Rich585
New Member
Hello all.
Reading through the posts gave me an idea to recycle some stuff I already have to get me some power to a garden shed 150 ft away from house.
My primary intent is to have a light in shed to see when dark and to have a small 3A battery charger on the riding lawn mower battery.
Last year we had a drought and I did not start the lawn tractor for 6 weeks and it killed the battery after only a couple of years. (Past 12 month warranty) .
So I am thinking of going a new LiFePO4 for my trolling motor, so the basic idea is:
Take the old 5 year old size 24M AGM trolling battery (65 aH when new still works, but lost some capacity).
Purchase a 10A solar charge controller and 50W 12 V solar panel connected to the AGM battery.
Buy a 10 ft long solar cables 12 AWG from solar panel to charge controller inside shed. (Canadian $100-200)?
Then for garden shed, buy a $20 - 12 V light meant for RV in the shed (has built in switch).
Use 12 or 14 AWG automotive copper gauge wire (overkill for 3-5 A load, but I have 50 ft spool) to wire from solar charge controller to batteries and light.
Use automotive 10 A fuses in splice in fuse holders at each battery end and one in the line from solar panel. I guess this is safer to leave unattended than just clamping on a set of jumper cables between the two batteries.
For the lawn tractor, I have a Canadian Tire Motomaster 200w modified sine wave inverted I could hook up to AGM battery to power a Noco Genius 3500 (3.5A charger) or just connect the lawn tractor battery to the AGM battery. I have concerns of the mismatch of the two batteries (marine AGM (big) and lawn tractor battery (small starting).
I live 30 minutes south of Ottawa, On Canada, so Vitron panel calculator estates average 0.3 KW production per day April to Oct.
My questions are:
1) Is will the first option work of using the cheap 200w inverter to power the charger. The charger will almost be on float 90 % of the time keeping the lawn tractor battery from discharging. This is only from spring to fall. In winter I bring the battery into the garage and trickle charge it.
2) Should I use the inverter and charger (already have, sitting around not being used) or connect the batteries in parallel ?
3) Would 50 Watt solar panel be enough? Assume the AGM battery is charged and solar is only maintaining a float on it. The led light 3 or 6 W might get used for 1-2 hours 3-4 times a week. There is no other electrical need in shed (used for garden equipment storage, not a work shop (garage).)
Any suggestions ? Anything I am doing wrong?
Thanks
Richard
Reading through the posts gave me an idea to recycle some stuff I already have to get me some power to a garden shed 150 ft away from house.
My primary intent is to have a light in shed to see when dark and to have a small 3A battery charger on the riding lawn mower battery.
Last year we had a drought and I did not start the lawn tractor for 6 weeks and it killed the battery after only a couple of years. (Past 12 month warranty) .
So I am thinking of going a new LiFePO4 for my trolling motor, so the basic idea is:
Take the old 5 year old size 24M AGM trolling battery (65 aH when new still works, but lost some capacity).
Purchase a 10A solar charge controller and 50W 12 V solar panel connected to the AGM battery.
Buy a 10 ft long solar cables 12 AWG from solar panel to charge controller inside shed. (Canadian $100-200)?
Then for garden shed, buy a $20 - 12 V light meant for RV in the shed (has built in switch).
Use 12 or 14 AWG automotive copper gauge wire (overkill for 3-5 A load, but I have 50 ft spool) to wire from solar charge controller to batteries and light.
Use automotive 10 A fuses in splice in fuse holders at each battery end and one in the line from solar panel. I guess this is safer to leave unattended than just clamping on a set of jumper cables between the two batteries.
For the lawn tractor, I have a Canadian Tire Motomaster 200w modified sine wave inverted I could hook up to AGM battery to power a Noco Genius 3500 (3.5A charger) or just connect the lawn tractor battery to the AGM battery. I have concerns of the mismatch of the two batteries (marine AGM (big) and lawn tractor battery (small starting).
I live 30 minutes south of Ottawa, On Canada, so Vitron panel calculator estates average 0.3 KW production per day April to Oct.
My questions are:
1) Is will the first option work of using the cheap 200w inverter to power the charger. The charger will almost be on float 90 % of the time keeping the lawn tractor battery from discharging. This is only from spring to fall. In winter I bring the battery into the garage and trickle charge it.
2) Should I use the inverter and charger (already have, sitting around not being used) or connect the batteries in parallel ?
3) Would 50 Watt solar panel be enough? Assume the AGM battery is charged and solar is only maintaining a float on it. The led light 3 or 6 W might get used for 1-2 hours 3-4 times a week. There is no other electrical need in shed (used for garden equipment storage, not a work shop (garage).)
Any suggestions ? Anything I am doing wrong?
Thanks
Richard