Green Power

[Gray]

Seems a bit stupid considering that it's been hissing down all day but... My lockup has no power and the lecky board would be after a serious number of noughts to hook it up to the grid. It would be nice to have a little more light than than supplied by a spluttering candle.
Why not Photocells on the roof to charge a big capacity battery wired up to a 12 volt lighting system? It shouldn't be hard to wire in a battery tender type system for the bikes. Anybody got any experience of such technical greenness? The circuits seem simple enough but where to source the panels, control box etc. Seems to be an area where crap can be passed off as quality kit by bandwagon jumping tree hugger exploiters. I've eMailed the Centre for Alternative Technology and Sheep Based Head Insulation, but so far no reply.

[Tones]

Solar power isn't cheap, unless you buy those 'keep your car battery topped up' panels for a tenner. They don't work, very low amperage output.

Look at these links

Solar Power Answers

Navitron* Alternative Renewable DIY Green Energy Solutions UK

It's Not Easy Being Green - Welcome to New House Farm

[Gray]

Thanks for that Tones. Will read. I assumed that it might cost a few quid. But I'm thinking long term, I own the lockup and it's the nearest I'm ever going to get to a workshop. But no lights is such a pain and the misses is dead set against bikes in the house nowadays.
Any knowledge of the quality of the kit on offer from the links?

I think you would be off buying a couple of leisure batteries as used in caravans they are better suited for lighting,keep one in the lockup and the other on charge at home.......not very green but quicker and cheaper,and not reliant on the sun

[Gray]

First idea. Roddy, simple and relatively cheap. But. Every winter when I don't ride as often. I end up taking batteries out, driving them the two miles home to put on the optimate and then the weather turns nice for a bit. I'll soon have the Sporty back on the road with it's humungus battery and then a couple of leisure batteries to charge in rotation. I get so jealous of those buggers that just stuff a jack plug into a lead on the bike and then thumb the button in a care free manner whenever they please.
(Anyhow we get sunshine every single year, without fail, down here.)

[Limey_Dave]

Is the supply near your lockup overhead or under ground?Why not get a quote from electric company so you can compare it with the cost of dodgy solar panels?
You could use power tools,welder etc then.

[Tony Cross]

I'm lucky now & have a garage with all mod cons. Previously I always used discarded car batteries powering a bulb. Worked fairly well with a mirror to
reflect the light. So much for the good old days.

[Gypsy]

Bung some squatter types a tenner and they could wire you up to nearest lampost ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,prob is you got to have something that doesnt draw attention to garage and its contents,small turbine would be cool otherwise

[Tony Cross]

Originally Posted by Gypsy

Bung some squatter types a tenner and they could wire you up to nearest lampost ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,prob is you got to have something that doesnt draw attention to garage and its contents,small turbine would be cool otherwise

I had an electric meter moved when the house was rewired. Dug out a trench to expose the mains cable myself saving £700 on the total bill. It took 2 workmen 20 mins to connect the cable. United Utilities bill was £400. Get the squatters in if you can.