Solar Lighting in 40 Foot Shipping Container

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Just wondering if it would be possible to rig up an independent solar-based lighting system for a 40 Foot (12.192 Metre) shipping container? The shipping container is located in a paddock without mains power. By the time I reach the closed end of the container the amount of available light is pretty dim.

I have no experience with solar other than using a panel to trickle charge a N70 12 volt battery. Can anyone recommend some Do-It-Yourself components for an effective lighting system? Thank you in advance.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Vern]

Probably the easiest would be grab a 40w panel, a charge controller, battery, and some of those led strip lights from say Kings, connect it all up, and just hook the light up to the battery when you need it.

[trout1105]

I did this a few months ago to a 20' container used to store farm chemicals in the middle of a paddock so that a 12v transfer pump could be used to pump chemical into the boom spray and I added a single LED light as well.

I used a spare fold out 120w pannel mounted on the roof which went to a MPPT controller into a 100AH deep cell battery, Works perfectly

BTW the pannel didn't budge despite getting hit with a cyclone

[drivesafe]

Hi Lionel, this could be achieved pretty cheaply, depending on use times.

how often do you go to the container and when in the container, how long would you need lighting for.

EG, lights on for 10 minutes a day or 5 hours a day?

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Thanks Trout and Vern for letting me know it can be done. Thank you to Drivesafe for suggesting that it can be done cheaply too. To answer your question about usage...

Ideally there would be three circuits:

The first circuit would be the priority where it would be a string of equally spaced strip lights down the length of the container.

Most common usage would be for 4 times a day for about 15 minutes each period of time.

The two following circuits would be "nice" to have. A circuit concentrated at the front of the container where I have it set up as a work area. The area could have a couple of work lights so I would be able to see during the evening and a bit into the night. This usage would be infrequent - however, handy to have.

Similar rarity of usage would be some work lights on a side of the container which are located above a couple of outdoor workbenches. Again - just handy to have some lights.

I will take a couple of photographs and post them up shortly.

Kind regards
Lionel

[NavyDiver]

Thing with most solar is the need to conform to grid or battery charging. "output voltage/current behavior of the solar cell must align with the battery-charging profile"

If you only need access during day light/sunlight I suspect wiring a panel to a nice sized LED light and one $30 second hand solar panel might work. Loads of larger second hand panels about. See gumtree or similar. With no battery the cost would be very low.

A simple circuit breaker to one wire from the solar panel could /may make it last a long long time.

Caravan lights or almost any of the 12 v LED strips should be well covered by one larger solar panel.

Noting I a Sargent Scholz - Seek better advice

[rrturboD]

I've used a couple of these solar movement sensor lights in containers. One is ALDI, and other Kogan, both put out plenty of light and once lead threaded through container breather biz, set and forget.
kogan.com

[Xtreme]

I don't think you'll have any trouble lighting your 40' shipping container.

I am currently running 13 x12V LED's and 4 USB charging points at home off an 80W solar panel, MPPT controller and 12v 100Ah battery (which is about 15years old). Most are 3x3W downlights, 2 are 30W floods and 1 is a 500mm strip. Obviously not all on at the same time but often the 8 downlights in the lounge are on continuously for 4 or 5 hours without a problem.

In 5 years I've only had to boost the old battery with a 240v battery charger once after more than a week of lousey weather.

[Corgie Carrier]

I have been running my 40x20ft shed on solar power for a few years now and it can be done really cheap.

After my disco blew a head gasket I used the dual battery setup to run my shed. It consists of an 80w panel into a pwm controller and a 100ah battery. The controller has two usb slots that I use to charge portable lights and my phone, also the load connectors go to a 8 way fuse box.

Connected to the fuse box is:
My 40lt fridge that runs 24/7 for cold water and if having a big day in the shed I will take food out there and cook a BBQ.
A car stereo with two 6x9 speakers (Gotta have tunes)
A couple of cigarette lighter sockets for accessories and lights, mostly 18-27w work lights.
and if I need to charge my drill batteries I have a 300w inverter

The lights you are going to use outside are they secure or might they get stolen if left out?
To counter getting stolen I have bought a couple of clamps (just the squeeze type but steel) and drilled a hole in the handle to mount the work light, then attached a lead to cig plug. Clamp it where ever you need it and the put it away easily. I also take these when camping.

Because you are only using lights, this would be a cheap setup for you.
DISCLAIMER: I have no association with this seller other than a very happy customer. I have spent thousands on lights, panels and other gear from him.

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Lights don't draw much power so a large battery isn't needed, depending on how much of your work is done at night. The more night work the bigger the battery that will be required.

I also use a 10w solar panel to keep my ride on mower battery charged and another to charge the battery on my 55lt weed spray setup.

[350RRC]

I don't think you'll have any trouble lighting your 40' shipping container.

I am currently running 13 x12V LED's and 4 USB charging points at home off an 80W solar panel, MPPT controller and 12v 100Ah battery (which is about 15years old). Most are 3x3W downlights, 2 are 30W floods and 1 is a 500mm strip. Obviously not all on at the same time but often the 8 downlights in the lounge are on continuously for 4 or 5 hours without a problem.

In 5 years I've only had to boost the old battery with a 240v battery charger once after more than a week of lousey weather.

So I'm going to have no problem running the lights in my shed with 4 x 200 watt panels and an mppt controller? Don't have a battery yet.

I wonder if I could run a TV through an inverter.

DL