Low Cost Backup Lighting

[urglik]

Parts List:

(1) 50 amp/hour (min) Deep Cycle Battery (not dual purpose ) $75
(1) 2 Amp AC Float Charger $25
(1) 12 Volt DC Timer $45 (check load capacity in amps. 2 amp min)
(1) 12 Volt DC Fluorescent Light (18"/15 watt/1.5 amp max) $25

(1 or more) AC Digital Timer(s) for all your other lights and equipment $20/ea

Give or take a few bucks...

A deep cycle battery can be discharged down to at least 20% of it's amp/hour rating. An 50 amp/hour rated battery can provide about 40 amps for an hour or 1 amp for 40 hours.

A 1.5 amp fluorescent light would operate for about 26 hours off of this battery.

If your power outage continues, recharge the battery elsewhere.

The float charger is always on. Keeps battery charged

The light runs everytime your main lights run.

i suggest to have the backup light come on one minute before your main lights and go off one minute after your main lights. with this approach your lighting backup and recovery will be automatic and seamless. Digital timers have battery backups to retain your program settings

This ensures that the light cycle never increases in length during flowering in the event of an act of god. (or whatever you look to). which, in my opinion, substantially reduces yield.

Charger>Battery>Timer>Light

Peace of mind...

Peace out...

urg

urglik Reviewed by urglik on 03-02-2009. Low Cost Backup Lighting Parts List: (1) 50 amp/hour (min) Deep Cycle Battery (not dual purpose ) $75 (1) 2 Amp AC Float Charger $25 (1) 12 Volt DC Timer $45 (check load capacity in amps. 2 amp min) (1) 12 Volt DC Fluorescent Light (18"/15 watt/1.5 amp max) $25 (1 or more) AC Digital Timer(s) for all your other lights and equipment $20/ea Give or take a few bucks... Rating: 5

[Skarlet]

I would like to point out that a majority of those batteries, unless you start using fancy stuff like Optimas, are filled with liquid battery acid (battery acid = sulfuric acid). I have worked with these batteries for years and have seem them leak like there is no tomorrow when tilted or 'sloshed-about'. Although getting the acid on you will not melt your arm off like in the movies, it will itch like like fire and put holes in your clothes the next time you wash them. If it falls into your plants water-source, it will drastically change the PH.

So if you are going to be using some of those cheaper batteries, make sure that the caps are on tight and keep them level!