New Grower I need some help from any electrician type folks

[BII]

Power supply [per battery] = 6 volt x 230 amp-hours = 1380 watt-hours [.1380 kilowatt-hours/kWH - how consumption is measured/charged, at least in the US].
Power consumption = 514.6 watts [.515 kW]
Divide 1,380 watt-hours/514.6 watts = 2.68 hours/battery
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Above is what I would I have given as an answer in middle or high school science class. With real-world rechargeable batteries (can't fully drain them) and inherent inefficiencies, I'd guess you have 1.5 hours at most (per battery). Basically, it's the same as running an electrical space heater constantly on its low (500 watt) setting. And I did not include the inefficiency, power loss, from converting this 6 volts DC to the 120/240 volts AC that the LED needs.

I know nothing about solar power systems. But don't they generally use a large number of such batteries, such as what's used in electric cars, with the batteries/electrical system costing more than the solar cells (which is why solar power has high costs).

You probably need what is a fairly standard small home or trailer setup. Considering you have to keep these all charged, the sun may not be out, shorter days in winter, etc., to constantly support non-daylight use, I'd guess I'd want at least the equivalent of 15-20 of the batteries you cited, minimum (and I'd expect to have them run down often).

Definitely, get other advice. But I wouldn't expect much run time from a gold cart (not even a car) battery.

 

[R3dt34rz]

The power draw on that light is substantial . So multiply the draw x hrs of use. That will give you an idea of how much power you'll need stored for daily use. If you're off the grid , I'd skip the solar use and just use the natural sun.

 

[derek420colorado]

Thanks both of you for your responses! @BII thanks that is the formula I was looking for you are the bomb and a big ole rep slap to both of you, I will just have to get that many batteries then because I am bound and determined to use both LED and the natural sun. Also the place I am going to be gets an average of 360 days of sunshine a year so if there is a place where I can pull off this solar thing this is it. Thank you both for your help

 

[BII]

Do you have any on-site alternatives to solar? Any water sources (for hydroelectricity, which could include using solar-driven pumps to fill reservoirs) or constant wind? Are you in the woods, such could you burn wood to run a steam-driven generator? Or some parts of Colorado have lots of coal, oil and gas, and you could use these to run generators, if cheap enough.

But don't you need more power than just the light? During the day, greenhouses can get very hot, so one or more fans seem needed. At night, running the lights when it's warm, you'll also need a fan to exhaust built-up heat.

 

[derek420colorado]

Oh yeah @BII we are not JUST using solar lol, we are going to be using virtually all of what you mentioned minus hydroelectric power. We are going to be using soloar,wind,natuarl gas, and a generator for backup. I am trying to make it to where my greenhouse is solely powered by solar if I can manage it. I am looking at the actual solar companies that make the battery banks and I am pretty sure I can get one that I can run for 20 hours and it is only going to cost me 1200 for the battery, plus here we get a federal tax credit back for installing solar power. Here are the specs for the 4 battery solar battery bank from WholesaleSolar.com

12VDC 860Ah 10.3 kWh

So if my math is correct based on the formula you provided this should allow me to run approx. 1500 watts for 20 hours, so that should give me plenty of power to run my other stuff and still be under the 80% usage. Also the heating and cooling I am not so worried about, honestly since I am going to be growing basically starting at the end of fall/beginning of winter in the high mountains of Colorado my main concern is going to be keeping my babies warm at night(where I am going to be it can get down to -30F below 0) this is another reason why I want to run the lights all night long is to help keep them warm. I need to keep it warm enough that my DWC water doesn't freeze lol. But I am pretty sure I have got it all nailed down, everything except the power that is and I am working on that as we speak!

 

[BII]

Oh yeah @BII
12VDC 860Ah 10.3 kWh

So if my math is correct based on the formula you provided this should allow me to run approx. 1500 watts for 20 hours, so that should give me plenty of power to run my other stuff and still be under the 80% usage...!

By my math, 10.3 kWh/1.5k kW [1500 watts] = 6.87 hours. One (or both) of us is wrong.

 

[HotBunz]

There is a number of things you need to address here. Number 1 being that battery or even a number of them are not going to get the job done ....period! What you need is a bank of deep cycle 12v batteries. You need a battery that is made to handle repeated incomplete charge and discharge cycles. Purpose built solar storage batteries run in the $1,000 plus range. I assume you are planning on investing a very large sum of money into your project. What are you looking at for your inverter? What about your charge controller?

I am not going to do the math but think about it like this in real life...... the battery in my old Jaguar X-Type was a huge 700amp battery. The headlights are 55watts each for a total of 110watts. Leaving the lights on will kill that massive battery in a little over 3 hours! To think that little 6v battery running through an inverter would power a 500 real watt LED for any longer than a fraction of an hour would require alien technology that has yet to be handed to the human race.

Not trying to be a smart ass just keeping it real.

Something else to think about. Colorado is quickly changing many of it's "off grid" living laws. In some counties it is now illegal to live "off grid". In some areas it is illegal to camp on your own property. Make sure you know the laws and what you are getting into.

 

[HotBunz]

Also the place I am going to be gets an average of 360 days of sunshine a year so if there is a place where I can pull off this solar thing this is it.

Where did you get this data? I can assure you this is far from the truth.

 

[BII]

What does "off grid" mean? Does it literally mean living off the grid (map), nowhere, with no road access? Or do you simply mean not connected to the local electrical system?

 

[derek420colorado]

Where did you get this data? I can assure you this is far from the truth.

Farmers almanac also here is a link I go by the total days of sun(I know that it doesn't mean completely clear) in the san luis valley Colorado I just noticed that I put 360 it is 260 my mistake lol I lived there for about 8 months and can tell you that there are lots of sunny days even when it is cold, reason being is because it sits at about 7200 ft elevation, which is almost a half mile higher than Denver(the Mile High city) so when low pressure systems move through the area they literally just go right around and virtually below the San Luis Valley.

Also yes we have checked on all of the off the grid living laws where we are and we are good. The do have some camping on your own property laws in the county but basically it says as long as you are building a habitable structure you can camp as long as you want, either way we are in the clear.

Back to my original question lol @HotBunz yes I have relegated myself to the fact that I am going to have to get a battery bank most likely from a solar company, my step dad is a lifelong general contractor so he is the one that is actually handling all of the invertors and charge controllers and those types of things.

What it boils down to is that I am going to try my best to run what I need to off of Solar alone, yes I know it is expensive at first but it saves on what would ultimately be a continuing cost in fuel if I was to run it off a generator. If I can't feasibly pull it off at first then I am probably going to have to rely on our generator for the most part, and may be for all time, but I think that I can get it done eventually any way.