StOeNd

Solar panels absorb light energy and produce DC power
HIDs use a ballast to convert AC into DC for the powerful light

I was wondering if anyone out there knows how to have a solar system feed not only directly into the HIDs but to skip the ballast step and feed the DC solar energy straight into the HID socket (which as stated requires DC power) as to skip the step of conversions.

grass_hopper

Not practical. solar panels deliver variable dc current based on light levels, which is scrubbed and buffered by an A/C inverter and a battery bank. If you hooked your HID directly up to the solar panels you'd still need a DC transformer to hit the right amperage levels and you wouldn't be able to deliver consistent current so your light would pulse in output - more lumens when it's brighter out, fewer when it's cloudy, and none at night

__________________
"Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk in front of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone."


Ancient History:
Blueberry/Mazar (started in hydro, moved outdoors)...Skunk#1/Blueberry in Soil
Botanicare 42 Site Cloner - a Review...Grass_Hopper's Butane Honey Oil (BHO) Thread

Website goodies:
Grow Guide...Cecil_B's CO2 Enrichment Guide...Grower's Dictionary...Getting Females From Standard Seeds

Underarock

with the loss from converting (light to electricity)......you would need an entire roof of solar to run one light

__________________


Posting Guidelines
Gardens Cure Acceptable Use Policy
A Collection of DIY Threads
Journal of the Year Awards
Nursery Questionaire

StOeNd

Hmmm good point about the light pulsing...
Im still going with the solar panels at some point I will just have to send it through the standard process I suppose. Losing through conversions and cloudy days isnt going to discourage me though. Any energy that flows from the panels is good clean green energy and I like that.

BaadPuTthyKat

Or even an entire hillside, for HPS start up currents... Why not use the solar power to reduce bills, by charging batteries that run fans & air pumps & the like?

__________________

neomorph

guy guys guys, this makes no sense. You are turning LIGHT into energy into LIGHT, rather than skipping the ballasts, whynot just skip the whole light and use the sun. I havent seen a decent skylight indoor setup. Just get a closet on the top floor or use an attic, cut a hole in the ceiling and put in a skylight. But anyway, it just seems kind of silly to me to try to use inefficient technology (15% at best for single cell panels) and convert those photons in to e- just to turn them back into photons. A mirror would work better.

Just my
Neomorph

StOeNd

Solar panels are scoffed for their 15% efficiency conversion but what does that matter anyways. I dont care if its 10% because as soon as you are done paying for them you just drop them down in an advantageous position and let the clean energy come through. Besides, you can get panels these days with 20 year warranties. Seriously, how can you go wrong?

Oh and about the cutting holes in the ceiling: I dont think my landlord would be quite so friendly with me after I defaced his house.

Igrow2

I would have to agree with neomorph, without any analysis I would have to guess that there is a reason there are not a lot of homes using solar energy and that is cost vs. savings.

I see your location is Canada I can't see where that would be an idea place to collect solar.

__________________
-!g2


Grow Guide -questions answered here

The Not Just Another Bud Shot Photo Thread

My Art Photo Album

My 1st Grow White Widow, BigBud, BubbleGum

GanjaGuru

I talked about this very subject with a friend who works in construction and who just took a course in solar enery applications.
He said that figuring in the cost of solar panels, installation, wiring, electronics, a large closet full of storage batteries, and depreciation/replacement of components, using solar energy into electricity costs $100.00/watt.
So using solar power to run grow lights is basically a no-go.

Most people who have solar power for their house use 12-v appliences, to avoid the high costs of converting 12-v storage battery power into 110-v AC.
That's ok for computers and coffee makers, but when's the last time you saw a 12-v microwave, house lights, large screen TV or home entertainment center that runs on 12-volts (battery powered).
Walk through your house and note everything that runs on elctricity and ask yourself if you've ever seen 12 volt versions. Replacing everything in your house that runs on AC adds to the cost of solar energy.

Before enganging in flights of fancy re: converting to solar, do some research.

snoopdog68

by the time you buy all the solar panels you have spent a fortune.

I see some that are 170 watt for $785

I am guessing but I think they will pay for themselves in 10-20 years.