how do rechargeable batteries charge?
i am curious about how the solar panel in garden lights charge the batteries then use the batteries to light up the light
I need an outdoor security camera system, capable of shooting in total darkness, that can…?
…record from 50 ft. away.
I need to be able to record a neighbor trespassing and scattering rubbish on my property, but I live over 1/4 mile from their house. AC power is available at a light pole I have but batteries would work also. Any recommendations would be helpful. Thanks.
Question about lighting around a home?
Ok….I’ve had ALOT of weird stuff going on around my house. First a young man has been taking pictures of the back of my house & yelling at my dogs. Then today some skinhead looking creeps drove down the alley trying to coax my German Shepherd. I have flood lights gallore around my home, but before I got my dogs I was robbed 3 times. I always heard it’s good to keep a light on, but many people told me it just makes it easier for the crook to view your home & stuff around it. I currently have dusk/dawn floods in the back, I’m thinking of swapping it out for motion sensors?
Would motion sensor lights be more apt to scare someone off? Or would it really not make much of a difference you think? I just installed new lights not too long ago (dusk/dawn type) but right after putting them in I had alot of stuff taken out of backyard. I know nothing is fool proof but I was wondering if one is better then the other. Thanks!
lol ray…..no my dogs don’t bark unless there’s something to bark at. The first guy I think is a stalker (he has come into my yard with my collie b4 I got the GSD, he yelled at the GSD because he wouldn’t let him in the yard) but I think the boy has mental issues as well. The skinhead creeps were driving very slowly past my house, and at one point one leaned out the window trying to coax my GSD to the fence.
The stuff I’ve had stolen has been outside (bikes, solar lights, etc) or stuff on my vehicles (wires, batteries, etc) even tho I keep everything locked up tight. I have those cheap driveway alarms that I use to let me know if anyone gets near or inside my home….it’s the outside thats the problem.
I want to power my new home I am building on solar power alone what will the cost be roughly?
I also want to stay off the electric grid . It would cost an additional ten thousand dollars to be hooked into it and I want to be independant from utilities. Would solar panels and batteries power lights and T.V , computer , washer dryer ect.
Portable solar chargers for laptop and LED lighting..Anyone have experience?
Can you just get the panel and then recharge multiple batteries?
I am needing a system that can provide enough power to juice my laptop for 2 hours of working life per day as well as a set of LED lights that I can use to provide lighting for a tent for 4 or 5 hours.
I would also like a backup battery pack that i can use on days where it is not sunny.
Does anyone have any experience with this technology?
I am looking at http://www.siliconsolar.com/portable-solar-power-systems.html
or here http://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-panels.html
or here http://www.siliconsolar.com/portable-solar-power-system-p-10.html
Thanks
I want to power my new home I am building on solar power alone what will the cost be roughly?
I also want to stay off the electric grid . It would cost an additional ten thousand dollars to be hooked into it and I want to be independant from utilities. Would solar panels and batteries power lights and T.V , computer , washer dryer ect.
Is it practical to use capacitors as backup power supply?
I saw some 4F 5 volt capacitors at my local electronics store (as audio components) pretty cheap (ish). I’m wondering how feasible to use them as backup power in place of heavy batteries? Sure it’ll be a bit more expensive, larger in size, but they should be lighter for the same power stored?
Its mostly of illumination uses, maybe a fan or to power a laptop. I plan on using LEDs and EL lighting. LEDs uses low voltage DC, perfect for the low voltage capacitors. EL require higher voltage, but will run on DC also. Fans I have are mostly 12V type. Some 5V and some 24V also. I haven’t figured out the laptop part yet.
The main reasons I think capacitors are better than batteries:
Lighter,
100k’s or 1m’s of charge/discharge cycles vs a couple years for lead-acid, most batteries will die quick from extremely deep discharges.
no acid. Caps are sealed electrolytic.
no maintenance, they are sealed. In storage they are good for 10-20 years in ideal conditions.
no charging limits- unlike batteries I can charge then as fast or slow as I want.
no discharge limits- batteries have internal resistance, they can get hot from heavy discharge enough to kill themselves. its also a bad thing too, sorta makes charged capacitors a serious handling hazard.
any opinions/reasons why it wouldn’t work?
-thanks
Sarah Peyton Step Garden led fountain help?
For mother’s day I bought a little Sarah Peyton Step Garden LED fountain. Well, I decided to give it to her early. It would appear that we need some trouble shooting. After adding the batteries, water and rocks all we get is the light. No trickle trickle of soothing water! Nothing in the instructions explains this or troubleshoots this.
What mechanisms cause batteries to fail?
I have a large 12v lead acid battery that I charged with the wrong charger and perhaps charged it with too low a voltage. Now I’ve charged it with the right charger, it only shows 6v and it can’t even light a bulb. What causes batteries to fail?
Answer number 1 is amazing!
A problem with solar walkway lights.?
I have installed new ni cad batteries, they have been in the sun for two days and still know light! Any ideas. Do they just wear out? They were in this house when I a bought it, they are in nice shape and were in a box.