• pastermil@sh.itjust.works
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    7 days ago

    I appreciate that you’re really thorough, both with that explaination as well as the implementation in the first place.

    I guess I’ve never give it much thought. I mean, I’m familiar with electricity, but I’m paying dirt cheap for it.

    One more question: How do you do your lighting? Most light fixtures I know are using e27 bulbs, which are AC powered. I know the LED panels requires driver circuits between them and the main, theoretically they probably could live off your DC straight-up, but they’re generally a pain to work with.

    • Smokeydope@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      Thanks. Lighting has been an ongoing puzzle I’m figuring out. I originally went with rechargeable Luci light it was really nice warm bright lighting but expensive and failed within a season. Currently I’m using a cheap 5v plastic led light bulb that plugs into regular usba slot. Its enough to see what you are doing comfortably. But really the average person whos used to house bulbs including me wants the luxury of bright lighting. For now I’ve been firing up the AC inverter to run a nice lamp. However I have been considering making my own 12v light fixture with 12v e26 bulbs that plugs into either car cig plug or usbc-pd.

      In this picture is marked all the parts of an LED circuit that convert AC Into DC. It takes up about 40% of the board. Its much easier to power LEDs directly.

        • Smokeydope@lemmy.world
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          5 days ago

          Hey entropicdrift good question. Those kinds of lanterns are expensive and complicated electronics with a definitive life expectancy. The lantern you linked is over 20$ for a single unit. It uses a non replaceable rechargeable lithium battery built inside it that will only last about 500 charge cycles give or take before degrading, if you are lucky and one of the other cheap electrical components doesn’t fry first.

          In the long term I deem its more cost efficient to create a simple light fixture with easily and cheaply replaceable bulbs. A pack of 4 cost less than that lantern.

          Its also a simple matter to convert any lamp fixture into one that can interface with my power system. Cut off the AC plug and replace it with a male cigarette plug. The trick is knowing thst you have to buy the right kinds of bulbs.

          So when the 12v led bulbs do eventually burn out its a cheap single 5$ bulb that and a minute to replace it.

          Apotential benefit if I choose to power it with usbc-pd instead is variable dimmable lighting based on voltage level if the bulb is 12-24v.