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    • 12volt or 120 lights

    Solar Expert Posts: 36 ✭
    in Solar Beginners Corner #1
    AT this time I am running 2 120 volt 90 watt flood lights for Christmas to light up my home outside they run approx, 5 hours a night.
    My question is
    I have an inverter that I could use to run the lights off my 12 volt system or I'm thinking of purchaseing two 12 volt 128 led flood lights that the spec says they draw around 1 amp each ( or 12 watts each ).
    Or I could just run the lights from grid power.
    WHich is the most cost effective way to go ??? The bulbs cost around $18.00 each.
    The reason I would go to 12 volt bulbs is because I am thinking of using them has flood lights after the Christmas season.
    ANY thoughts ????
    Thanks Rene
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
      #2
      Re: 12volt or 120 lights

      leds are better, but not everybody likes the results they obtain from them for various reasons. i'd suggest buying 1 led light and try it for yourself. if you don't like it in that application you may find a different application that you like it for so as not to waste your purchase or take the plunge/gamble on both of them. can you provide the link to the particular led in question so that some of our led experts here can comment?
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 36 ✭
      #3
      Re: 12volt or 120 lights

      Found the bulbs on ebay I'm not sure if link will work but I would like to get opinions
      on the LED's

      http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320241851158&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 741 ✭✭
      #4
      Re: 12volt or 120 lights

      May want to look over at http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/, they tend to use the 3-5 watt cree type LEDs over the T1 LEDs.
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 639 ✭✭✭✭
      #5
      Re: 12volt or 120 lights

      I can tell you that led you have linked to will compare to about a 25w incandescent lamp. To get as much light as a 90w flood you will need about 23w of compact fluorescent ($10) or 23w of LED ($100+)
      3kw solar PV, 4 LiFePO4 100a, xw 6048, Honda eu2000i, iota DLS-54-13, Tesla 3, Leaf, Volt, 4 ton horizontal geothermal, grid tied - Green Bay, WI
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 36 ✭
      #6
      Re: 12volt or 120 lights

      Thank you that is what I wanted to know.
      Will compact fluorescent work out doors ???
      I'm looking for 12 volt bulbs ( flood ) and maybe some that I don't have to mortgage the farm to purchase.
      Rene
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 36 ✭
      #7
      Re: 12volt or 120 lights

      Opps I maent to say will they work outdoors in COLD WEATHER
      Living in CT temps lately in teens......
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 71 ✭✭✭✭
      #8
      Re: 12volt or 120 lights

      I have a few CFL porch lights on my house that I use all year long. The only downside in the cold is that they take a few minutes to warm up and brighten. I'm assuming flood-type CFLs are the same.
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 639 ✭✭✭✭
      #9
      Re: 12volt or 120 lights

      Yes, just get the floods that are basically a spiral CF inside the glass envelope (keeps the heat in). I use those outside and they all start, even at -20F, they take 5-10 min to get up to full output, but if you’re leaving them on you should be fine. I wouldn't recommend them in motion light floods for that reason.

      I know I have seen 12v versions, but the cost was about 4-5 times that of the stock 120vac CF flood lamps.
      3kw solar PV, 4 LiFePO4 100a, xw 6048, Honda eu2000i, iota DLS-54-13, Tesla 3, Leaf, Volt, 4 ton horizontal geothermal, grid tied - Green Bay, WI
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 36 ✭
      #10
      Re: 12volt or 120 lights

      Brock, do you have a part # for those lights. I'm having a hard time finding them
      Thanks Rene
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    • Posts: 6,290 admin
      #11
      Re: 12volt or 120 lights

      i was hearing somebody once said for out doors you should use incandescent bulbs. are they also a form of CFL's or they are something different, which one is better recommended for outdoors?
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 639 ✭✭✭✭
      #12
      Re: 12volt or 120 lights

      Here is a link
      http://www.1000bulbs.com/Reflector-Floods-CFL/
      for picture purposes, I use mostly the R30 sized lamps, but I have a few of the R40 and Par38 units as well. The Par38's are better suited for bare outside exposure. I got my lights at Menards a local and less expensive version of Home Depot.
      3kw solar PV, 4 LiFePO4 100a, xw 6048, Honda eu2000i, iota DLS-54-13, Tesla 3, Leaf, Volt, 4 ton horizontal geothermal, grid tied - Green Bay, WI
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