Solar Power - Off Grid Garage

[Igloo]

Hello,

I am looking for some advise regarding an installation for a remote completely off grid garage installation. This needs to power a couple of 12v LED strip lights for intermittant use. Along with a 12v external light which will be triggered by a PIR.

I will also be running a point to point wireless network point to the garage unit, so this will need to be able to power this 24h a day. The power usage is about 30w for this. This will be powered via a cheap inverter as the load is very low.

I plan on having a battery minder attached to the setup for continual charging of my motorcycle batteries. I will eventually add a larger inverter to power some additional tools in the garage also.

For now I am looking for a cheap (but functional) setup. This is what i've got so far;

Sun YOBA LCD Display 60A 12V (Charge Controller) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ADKOMXI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1ZNNW63YABJSD&coliid=I147S0TDQ3AVLG

135AH 12v leisure battery https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00WQ0J92W/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1MI474ZFJ1AC

200watt monocrystaline panel (will add further later) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Photonic-Universe-monocrystalline-batteries-motorhome/dp/B00BE6ARPM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480885605&sr=8-1&keywords=200watt+solar+panel

BESTEK 300W Power Inverter DC 12V https://www.amazon.co.uk/BESTEK-Inverter-Converter-Outlet-Charger/dp/B00INW611Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1480885655&sr=8-3&keywords=12v+inverter

This comes to approx £300 (excluding associated cabling / crimps and so on).

I am looking for a bit of input into how this setup looks. I am a complete novice with regards to Solar.

[Joeman]

Why do you need 24hour wireless?

Anywhere you have an inverter you have energy loss.

Instead of converting 12v DC to 240vAc then plugging in a transformer for the WiFi that drips the voltage back down to 12vDC, look to see if you can run he wireless direct from the batteries.

[Mr Fro]

Good point Joeman. The router could be run straight from the dump on the charge controller I suppose as the battery will fill up pretty quickly with a 200W panel.

I run 8W worth of panels to an old 065 battery (plus a couple of 7ah PSU batteries) to drive 9x LED MR16 bulbs. That's plenty bright enough and I rarely run out of juice.

Sounds like a fun project though - let us know how it goes!

[Chrissb6]

Hi if you going to use a battery your better to get a leisure battery such as a caravan battery. A good sola panel is a must to keep it in a state of charge. A good read up here might be of use

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpandadvice/technicalhelp/power/solar-power/

[Igloo]

Why do you need 24hour wireless?

Anywhere you have an inverter you have energy loss.

Instead of converting 12v DC to 240vAc then plugging in a transformer for the WiFi that drips the voltage back down to 12vDC, look to see if you can run he wireless direct from the batteries.

 

I have done some further reading on this, I can run the WiFi bridge directly from the battery at 12v. This will need testing but will simplify things hugely at the outset.

Chrissb6, I am going to be running a leisure battery, A deep cycle marine unit.