I was wondering if any BYC members use solar panels for their coops? I am thinking about putting solar panels up to provide the power for lighting and fans. Just looking for any ideas. Thanks.
Solar Panels for coops
- Thread starter EKC Farms in the desert
- Start date
- Oct 15, 2010
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Well, when you find out let me know! I have a solar powered electric fence that I haven't hooked up yet, and would really like some lights and heat!
Cheers,
N. VA
Cheers,
N. VA
Solar applications may be very practical for chickens.
I have 'solar night eyes'. Granted it is a tiny application. Little red LEDs flash all night, they are recharged daily, magnetically attach to the side of the wire run, and turn on when dark enough. Very reliable. Some folks have solar self-opening and self-closing doors. Glad that you asked this question -- hopefully those using solar will share their results.
I have 'solar night eyes'. Granted it is a tiny application. Little red LEDs flash all night, they are recharged daily, magnetically attach to the side of the wire run, and turn on when dark enough. Very reliable. Some folks have solar self-opening and self-closing doors. Glad that you asked this question -- hopefully those using solar will share their results.
You can use a solar panel to charge a battery (deep cell car battery). From there all you need to do is get 12v 'fixtures'.
RV's use 12v fixtures and the bulbs, although incandescent, are fairly efficient. LED's are very efficient, and the light output is getting better every day. If you find that you are running out of power, simply add a second battery, as long as your initial battery was being charged fully with the solar panel you have.
As long as you are using 12v 'fixtures' you will not have to worry about converters, or anything like that. As a matter of fact, a solar panel is not all that hard to build. You need some components off ebay, solar cells, some wire, what are called tabs (if cells are untabed) and a soldering iron. wire everything up, in the shape you want, build a frame to hold it, and attach it to the battery. There is an auction right now on ebay for 1KW of tabbed solar cells for $350.00. Obviously to much for a light and a single fan, but you get the idea. The individual components are cheap, the panels are extremely overpriced for the amount of work required to make them.
There are many, many, many videos on youtube to teach you how to build them, and even greater resources at most libraries. You should not have to pay for anything, unless you provide donations to the library for the use of their information.
Voila, lighting and circulation. You can even hook up rechargeable flashlight batteries and car batteries to it and always have batteries charged and ready to go. I keep the tractor on a solar panel in the winter.
There are fence chargers that are designed to work off a car battery and most have the plug in for a solar panel, since you already have one, all you need is the charger.
RV's use 12v fixtures and the bulbs, although incandescent, are fairly efficient. LED's are very efficient, and the light output is getting better every day. If you find that you are running out of power, simply add a second battery, as long as your initial battery was being charged fully with the solar panel you have.
As long as you are using 12v 'fixtures' you will not have to worry about converters, or anything like that. As a matter of fact, a solar panel is not all that hard to build. You need some components off ebay, solar cells, some wire, what are called tabs (if cells are untabed) and a soldering iron. wire everything up, in the shape you want, build a frame to hold it, and attach it to the battery. There is an auction right now on ebay for 1KW of tabbed solar cells for $350.00. Obviously to much for a light and a single fan, but you get the idea. The individual components are cheap, the panels are extremely overpriced for the amount of work required to make them.
There are many, many, many videos on youtube to teach you how to build them, and even greater resources at most libraries. You should not have to pay for anything, unless you provide donations to the library for the use of their information.
Voila, lighting and circulation. You can even hook up rechargeable flashlight batteries and car batteries to it and always have batteries charged and ready to go. I keep the tractor on a solar panel in the winter.
There are fence chargers that are designed to work off a car battery and most have the plug in for a solar panel, since you already have one, all you need is the charger.
- Mar 6, 2011
- 37
- 0
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Quote:
Have you actually built your own solar panels? I have and let me tell you, it is a labor intensive endeavor. By the time you gather all the materials, you will easily have a dollar a watt into DIY panels. When panels were $4/watt, there was some incentive to build your own but with Chinese panels available at less than $1.50/watt now, I disagree that panels are overpriced for the amount of work required to make them.
To the OP, you will need to use some sort of battery if you want to provide lighting, however fans can be run directly off panels if you only want daytime ventilation. I have a 12V box fan made for RV use that cools my greenhouse during the day and it runs off a 50W panel. It actually moves a surprising amount of air for its power consumption.
