Solar powered street lights == power for small home?
Good people, I am increasingly fascinated by the solar powered street lights I keep on seeing around, I saw a couple of new ones near the Museum. Question: anyone know exactly how these work? Is the power stored somewhere? How much does a single "unit" cost? Can it be combined with a small'ish wind turbine? And most importantly, assuming I could afford one unit, would be sufficient to power 5 laptops? I look forward to the day I shall be completely rid of KPLC from my life.
Peter, Those solar powered lights, in the most basic configuration, have 3 components: 1. A solar panel, 2. A solar charge controller, 3. A battery, 4. An inverter. The panal charges the battery during the day, and solar charge controller controls the charge rate to the battery to make sure it is not over-charged. During the night, the inverter converts the battery charge to either AC/DC power that then power the lights. The lighting units must have a casing somewhere,probably high up in the pole to deter thieves to house these systems. About charging you laptop, I guess it is possible. Most inverters can handle loads of upwards of 750 W, which should be sufficient for your laptops. Right now the most costly part of a solar system is the panels. Good, quality panels of around 150 W would costs around USD 1000. And fully charge a battery system to power your laptops or office all day and night, you will need to do a load calculation and see how large of a solar system you need,considering the amount of hours of charge and so on Suffice is to say Kenya Power may end up being cheaper, albeit unreliable in the short term. But costs for solar systems are coming down, owing to Eastern manufactures, so maybe in a couple of years you will be able to bypass Kenya Power altogether.
A solar set up totally independent of Kenya Power is a costly set up. I got a quote of about Ksh. 300,000 for my place where I spend about Ksh. 1,500 per month on elec bills. Power outage incovinences aside, the investment will take over 15 years to pay itself back. The solar guys gave an option of building up the solar system in phases: 1. For starters, get batteries and inverter that charges from Kenya Power as a power backup. 2. Add solar pannels to charge from solar as a power back up 3. Increase pannels and batteries for longer duration power back up 4. Migrate to full use of solar On 22 June 2012 08:02, Philip Musyoki <pmusyoki@gmail.com> wrote:
Peter,
Those solar powered lights, in the most basic configuration, have 3 components:
1. A solar panel, 2. A solar charge controller, 3. A battery, 4. An inverter.
The panal charges the battery during the day, and solar charge controller controls the charge rate to the battery to make sure it is not over-charged.
During the night, the inverter converts the battery charge to either AC/DC power that then power the lights.
The lighting units must have a casing somewhere,probably high up in the pole to deter thieves to house these systems.
About charging you laptop, I guess it is possible. Most inverters can handle loads of upwards of 750 W, which should be sufficient for your laptops.
Right now the most costly part of a solar system is the panels. Good, quality panels of around 150 W would costs around USD 1000. And fully charge a battery system to power your laptops or office all day and night, you will need to do a load calculation and see how large of a solar system you need,considering the amount of hours of charge and so on
Suffice is to say Kenya Power may end up being cheaper, albeit unreliable in the short term. But costs for solar systems are coming down, owing to Eastern manufactures, so maybe in a couple of years you will be able to bypass Kenya Power altogether.
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Gichingiri Kuria _________________________________________ www.website.co.ke / www.sokoletu.co.ke
Where did you get your quote from @kuria Sent from my android mobile device On Jun 22, 2012 8:16 AM, "Gichingiri Kuria" <gmail@gichingiri.com> wrote:
A solar set up totally independent of Kenya Power is a costly set up. I got a quote of about Ksh. 300,000 for my place where I spend about Ksh. 1,500 per month on elec bills. Power outage incovinences aside, the investment will take over 15 years to pay itself back.
The solar guys gave an option of building up the solar system in phases:
1. For starters, get batteries and inverter that charges from Kenya Power as a power backup. 2. Add solar pannels to charge from solar as a power back up 3. Increase pannels and batteries for longer duration power back up 4. Migrate to full use of solar
On 22 June 2012 08:02, Philip Musyoki <pmusyoki@gmail.com> wrote:
Peter,
Those solar powered lights, in the most basic configuration, have 3 components:
1. A solar panel, 2. A solar charge controller, 3. A battery, 4. An inverter.
The panal charges the battery during the day, and solar charge controller controls the charge rate to the battery to make sure it is not over-charged.
