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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
Posted to alt.energy.homepower,sci.engr.lighting,uk.d-i-y
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Running mains fluorescents from inverter
On Jun 19, 11:52*pm, The Other Mike
wrote: Currently got a remote observation site (wildlife) with no grid fed power nor any prospect of it. I'd be thinking about solar (keep an eye on Maplin for bargain clearances), recycled car batteries for low cost, then LED lighting rather than fluoresecent. CPC (packaged lamps) and Deal Extreme (bare components and drivers) are both good sources |
#2
Posted to alt.energy.homepower,sci.engr.lighting,uk.d-i-y
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Running mains fluorescents from inverter
On Sat, 25 Jun 2011 02:44:56 -0700 (PDT), Andy Dingley wrote:
I'd be thinking about solar (keep an eye on Maplin for bargain clearances), Carlisle has the 3' x 1' 20W (I think) panels at £40 each ATM... ... recycled car batteries for low cost, ... They might not have much deep cycle capacity and car batteries don't like deep cycles anyway. However if the batteries are free... One might need to make allowances for acid vapours - ventilation/acid resistant enclosure. ... then LED lighting rather than fluoresecent. I've not seen any "spray light every where" LED luminaires. They are all directional to a greater or lesser extent. -- Cheers Dave. |
#3
Posted to alt.energy.homepower,sci.engr.lighting,uk.d-i-y
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Running mains fluorescents from inverter
On Jun 25, 6:18*am, "Dave Liquorice"
wrote: ... I've not seen any "spray light every where" LED luminaires. They are all directional to a greater or lesser extent. Dave. I don't know about wildlife observation labs, but I've managed several electronics labs and machine shops which all had and needed good uniform lighting everywhere. If the work and personnel permit, a light low over the bench like this: http://www.employees.org/~bennet/tel.../lab_bench.jpg or under the top shelf may be enough. I like this type: http://www.halogen-lamps.org/wp-cont...mp-clamp-9.jpg jsw |
#4
Posted to alt.energy.homepower,sci.engr.lighting,uk.d-i-y
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Running mains fluorescents from inverter
On Jun 25, 11:18*am, "Dave Liquorice"
wrote: On Sat, 25 Jun 2011 02:44:56 -0700 (PDT), Andy Dingley wrote: I'd be thinking about solar (keep an eye on Maplin for bargain clearances), Carlisle has the 3' x 1' 20W (I think) panels at £40 each ATM... Check mail order too. I've got one of the 100W panels that I just clicked on by chance one day when I got a circulated text message saying that they'd suddenly gone half price again. Shipping was too cheap to meter. ... recycled car batteries for low cost, ... They might not have much deep cycle capacity So don't cycle them so deeply. Just use more batteries. Car batteries are available for scrap value and half of that lot collected will still be usable for capacity-limited low-cost energy projects like this. One might need to make allowances for acid vapours - ventilation/acid resistant enclosure. _Appropriate_ allowance should be made, but if you avoid massive currents and overcharging, then there's a very lot risk of the sort of hot outgassing that throws acid vapour around. I've seen one guy break his arm after slipping on the acid-proofed telephone exchange floor (those big battery rooms were like swimming pools) and I've seen a couple of "trustworthy" APC UPSes blow themselves up and spit acid (rack-mounts UPSes are not a wise idea), but I've never yet seen a bunch of hippies, a rack of car batteries and a wind turbine have any trouble. I've not seen any "spray light every where" LED luminaires. They are all directional to a greater or lesser extent. LEDs aren't sold as luminaires so much, because they don't need so much insulation, either electrical or thermal. Many are sold as bare sticks or even flexible tapes that you're expected to house yourselves. It's also quite easy to make your own up from bare LEDs, usually surface mount, onto a couple of conductors. Insulated wire with knife- scrape exposures can work for this, or you can buy magic mounting twin- core wire that's the right spacing and pre-bared at intervals. Even better is to series them and use a constant-current drive. Cree SuperFluxs (400mcd @ 130º) are under 40p each now by the dozen. As it's wildlife, you might want to install a set of red lights too. This will keep your own night vision in better shape, works better in conjunction with NVGs, or you could simply badger watch with the lights on. |
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