Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

System · August 2007

Hi guys,

I have a Solar Boost 2512iX which has an option for installing loads up to 25 amps. I want to be able to hook my malibu light up to it. I currently have 4 10watt lights. Right now I have them attached to my 600 watt inverter which I have to turn on manually. If I attach them to the load connection on my controller the light can come on automatically w/o having to use an inverter.

I am also planing to replace the 10 watt bulbs with 3 watt LED's in the future. Can someone please tell me if this is posible and safe to do?

My system consist of 50 watt GE panel, 200 AH AGM battery, 600 watt pure sine wave inverter, and a Solar Boost 2512iX.

mike95490 · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

You will need current limit resistors for the LED's and possibly heat sinks for them.
You may be able to find, prefab'd, some automotive tail light assemblies, in various colors, that have resistors and everything all set to snap in. (ebay stores has several LED bulb vendors)
ore here http://www.superbrightleds.com/malibu.htm

crewzer · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

Gau17,

Your 2512iX charge controller does include a 25 A load connection. However, it’s my interpretation that in stock form, this feature functions only as a low voltage disconnect (LVD). In order for it to “automatically” turn loads on and off (i.e., a “dusk-to-dawn” controller), the 2512ix requires additional programming from the optional IBNPro Remote. Check the fine print (note #2) on this data sheet.

A simple and cheaper solution might be to use a Morningstar Sunlight charge controller like this one:

http://www.morningstarcorp.com/products/SunLight/index.shtml
http://store.solar-electric.com/sunsolligcon.html

I converted my Malibu lights to LED bulbs years ago. Using a single 40 W module, a Sunlight controller, and a single Group 27 flooded-cell battery (12 V x 105 Ah), I power the equivalent of twenty-four 12 V LED lamp clusters to illuminate my driveway, front walk, rear deck, and shed door. The controller and battery are both outdoors, and the controller’s built-in temperature sensor automatically compensates the charge voltage for ambient temperature conditions. The system included eleven Malibu lamp fixtures like these, and seven more like these.

LED conversion lamp assemblies for the "tier" lamps are available here. I wanted a brighter and more efficient lamp cluster, so I both their bare lamp boards and built my own LED lamp assemblies using five LEDs and a smaller resistor. I used small PCB's from Radio shack to assmeblie custom LED lamp assesmblies for the other fixtures.

See "MLED PCB" here: http://www.superbrightleds.com/hobby.htm

There are more details to all of this, but you get the picture. Let me know if you need more information.

Regards,
Jim / crewzer

12vman · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

Here's a site with a whole array of wedge type socket bulbs that will fit in your yard lights with no need of any resistors..

http://spectrumled.com/194.htm

the Xantrex C-12 has a dusk/dawn feature built into it. Works well..
~Don

System2 · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

Thanks for all the comments guys.

CREWZER - I do have the remote adapter to configure the dusk/dawn operations. So will it work?

I was planing to used these bulbs:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Malibu-Toro-Replacement-Landscape-LED-Light-Bulb-NEW_W0QQitemZ180146084641QQihZ008QQcategoryZ42155QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Has anyone used these before???

mike95490 · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

gau17 wrote: »

Thanks for all the comments guys.
I was planing to used these bulbs:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Malibu-Toro-Replacement-Landscape-LED-Light-Bulb-NEW_W0QQitemZ180146084641QQihZ008QQcategoryZ42155QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Has anyone used these before???

They look OK to me, but I suspect you will be the one that will tell us how well they work.

crewzer · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

gau17,

I urge caution w/r/t the lamps you've proposed. It appears to me that they're designed to work on 12 VAC, so they may behave oddly when powered from 12 VDC. I'd suggest contacting Dr. LED for more information and/or initially buying just a couple to try out.

Good Luck!
Jim / crewzer

mike95490 · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

crewzer wrote: »

gau17,
12 VAC, so they may behave oddly when powered from 12 VDC.

yikes, I didn't catch that. Good Job

System2 · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

Thanks for the Heads up Crewser. I ended ordering the one's you suggested. Hopefully they will work ok with my charge controller.

ONE more question? Is there a product/timer that can turn my inverter on and off automatically so I do not loose power when my equipment plug on it are off?

System2 · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

crewzer

i got those lights you suggested. What is the maximum wire length if im using the standard 14 gage wire for malibu lights? Also is it safe to get it wet since its around my plants?

crewzer · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

Gau17.

The maximum wire length? Assuming a 12 V system, 40 C ambient temperature on/under the ground, 3% max voltage drop and clustering 11 lamps @ 20 mA each at the end of the 14 AWG wire, niel's voltage drop calculator indicates that you could run up to 300 feet of two-conductor wire (600 feet total). In other words, wire length is probably not an issue.

Malibu's low voltage cable is designed to be laid on/under the ground. Mine system's #10 AWG wire get wet all of the time with no apparent ill efects. However, if you have to splice the wire to increase the overall length, then do so by soldering the connections and then sealing them with heat-shrink tubing and electrical tape to avoid copper wire corrosion.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer

System2 · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

Thanks again. Hopefully I can get them to work tonight.

crewzer · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

OK. Remember, though, that unlike "standard" Malibu light configurations, which are 12 V AC, the output from your controller to the lamps is 12 V DC, and the LED's are polarized. So, they'll only work "one way". You may need to check the light fixtures' internal contacts for polarity with a DVM before inserting the lamp module the "right" way.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer

System2 · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

I am having a problem getting the controller to turn the lights on. The load light on the controller comes on but no juice. I hardwired the light straight to the battery and they work fine. All of them turn on. I have check the troubleshooting on my controller's manual and made sure everything was on correctly.

I'm waiting for a reply with the manufacture to see if there is anything that I missed.

On the controller: my #3 dip switch is on, I reset the controller to have factory settings, the on/off configs are 11.6 off and 12.6 on (factory settings). The light are connected to the load - + terminals. I tried to reverse them just to see if anything will happen and nothing.

Thanks for your patience CRUWZER. The light were nice though. I got the white ones.

crewzer · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

I'm not particularly familiar with the 2512, so I'm afraid I can't offer specific suggestions for your situation. I'll be interested in hearing about the solution that Blue Sky provides.

Good luck!
Jim / crewzer

mike95490 · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

gau17 wrote: »

I am having a problem getting the controller to turn the lights on. The load light on the controller comes on but no juice.

Is there a RELAY that controls the load, or is it an electronic switch (FET) ? If a relay is used, the load of the LED's may not be enough to "break" the oxide or dirt layer on the contacts. Try a couple of regular incandescent bulbs to see if it works with that. You do have the polarity of the LEDS right, when the wire is connected to the controller, I know you had it right connecting directly to the battery.

System2 · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

I tried switching the polarity w/o any luck. I will try it with one regular bulb connected.

System2 · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

I got them to work. Rick from Blue Sky pointed out that the + terminal get put on the Controller and the - to the battery. The other slot was for a second batter. The lights came on as advertized. This solar stuff is pretty addicting.

Thanks for everyone's help! The lights look great. I will try to post pictures.

crewzer · August 2007

Re: Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

Great news! 8)

Enjoy,
Jim/ crewzer

Installing Malibu lights to my Chrg controller

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