Lighting up a sign (project)

K

Kevin Unger

Freshman
Sep 20, 2011
35
0
0
Metro Detroit
Greetings all,


Few know, but my family owns a small donut shop locally. We lease the building, and proper signage is not included. We bought a roadside mobile sign and it does seem to help. The only issue is to make it light up, it needs power. There's no outlet by the road, so they run 150ft of ugly orange cable every morning from 4-7am. I don't like it. It limits where we can put the sign, as the cable is a trip hazard.

I had an Idea: Use LED's in the sign, put a car battery in the sign and a small solar panel on top, and have a photo sensor connected to a relay to turn everything off during the day. I just don't know the best way to go about doing this, and would like some input before I buy a bunch of the wrong parts.


Picture of the sign:
2012-01-15_13-01-50_776.jpg
 
Re: Lighting up a sign (project)

What's currently in the sign for light? If it's the typical 4x 4' fluorescent tubes, LED probably won't be a cheap option.

I think you've probably underestimated the size solar panel you'll need, as if your plan is for the sign to run all night, you need more than double the solar panel capacity that the load would indicate (8 hours charge for 16 hours runtime). And that's not taking into account the need for margin to account for indirect sun or overcast days and the efficiencies of the power conversions.

Have you considered using a couple of marine deep-cycle batteries (similar to car batteries, but more appropriate for your application), charged up in the store and swapped out at the sign as needed?
 
Re: Lighting up a sign (project)

It's a single fluorescent

I planned on using leds, somehow. Less current draw, but I'm concerned with viewing angle. I also have a rather large interstate battery from a diesel mercedes, thought it would be big enough.
 
Re: Lighting up a sign (project)

Kevin Unger said:
It's a single fluorescent

I planned on using leds, somehow. Less current draw, but I'm concerned with viewing angle. I also have a rather large interstate battery from a diesel mercedes, thought it would be big enough.
Click to expand...

Car batteries are designed for high-current, short-term (car starting) loads. You need a deep-cycle battery for a long low-current runtime, as Rob suggests. My diesel trucks have twin 1000 cranking-amp batteries, and they still go dead with the headlights on for an hour.

I bet if you bought a string of white LED Christmas lights and strung them up in there on a small inverter you'd be fine. Alternatively, find a way to series/parallel a bunch of LEDs so the inverter isn't necessary (maybe cut up the Christmas light set?). Simply charge the battery in store during the day, put it outside at night.
 
Re: Lighting up a sign (project)

Thanks everyone! I think I'm going in this direction:

My father has a bunch of decent cells from UPS supplys he replaces at his other job, similar to whats offered here: http://www.impactbattery.com/deep-cycle-battery/12v-deep-cycle-batteries/ They're free, I'll try them. He made a jump-box for our riding mower, but they did not work well (low CCA)

Found these led bars: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-...pPage&category=BARS&Page2Disp=/specs/wlfa.htm

LED bars are rather inexpensive, and current draw is 200mah or less. High viewing angle also, I might get away with one.
 
Re: Lighting up a sign (project)

Kevin Unger said:
Thanks everyone! I think I'm going in this direction:

My father has a bunch of decent cells from UPS supplys he replaces at his other job, similar to whats offered here: http://www.impactbattery.com/deep-cycle-battery/12v-deep-cycle-batteries/ They're free, I'll try them. He made a jump-box for our riding mower, but they did not work well (low CCA)

Found these led bars: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-...pPage&category=BARS&Page2Disp=/specs/wlfa.htm

LED bars are rather inexpensive, and current draw is 200mah or less. High viewing angle also, I might get away with one.
Click to expand...

Lots of possibilities with those LED bars. Got me thinking!
 
Re: Lighting up a sign (project)

I've been waiting for that.

[shameless plug]
It's our signature donut. Just last week it was featured on 89x (88.7fm) by Mark Mckenzie, the baconator! The shop is in New Haven, MI (just north of 26 and Gratiot) about 30 minutes out from Detroit. Old style (fresh...) donuts, fresh cookies and pasties. If anyone happen to come through SE-MI and can get me into a show, I'll deliver!
[/shamelessplug]

Back on-topic:
I'll be ordering a light or two Friday. Should I use a relay and a switch, or just a 12v rated (automotive) switch?
 
Re: Lighting up a sign (project)

I would look into 12 v flourescent fixtures. They are readily available in the RV and boating worlds and would provide the light output you need at a current draw appropriate to 12v systems without having to change the electric around.
 
Re: Lighting up a sign (project)

LED bars linked above are watertight, and >$40 shipped. I'll install it with the fixture it has still in place. I think It's one bulb along the bottom. I'll run the LED bar on the top. My only real concern is viewing angle and lighting up the entire sign.

If you can't tell, my mind is already made up. Ordering LED lights Tomorrow. Next weekend I'll install. I'll be sure to snap some pics and post them.


Thanks everyone.
 
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