft T5's (36W) retrofitted with 12v
IOTA Ballasts (2D12-1-32) fed from a lead acid battery charged by a
solar panel. * The other half of the site has 5ft T5's with magnetic
ballasts fed by a Honda EU20i generator which despite being a quiet
suitcase model and loads of additional soundproofing is still way too
noisy. *Near silent operation is essential. *Hauling fuel is also a
PITA as its a long way from the road.

So I need a way of powering the 5ft T5's (58W) from a low voltage DC
supply. *IOTA only make ballasts up to 40W and they need a circa 50v
supply, realistically I need to keep to 12v to keep the solar array
price down.

So thoughts turned to an inverter fed from an uprated solar array and
battery.

A cheap modified sine wave inverter (circa 500W capacity) on a 100Ah
brand new battery fails to even kick even one 5ft tube into life. *The
manufacturer says these inverters are not compatible with fluorescent
tubes but doesn't elaborate any further.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get these lights working off
grid?

A change of ballast to an electronic type? (all indications are this
could won't work?)

Moving to a pure sine wave inverter (extremely expensive) ?

A different inverter supplier rather than 'one hung lo china inc' ?'

A ballast supplier that offers 12v ballasts that will drive a 58W
tube?

A homebrew 12V fluorescent inverter, running at high frequency that
will drive 5ft tubes and costs not a lot? *

Since you appear to be in the UK, the first product source below won't
be much help, but the concept might be an alternative.

Do you need *fluorescent tubes or would LED bulbs be a more efficient
choice for solar powered illumination?

The local home/garden center has 120 volt 7.5 watt LED bulbs (lumens
equivalent to 40 watt incandescent) for $10US each.

More like 30W or less equivalent in a real world comparison.

Two of these LED bulbs should provide more light than a 5 foot
fluorescent tube plus provides power savings.

15W LED v. 58W flourescent, not a hope.

MBQ

"Man at B&Q" wrote in message
...

On Jun 20, 3:13 am, wrote:
On Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:52:29 +0100, The Other Mike









wrote:
Currently got a remote observation site (wildlife) with no grid fed
power nor any prospect of it.

Half the site has a few modified 4ft T5's (36W) retrofitted with 12v
IOTA Ballasts (2D12-1-32) fed from a lead acid battery charged by a
solar panel. The other half of the site has 5ft T5's with magnetic
ballasts fed by a Honda EU20i generator which despite being a quiet
suitcase model and loads of additional soundproofing is still way too
noisy. Near silent operation is essential. Hauling fuel is also a
PITA as its a long way from the road.

So I need a way of powering the 5ft T5's (58W) from a low voltage DC
supply. IOTA only make ballasts up to 40W and they need a circa 50v
supply, realistically I need to keep to 12v to keep the solar array
price down.

So thoughts turned to an inverter fed from an uprated solar array and
battery.

A cheap modified sine wave inverter (circa 500W capacity) on a 100Ah
brand new battery fails to even kick even one 5ft tube into life. The
manufacturer says these inverters are not compatible with fluorescent
tubes but doesn't elaborate any further.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get these lights working off
grid?

A change of ballast to an electronic type? (all indications are this
could won't work?)

Moving to a pure sine wave inverter (extremely expensive) ?

A different inverter supplier rather than 'one hung lo china inc' ?'

A ballast supplier that offers 12v ballasts that will drive a 58W
tube?

A homebrew 12V fluorescent inverter, running at high frequency that
will drive 5ft tubes and costs not a lot?

Since you appear to be in the UK, the first product source below won't
be much help, but the concept might be an alternative.

Do you need fluorescent tubes or would LED bulbs be a more efficient
choice for solar powered illumination?

The local home/garden center has 120 volt 7.5 watt LED bulbs (lumens
equivalent to 40 watt incandescent) for $10US each.

More like 30W or less equivalent in a real world comparison.

Two of these LED bulbs should provide more light than a 5 foot
fluorescent tube plus provides power savings.

15W LED v. 58W flourescent, not a hope.

MBQ


-----------------------

and very bad light colour.


mike

On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:51:33 -0400, "m II" wrote:

"Man at B&Q" wrote in message
...

On Jun 20, 3:13 am, wrote:
On Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:52:29 +0100, The Other Mike









wrote:
Currently got a remote observation site (wildlife) with no grid fed
power nor any prospect of it.

Half the site has a few modified 4ft T5's (36W) retrofitted with 12v
IOTA Ballasts (2D12-1-32) fed from a lead acid battery charged by a
solar panel. The other half of the site has 5ft T5's with magnetic
ballasts fed by a Honda EU20i generator which despite being a quiet
suitcase model and loads of additional soundproofing is still way too
noisy. Near silent operation is essential. Hauling fuel is also a
PITA as its a long way from the road.

So I need a way of powering the 5ft T5's (58W) from a low voltage DC
supply. IOTA only make ballasts up to 40W and they need a circa 50v
supply, realistically I need to keep to 12v to keep the solar array
price down.