During the night, the inverter converts the battery charge to either AC/DC power that then power the lights.
The lighting units must have a casing somewhere,probably high up in the pole to deter thieves to house these systems.
About charging you laptop, I guess it is possible. Most inverters can handle loads of upwards of 750 W, which should be sufficient for your laptops.
Right now the most costly part of a solar system is the panels. Good, quality panels of around 150 W would costs around USD 1000. And fully charge a battery system to power your laptops or office all day and night, you will need to do a load calculation and see how large of a solar system you need,considering the amount of hours of charge and so on
Suffice is to say Kenya Power may end up being cheaper, albeit unreliable in the short term. But costs for solar systems are coming down, owing to Eastern manufactures, so maybe in a couple of years you will be able to bypass Kenya Power altogether.
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Gichingiri Kuria _________________________________________ www.website.co.ke / www.sokoletu.co.ke
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
Thanks guys for the info, much appreciated. @Mutinda, I am not sure where @Kuria got his quote from, but one time I was walking along parliament road and had a chance to see the name of the company on the underside of the solar street lights there. Unfortunately, I forgot it, but it was something like *Powerlight* I think Davis & Shirtliff also have a rather well developed solar power department based on comments their MD made on tv a while back. On Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 3:32 PM, Nicholas Mutinda <mutindah@gmail.com>wrote:
Where did you get your quote from @kuria
Sent from my android mobile device On Jun 22, 2012 8:16 AM, "Gichingiri Kuria" <gmail@gichingiri.com> wrote:
A solar set up totally independent of Kenya Power is a costly set up. I got a quote of about Ksh. 300,000 for my place where I spend about Ksh. 1,500 per month on elec bills. Power outage incovinences aside, the investment will take over 15 years to pay itself back.
The solar guys gave an option of building up the solar system in phases:
1. For starters, get batteries and inverter that charges from Kenya Power as a power backup. 2. Add solar pannels to charge from solar as a power back up 3. Increase pannels and batteries for longer duration power back up 4. Migrate to full use of solar
On 22 June 2012 08:02, Philip Musyoki <pmusyoki@gmail.com> wrote:
Peter,
Those solar powered lights, in the most basic configuration, have 3 components:
1. A solar panel, 2. A solar charge controller, 3. A battery, 4. An inverter.
The panal charges the battery during the day, and solar charge controller controls the charge rate to the battery to make sure it is not over-charged.
During the night, the inverter converts the battery charge to either AC/DC power that then power the lights.
The lighting units must have a casing somewhere,probably high up in the pole to deter thieves to house these systems.
About charging you laptop, I guess it is possible. Most inverters can handle loads of upwards of 750 W, which should be sufficient for your laptops.
Right now the most costly part of a solar system is the panels. Good, quality panels of around 150 W would costs around USD 1000. And fully charge a battery system to power your laptops or office all day and night, you will need to do a load calculation and see how large of a solar system you need,considering the amount of hours of charge and so on
Suffice is to say Kenya Power may end up being cheaper, albeit unreliable in the short term. But costs for solar systems are coming down, owing to Eastern manufactures, so maybe in a couple of years you will be able to bypass Kenya Power altogether.
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Gichingiri Kuria _________________________________________ www.website.co.ke / www.sokoletu.co.ke
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Regards, Peter Karunyu -------------------
I got the quote from these guys - http://www.ambaliansolar.com/ On 22 June 2012 15:40, Peter Karunyu <pkarunyu@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks guys for the info, much appreciated.
@Mutinda, I am not sure where @Kuria got his quote from, but one time I was walking along parliament road and had a chance to see the name of the company on the underside of the solar street lights there. Unfortunately, I forgot it, but it was something like *Powerlight*
I think Davis & Shirtliff also have a rather well developed solar power department based on comments their MD made on tv a while back.
On Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 3:32 PM, Nicholas Mutinda <mutindah@gmail.com>wrote:
Where did you get your quote from @kuria
Sent from my android mobile device On Jun 22, 2012 8:16 AM, "Gichingiri Kuria" <gmail@gichingiri.com> wrote:
A solar set up totally independent of Kenya Power is a costly set up. I got a quote of about Ksh. 300,000 for my place where I spend about Ksh. 1,500 per month on elec bills. Power outage incovinences aside, the investment will take over 15 years to pay itself back.
