i am moving to sierra leone, the poorest country in the world. there will be no electricity where i will be. if i buy a 12v solar charger and a 12v (we’ll say flourescent) light capable of creating as many lumens as a 60w light bulb, how many hours of light can i provide each night (assuming 14 hours of sunlight)? any additional suggestions for off the grid power are very welcome.
More Pages:
- Solar Energy: How Do I Cost-effectively Use Solar Energy To Provide Light At Night? (7/8/2011)
- Solar Panel: What Is The Maximum Power A Solar Cell Can Provide? (6/23/2011)
- Solar Lights: Hi There! Can A Light Bulb Power Itself By Using A String Of Calculator Solar Cells? ? (6/11/2011)
- Solar Panel: What Total Solar Cell Area Would You Need To Provide Energy Needs? Mastering Physics Problem? (5/15/2011)
- Solar Lights: Will A Regular Light Bulb Help Plants Grow? (8/3/2011)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
The most cost effective way to provide light with solar power is to install a sky-light and open the curtains.
If you want to continue to provide light at night, you would need a solar cell with a “deep-cycle” battery and low voltage lights. LED type lights will draw less power than standard incondesents. This may be the route to take.
The sun emits energy to earth in the amount of 1000 watts per square meter. If you use a solar cell panel you convert about 15% of the solar energy per square meter by a solar panel. This energy is produced in electricity amps and voltage only when the sun is shining. If you want a continuous use of power, then you should store the energy during sun light in deep cell storage batteries like those you have in your car, lead acid, or cadmium batteries. In this case you also need a charge controller, so that you do not over charge your batteries and if you need AC voltage then you need a converter. For lighting only you probably need a panel which produces 100 Watt maximum.