So thoughts turned to an inverter fed from an uprated solar array and
battery.

A cheap modified sine wave inverter (circa 500W capacity) on a 100Ah
brand new battery fails to even kick even one 5ft tube into life. The
manufacturer says these inverters are not compatible with fluorescent
tubes but doesn't elaborate any further.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get these lights working off
grid?

A change of ballast to an electronic type? (all indications are this
could won't work?)

Moving to a pure sine wave inverter (extremely expensive) ?

A different inverter supplier rather than 'one hung lo china inc' ?'

A ballast supplier that offers 12v ballasts that will drive a 58W
tube?

A homebrew 12V fluorescent inverter, running at high frequency that
will drive 5ft tubes and costs not a lot?

Since you appear to be in the UK, the first product source below won't
be much help, but the concept might be an alternative.

Do you need fluorescent tubes or would LED bulbs be a more efficient
choice for solar powered illumination?

The local home/garden center has 120 volt 7.5 watt LED bulbs (lumens
equivalent to 40 watt incandescent) for $10US each.

More like 30W or less equivalent in a real world comparison.

Two of these LED bulbs should provide more light than a 5 foot
fluorescent tube plus provides power savings.

15W LED v. 58W flourescent, not a hope.

MBQ


-----------------------

and very bad light colour.


mike
Depends entirely where you NEED the light. The LED can provide as much
light in a restricted area as the flourescent does - but will NOT
light as large an area to that brightness. So the question is - how
much light do you need and where???
If the light scattered all over by the flourescent is needed - use
flourescent. If it is just wasted (not needed anyway) try the LED
solution.

wrote in message ...

On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:51:33 -0400, "m II" wrote:

"Man at B&Q" wrote in message
...

On Jun 20, 3:13 am, wrote:
On Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:52:29 +0100, The Other Mike









wrote:
Currently got a remote observation site (wildlife) with no grid fed
power nor any prospect of it.

Half the site has a few modified 4ft T5's (36W) retrofitted with 12v
IOTA Ballasts (2D12-1-32) fed from a lead acid battery charged by a
solar panel. The other half of the site has 5ft T5's with magnetic
ballasts fed by a Honda EU20i generator which despite being a quiet
suitcase model and loads of additional soundproofing is still way too
noisy. Near silent operation is essential. Hauling fuel is also a
PITA as its a long way from the road.

So I need a way of powering the 5ft T5's (58W) from a low voltage DC
supply. IOTA only make ballasts up to 40W and they need a circa 50v
supply, realistically I need to keep to 12v to keep the solar array
price down.

So thoughts turned to an inverter fed from an uprated solar array and
battery.

A cheap modified sine wave inverter (circa 500W capacity) on a 100Ah
brand new battery fails to even kick even one 5ft tube into life. The
manufacturer says these inverters are not compatible with fluorescent
tubes but doesn't elaborate any further.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get these lights working off
grid?

A change of ballast to an electronic type? (all indications are this
could won't work?)

Moving to a pure sine wave inverter (extremely expensive) ?

A different inverter supplier rather than 'one hung lo china inc' ?'

A ballast supplier that offers 12v ballasts that will drive a 58W
tube?

A homebrew 12V fluorescent inverter, running at high frequency that
will drive 5ft tubes and costs not a lot?

Since you appear to be in the UK, the first product source below won't
be much help, but the concept might be an alternative.

Do you need fluorescent tubes or would LED bulbs be a more efficient
choice for solar powered illumination?

The local home/garden center has 120 volt 7.5 watt LED bulbs (lumens
equivalent to 40 watt incandescent) for $10US each.

More like 30W or less equivalent in a real world comparison.

Two of these LED bulbs should provide more light than a 5 foot
fluorescent tube plus provides power savings.

15W LED v. 58W flourescent, not a hope.

MBQ


-----------------------

and very bad light colour.


mike
Depends entirely where you NEED the light. The LED can provide as much
light in a restricted area as the flourescent does - but will NOT
light as large an area to that brightness. So the question is - how
much light do you need and where???
If the light scattered all over by the flourescent is needed - use
flourescent. If it is just wasted (not needed anyway) try the LED
solution.

--------------------

How does distribution affect light colour?

Please re-read and comment appropriately.



mike

On Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:25:37 -0400, "Mho"
wrote:




15W LED v. 58W flourescent, not a hope.

MBQ


-----------------------

and very bad light colour.


mike
Depends entirely where you NEED the light. The LED can provide as much
light in a restricted area as the flourescent does - but will NOT
light as large an area to that brightness. So the question is - how
much light do you need and where???
If the light scattered all over by the flourescent is needed - use
flourescent. If it is just wasted (not needed anyway) try the LED
solution.

--------------------

How does distribution affect light colour?

Please re-read and comment appropriately.



mike
I re-read it, and according to the net-nazi's my response was
correct. I bottom posted in response to the "15W LED v 58W
Flourescent, not a hope" which was on the same level () as the very
bad light colour - so apparently the same message.
Get a life!!