The solar guys gave an option of building up the solar system in phases:
1. For starters, get batteries and inverter that charges from Kenya Power as a power backup. 2. Add solar pannels to charge from solar as a power back up 3. Increase pannels and batteries for longer duration power back up 4. Migrate to full use of solar
On 22 June 2012 08:02, Philip Musyoki <pmusyoki@gmail.com> wrote:
Peter,
Those solar powered lights, in the most basic configuration, have 3 components:
1. A solar panel, 2. A solar charge controller, 3. A battery, 4. An inverter.
The panal charges the battery during the day, and solar charge controller controls the charge rate to the battery to make sure it is not over-charged.
During the night, the inverter converts the battery charge to either AC/DC power that then power the lights.
The lighting units must have a casing somewhere,probably high up in the pole to deter thieves to house these systems.
About charging you laptop, I guess it is possible. Most inverters can handle loads of upwards of 750 W, which should be sufficient for your laptops.
Right now the most costly part of a solar system is the panels. Good, quality panels of around 150 W would costs around USD 1000. And fully charge a battery system to power your laptops or office all day and night, you will need to do a load calculation and see how large of a solar system you need,considering the amount of hours of charge and so on
Suffice is to say Kenya Power may end up being cheaper, albeit unreliable in the short term. But costs for solar systems are coming down, owing to Eastern manufactures, so maybe in a couple of years you will be able to bypass Kenya Power altogether.
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Gichingiri Kuria _________________________________________ www.website.co.ke / www.sokoletu.co.ke
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Regards, Peter Karunyu -------------------
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Gichingiri Kuria _________________________________________ www.website.co.ke / www.sokoletu.co.ke
Suggestions - Start with a solar water heater. That will cut out a nice chunk of KWs from your consumption. - Opt for fibre optic lighting - http://pesn.com/2005/07/27/9600139_Fiber_Optics_Bring_Sun_Indoors/ - Go for energy efficient kitchenware (For example the latest Samsung ovens are spectacular) - Some of them can be DC powered. Cut out the inverter loss by going DC. - Solar panels are becoming relatively cheap (Thanks to the US subsidy, China and global economic downturn, Solar power pricing is at ~ 1usd/watt ). I wonder whether the ke government is taxing solar panel imports or better, subsidizing it. - http://www.sungoldsolar.com/Projects.html - http://www.judysolar.com/solar_panels__solar_modules - http://www.yinglisolar.com/us/products/ On Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 3:21 PM, Gichingiri Kuria <gmail@gichingiri.com> wrote:
I got the quote from these guys - http://www.ambaliansolar.com/
On 22 June 2012 15:40, Peter Karunyu <pkarunyu@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks guys for the info, much appreciated.
@Mutinda, I am not sure where @Kuria got his quote from, but one time I was walking along parliament road and had a chance to see the name of the company on the underside of the solar street lights there. Unfortunately, I forgot it, but it was something like *Powerlight*
I think Davis & Shirtliff also have a rather well developed solar power department based on comments their MD made on tv a while back.
On Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 3:32 PM, Nicholas Mutinda <mutindah@gmail.com> wrote:
Where did you get your quote from @kuria
Sent from my android mobile device
On Jun 22, 2012 8:16 AM, "Gichingiri Kuria" <gmail@gichingiri.com> wrote:
A solar set up totally independent of Kenya Power is a costly set up. I got a quote of about Ksh. 300,000 for my place where I spend about Ksh. 1,500 per month on elec bills. Power outage incovinences aside, the investment will take over 15 years to pay itself back.
The solar guys gave an option of building up the solar system in phases:
For starters, get batteries and inverter that charges from Kenya Power as a power backup. Add solar pannels to charge from solar as a power back up Increase pannels and batteries for longer duration power back up Migrate to full use of solar
On 22 June 2012 08:02, Philip Musyoki <pmusyoki@gmail.com> wrote:
Peter,
Those solar powered lights, in the most basic configuration, have 3 components:
A solar panel, A solar charge controller, A battery, An inverter.
