Solar Powered Garden Lighting Project

Mark_G

I have some led string lights in the garden and they dont illuminate for very long 3-5 hours (during last summer) I have changed the batteries for better quality/mah, but still not much better. I realise the solar panel is probably where the problem lies.

I have now obtained a 10w solar panel that was previously used to trickle charge a 12v car battery on a boat, so now I am thinking the same thing could be used to power the lights, I have a car battery in the shed that is still in good condition.

The only things that I think I would need is 1) a photocell and 2) some kind of voltage reducer.

I've had a look on Ebay and found this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waterproof-DC-to-DC-buck-Converter-12V-to-3-3-3-3-7-5-6-9V-Power-Module-Supply-/351259407149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item51c8b1332d

The lights have 2 batteries inside so I figure the 12v to 3v 3a would be the one (I assume a 5v would make the lights brighter)

would this be all I would need to power the lights? Would I need one for each set or would I be better of with 1 for all (I have a selection of connectors and am reasonable with a soldering iron).

Any help would be appreciated.

enfield_freddy

no you would need greater than 3v to charge 3v , however are the batteries 1.5v or 1.2v each?

50Twuncle

I have one of these http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/solar-8-led-05-w-pir-floodlight-n01ht
I am sure that a lead from the 6v battery could be modified to feed separate lamps ?
With the added benefit of a PIR to turn off power at dawn !!
10 watts would be overkill - considering that 0.5 watts is enough for a multi LED lamp that never runs out of juice (in our case - it runs for perhaps an hour per night)