How to hook up solar panels to my green house

alysciaingram

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So my greenhouses are currently on my small patio. I was going to safely proof all my electrical cords, but my outside electrical socket isn't strong enough to support all the lighting and heating elements. I know a few members use solar panels, and it would be a huge favor if someone could suggest some solar panels that would be useful for a 4ft x 4ft greenhouse, using 2 basking lights, 2 CHE's, one humidifier, and a thermostat. I would appreciate it SO much.
 

wellington

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I tried searching for solar panels to use for heating my 8x12 shed. There were none. The only ones I found were portable ones, but they only work when the sun is shining on them. They do not store energy for night time use and they weren't cheap.
If you know anyone that can do electrical work, have them put in a bigger amp breaker for that outlet.
 

Maro2Bear

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Greetings, I have a few 30W solar panels that I use to charge 40 amp hour batteries. 4 solar panels charge the batteries that are all hooked together and charge all day long ( in sunshine of course ). I then have a DC to AC converter attached to my batteries. From this i power a few things around the house, charge our cell phones, run a few lights, and a house fan that I have hooked up to a timer. The trick is to get large amp hour batteries, and large solar panels to charge them. If you live in a sunny location, where u have full sun most days, it works well. I started off linking a few Goal Zero 30 W panels together, and used my own sealed batteries that are made for solar systems ( deep cycle, marine type ).

It would take a lot of batteries to store enough power to run basking lights, CHEs, timers, humidifiers. Especially the CHEs, they would consume a lot!
 
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alysciaingram

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Thank you. I'll try to research that info tonight. I can build and do the enclosure part, but electrical work is not my forte by any means.
 

alysciaingram

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I do have a handy man that does electrical work. I might go to the hydroponics store near my house and see if they have any suggestions. What about generators? I could put it in a weather proof outdoor box, but I'm not sure how efficient that would be either, now how costly.

Also if anyone else has some ideas, please feel free to chime in. I'm all up to suggestions!
Thanks guys.
 

Yvonne G

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You need a converter. I don't know if you can get all that stuff by yourself.

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jaizei

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What type of distance are you dealing with? Unless you're dealing with extremely long runs, the cheapest option would probably be to get an electrician to install new dedicated circuits.
 

alysciaingram

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My mother in law refuses to replace the damaged circuit breaker (she's our landlord), so I don't trust running my two greenhouses up to the outlet. I can ask my electrician how much it would cost for a new breaker, but I was figuring that solar panels would be a better and cheaper way? Idk. I'm annoyed. I also have a screen room, making it even more difficult to plug up the electric.
 

Yvonne G

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I don't know if you understand how they work or not, but you don't get your electricity from the panels. The converter takes the energy the panels produce and converts it to electricity that you tap into. You have to have someone hook you up, you can't do it yourself.

It is against the law for a land lord to not provide the safety features needed for every day life. Report her.

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alysciaingram

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Yeah I would have someone hook it up. I couldn't do it myself.
My mother in law won't fix it because it's not "broken" just old. It works, but not well...
 
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