The panal charges the battery during the day, and solar charge controller controls the charge rate to the battery to make sure it is not over-charged.
During the night, the inverter converts the battery charge to either AC/DC power that then power the lights.
The lighting units must have a casing somewhere,probably high up in the pole to deter thieves to house these systems.
About charging you laptop, I guess it is possible. Most inverters can handle loads of upwards of 750 W, which should be sufficient for your laptops.
Right now the most costly part of a solar system is the panels. Good, quality panels of around 150 W would costs around USD 1000. And fully charge a battery system to power your laptops or office all day and night, you will need to do a load calculation and see how large of a solar system you need,considering the amount of hours of charge and so on
Suffice is to say Kenya Power may end up being cheaper, albeit unreliable in the short term. But costs for solar systems are coming down, owing to Eastern manufactures, so maybe in a couple of years you will be able to bypass Kenya Power altogether.
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Gichingiri Kuria _________________________________________ www.website.co.ke / www.sokoletu.co.ke
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Regards, Peter Karunyu -------------------
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Gichingiri Kuria _________________________________________ www.website.co.ke / www.sokoletu.co.ke
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
For most of the smallish systems meant for lighting, there is no inverter. The inverter is usually in the larger systems meant for powering heavier-draw devices that require AC. GP On 6/22/12, Philip Musyoki <pmusyoki@gmail.com> wrote:
Peter,
Those solar powered lights, in the most basic configuration, have 3 components:
1. A solar panel, 2. A solar charge controller, 3. A battery, 4. An inverter.
The panal charges the battery during the day, and solar charge controller controls the charge rate to the battery to make sure it is not over-charged.
During the night, the inverter converts the battery charge to either AC/DC power that then power the lights.
The lighting units must have a casing somewhere,probably high up in the pole to deter thieves to house these systems.
About charging you laptop, I guess it is possible. Most inverters can handle loads of upwards of 750 W, which should be sufficient for your laptops.
Right now the most costly part of a solar system is the panels. Good, quality panels of around 150 W would costs around USD 1000. And fully charge a battery system to power your laptops or office all day and night, you will need to do a load calculation and see how large of a solar system you need,considering the amount of hours of charge and so on
Suffice is to say Kenya Power may end up being cheaper, albeit unreliable in the short term. But costs for solar systems are coming down, owing to Eastern manufactures, so maybe in a couple of years you will be able to bypass Kenya Power altogether.
indeed many assume the conversion is an absolute necessity, AC was invented for transmission....... Most solar lights are a panel, a battery, a charge controller & the load & last but not least, a photodiode (i think thats what they were called). On Tue, Jun 26, 2012 at 11:01 AM, Garr Patronas <garr.patronas@gmail.com>wrote:
For most of the smallish systems meant for lighting, there is no inverter. The inverter is usually in the larger systems meant for powering heavier-draw devices that require AC.
GP
On 6/22/12, Philip Musyoki <pmusyoki@gmail.com> wrote:
Peter,
Those solar powered lights, in the most basic configuration, have 3 components:
1. A solar panel, 2. A solar charge controller, 3. A battery, 4. An inverter.
The panal charges the battery during the day, and solar charge controller controls the charge rate to the battery to make sure it is not over-charged.
During the night, the inverter converts the battery charge to either AC/DC power that then power the lights.
The lighting units must have a casing somewhere,probably high up in the pole to deter thieves to house these systems.
About charging you laptop, I guess it is possible. Most inverters can handle loads of upwards of 750 W, which should be sufficient for your laptops.
Right now the most costly part of a solar system is the panels. Good, quality panels of around 150 W would costs around USD 1000. And fully charge a battery system to power your laptops or office all day and night, you will need to do a load calculation and see how large of a solar system you need,considering the amount of hours of charge and so on
Suffice is to say Kenya Power may end up being cheaper, albeit unreliable in the short term. But costs for solar systems are coming down, owing to Eastern manufactures, so maybe in a couple of years you will be able to bypass Kenya Power altogether.
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- *“The twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy”*
participants (7)
-
Collins Areba -
Garr Patronas -
Gichingiri Kuria -
Laban Mwangi -
Nicholas Mutinda -
Peter Karunyu -
Philip Musyoki