Have you actually built your own solar panels? I have and let me tell you, it is a labor intensive endeavor. By the time you gather all the materials, you will easily have a dollar a watt into DIY panels. When panels were $4/watt, there was some incentive to build your own but with Chinese panels available at less than $1.50/watt now, I disagree that panels are overpriced for the amount of work required to make them.
To the OP, you will need to use some sort of battery if you want to provide lighting, however fans can be run directly off panels if you only want daytime ventilation. I have a 12V box fan made for RV use that cools my greenhouse during the day and it runs off a 50W panel. It actually moves a surprising amount of air for its power consumption.
My DH set up one of our coops with solar electricity. We use a converter so we are putting out 110v. We have enough battery storage to run heat lamps and an overhead light. During the hurricain, we used the solar system in addition to the generator. Also, when the electricy goes out for short periods of time, instead of firering up the generator, I run an extension cord into the house to plug in the incubators. This summer we were hanging siding on the house and use the solar electricity to run the saws.
We bought the panels with the connectors used but the batteries were the main expense. I'm not so sure that we are saving money but it sure is nice to have alternate elect. when needed.
We bought the panels with the connectors used but the batteries were the main expense. I'm not so sure that we are saving money but it sure is nice to have alternate elect. when needed.
Quote:
Yes I have. An before I bought ANY chinese product, I would do the work myself if it includes supporting an American company. I am not opposed to doing a little leg work to keep our money in our country and our citizens working and productive. And by building my own I develop a skill and personal understanding of the components and design, and will not be dependent upon others to fix things when there is an inevitable failure when it is -30 outside.
Does it cost a little more? yes maybe. Does it take a little more time on my part? yes , maybe. But I choose to support our own country before I support any other country, especially a Communist one. Canada, Great Britain, Australia, or any other FREE country I have no problem with, but China, no thanks. I would rather do without, build my own, or spend a little extra.
You do as you wish, You have free will and the freedom to spend your time and money any way you see fit, and I would have it no other way. I choose to keep my money in this country, and educate myself as much as possible.
Yes I have. An before I bought ANY chinese product, I would do the work myself if it includes supporting an American company. I am not opposed to doing a little leg work to keep our money in our country and our citizens working and productive. And by building my own I develop a skill and personal understanding of the components and design, and will not be dependent upon others to fix things when there is an inevitable failure when it is -30 outside.
Does it cost a little more? yes maybe. Does it take a little more time on my part? yes , maybe. But I choose to support our own country before I support any other country, especially a Communist one. Canada, Great Britain, Australia, or any other FREE country I have no problem with, but China, no thanks. I would rather do without, build my own, or spend a little extra.
You do as you wish, You have free will and the freedom to spend your time and money any way you see fit, and I would have it no other way. I choose to keep my money in this country, and educate myself as much as possible.
- Mar 6, 2011
- 37
- 0
- 32
Quote:
Good for you! If everyone did as you do, I'm sure tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs would return to this country.
If a Chinese company opens a manufacturing plant in the US, is it OK to buy the panels then? Does the money stay in this country or not? what do you think?
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2009/tc20091115_970512.htm
Good for you! If everyone did as you do, I'm sure tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs would return to this country.
If a Chinese company opens a manufacturing plant in the US, is it OK to buy the panels then? Does the money stay in this country or not? what do you think?
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2009/tc20091115_970512.htm
Quote:
Good for you! If everyone did as you do, I'm sure tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs would return to this country. then why do you buy cheap chinese products
If a Chinese company opens a manufacturing plant in the US, is it OK to buy the panels then? Does the money stay in this country or not? what do you think? it is better than the company being in china, we gain taxes and jobs, we get something out o the deal
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2009/tc20091115_970512.htm
This is probably not a proper place for that conversation.
Good for you! If everyone did as you do, I'm sure tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs would return to this country. then why do you buy cheap chinese products
If a Chinese company opens a manufacturing plant in the US, is it OK to buy the panels then? Does the money stay in this country or not? what do you think? it is better than the company being in china, we gain taxes and jobs, we get something out o the deal
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2009/tc20091115_970512.htm
This is probably not a proper place for that conversation.
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