We plan to use this in NJ. In Winter not too much sunlight.Question: is there a way to have battery backup with a solar unit?
1342506
Hi Mike, Thanks for your inquiry.With this unit in particular, you cannot install a battery backup. Please note that as long as this unit is getting sunlight for atleast 8 hours per day, the light will light for atleast 8 hours per day. Here is a link back to the product page:Solar Goes Green SGG-F108-3 Super Bright Solar Flood Light - 108 LED
1342507
Hi Mike- Another question that is commonly asked. We are located in Indiana and install them locally for commercial billboards as well as residential sub-division signage. The sun charges the included battery during the day. That is what runs the flood light through the evening. I assume you'll have the same outcome as we do in Indiana. In the summer months, we have most nights that the flood light will work all night long. As winter approaches, or extremely cloudy days, you will see a decrease in light time. Typically, we haven't had complaints due to the fact that if it shuts off in the middle of the night, no one seems too worried about it. There will certainly be times in the winter (or extremely cloudy days) that the flood light may struggle to stay on past a few hours after dark. Thanks for your inquiry. A sacrifice that may be worth it if you have no access for power or looking to save electrical/light bulb costs. The battery will need replaced at some point after you see an extreme decrease in lighting time. Typically 3-5 years.
1342508
Hi Mike, unfortunately there is not a battery backup as the solar panel is matched in charging size to a single battery.
44152
If most of the time is during sun it may be ok. You need to have a good battery bank do you are only drawing from the top 10-20% of your batteries.
1696523
We bought ours as a backup for our solar and have not had to use it yet. Ours is under the eaves of the shed that houses our solar batteries. We suggest that you speak to the tech. dept at Generac.
495864
You can install an inverter to your battery and use the solar to charge it. You can not run an inverter directly from the solar panels.
511049
Yes, but no... Here's the deal: If you want to run on a large batter as a backup, you need to get a deep cycle marine battery. They are made for deep discharges. Car batteries are not. Once you have deep cycle 12 volt battery, you need to get a pure sine wave inverter. Connect battery to inverter, then you can plug the SimpleSafe into the inverter. IF you do this, you need to have a meter so you can judge the charge level of the battery. Don't go below 50%. That means don't go below 12 volts. Charge back to 12.7 volts. A simpler solution is to get a deep cycle battery and a solar panel and charge controller. Connect the solar to the charge controller and battery and inverter, then you'll have a solar backup.
1934568
Yes there is a battery backup!!! You might have to put the battery's in it.
1597122
For solar, the temperature doesn't matter much. What matters is whether the little solar panel on the back of the Log gets exposed to sunlight long enough to charge the battery. In your winter in Alaska, during the months when there is no sun, the panel will not generate any solar power to charge the battery, and thus it will not work. I would say it will need at least 4-6 hours of full sun to charge the battery.
513125
it doesn't matter; just leave it in the sun to charge it! IF your unit won't charge from the sun, then there are 2 possibilities:1. your circuit board is faulty and you need to replace the whole unit.2. you live in a place with latitude above 41 degrees or so, so solar power DOES NOT WORK in the winter because the sun is too weak.Seriously though, it uses a pair of AA Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries but THE UNIT IS SEALED so you can't really get to them.
1987317
Yes you can just make sure the solar collector panel will get sun to recharge or use an external collector plugged into the unit. Great for an interior shed or area with no sun if you have that external piece.
386079
Yes, that is how I operate the unit. Use a solar panel with a minimum power of 25 watts, attach it to a 12-volt car battery using a solar charge controller.
2259330
Naturally it will charge more with sun, although it will charge in cloudy weather too. You want to mount it facing south and I recommend making the mount hinged and adjust it accordingly for the seasons...more vertical in the winter when the sun in lower and more horizontal in the summer when the sun is higher, this will allow for optimal sun exposure. I also recommend using a deep cycle battery...I use two, along with at least a 10 amp charge controller...I use a 20 amp controller, I have had good luck with Instapark charge controllers and would recommend the brand over others that I have experience with, this goes for the solar panel as well. Naturally it will charge more with sun, although it will charge in cloudy weather too. You want to mount it facing south and I recommend making the mount hinged and adjust it accordingly for the seasons...more vertical in the winter when the sun in lower and more horizontal in the summer when the sun is higher, this will allow for optimal sun exposure. I also recommend using a deep cycle battery...I use two, along with at least a 10 amp charge controller...I use a 20 amp controller, I have had good luck with Instapark charge controllers and would recommend the brand over others that I have... » Read More Naturally it will charge more with sun, although it will charge in cloudy weather too. You want to mount it facing south and I recommend making the mount hinged and adjust it accordingly for the seasons...more vertical in the winter when the sun in lower and more horizontal in the summer when the sun is higher, this will allow for optimal sun exposure. I also recommend using a deep cycle battery...I use two, along with at least a 10 amp charge controller...I use a 20 amp controller, I have had good luck with Instapark charge controllers and would recommend the brand over others that I have experience with, this goes for the solar panel as well. « Show Less
1505815
Yes you can, however if you don't have a analog meter box from the power company it will only offset your immediate use during the day when the pv array is receiving sunlight. Your power company can install a meter box that will remember how much power your back-feeding to the grid, if your meter is digital, you should contact them first in that case. Analog meters will turn backwards if backfed.
2284815
You are more likely to over charge the battery with a 12 volt unit. Just ensure the whole solar array is in the sunlight for optimal charging.
1830353
No. It would be possible but not what they were designed for. They only work on the type of system where the meter can run backwards, not systems with battery backup. If the grid power turns off, so do they.
627995
Yes, you can plug the leads from the panel directly into the control board Power Inputs in place of the transformer. Cold temps will actually make a solar panel produce more power. I would monitor the battery voltage the first few weeks after installation to make sure that it is being charged. I have an FM500 opener with dual batteries and this solar panel has been working great for close to a year now with an average of two gate cycles a day.
362721
i use the solar to charge a battery then run 12 volt lights off batteryif your using during day try itu may have to add battery for more reserve
703999
I don't see why that would not work. Although it might take a while to recharge with that solar kit if you are using ac power heavily.