Low voltage lighting

[house]

I hope this fits here, I have a remote camera and wifi access point about 1000 feet from my house that has a 100 Watt Solar Panel to run it, as well as to 2 Marine Starting Batteries wired in series and an EPEVER charge controller,, this set up has been working pretty well for me for about a year now, but I would like to add some low voltage lights to the mix. My issue is that I am using the DC load output on the charge controller to power my POE Camera and AP. I know that it is not a big deal to install a Dusk to Dawn switch on the lights but I would also like to add a timer so that I dont need to keep the lights on in the wee hours of the morning. I guess I could directly wire to the POE to the batteries and use the timer on the charge controller but then i would loose the low voltage shut off the controller provides preventing the batteries from getting totally drained. I cannot find just a DC timer as they are all AC, any ideas on how to accomplish this?

[bcroe]

Lights might need a bigger plant. You could build up a timer triggered at night, based on the 4541
CMOS chip and a MOSFET big enough for 12V, etc lights. Used a lot here.

My preference is motion det lights, some solar powered ones are available. Much more
energy efficient. Bruce Roe

[Mike90250]

Morningstar makes a charge controller with several dusk to dawn or timed light control

https://www.morningstarcorp.com/products/sunlight/

other companies may make them too.

[house]

I should add that I am looking at adding 2-4 3 watt led low voltage lights so the load is not huge.

[littleharbor]

Most controllers with a load output have variable time settings look in your manual. This is copied off a Tracer manual I looked up on the internet. It looks like I couldn't get it all copied and pasted but you get the idea.

3.3 Parameters setting
➢ Load mode setting Set Load modes under below interface.





Operating Steps: Under load mode setting interface, press ENTER button and hold on 5s till the number begin flashing, then press SELECT button to set the parameter, press ENTER button to confirm. 1** Time 1 2** Time 2 100 Light ON/OFF 2 n Disabled 101 Load will be on for 1 hour since sunset 201 Load will be on for 1 hour before sunrise 102 Load will be on for 2 hours since sunset 202 Load will be on for 2 hours before sunrise 103

[house]

My issue is not that I cannot set the controller load to come on and off at the correct time. it is that I have 2 loads that I want to run off the load lugs on the Charge controller, one stays on all the time, the other I want to come on at dusk and maybe stay on for 5 hours. So i either need to find and standalone timer to work in conjunction with a photo eye, or a low voltage shut off so that rather than running my poe ethernet devices directly off the battery terminals with the possibility of discharging my batteries below 50%

[house]

at this point i think I am going to install this a low voltage disconnect to the terminals of the batteries and run my POE loads off that, then set up the load terminals on the EPEVER tracer to handle the day night function of the low voltage lights.

https://www.poweringthenetwork.com/lvd-wall-mount/

[house]

never mind that thing is like 300 bucks, looking for something a little more cost effective if anyone has a better suggestion.

[SunEagle]

never mind that thing is like 300 bucks, looking for something a little more cost effective if anyone has a better suggestion.

Besides if your 12v battery goes down to 10.4volts it's life has already been cut in half or more.

IMO a low voltage cut out does not really save a battery except maybe once.

I would keep looking for a DC timer or LED lights that have their own internal timer. Or maybe LED lights that have motion detectors that make them come on for a short period of time instead of for 5 hours.

[house]

It looks like the cut off on that unit is adjustable, but I found this on ebay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-low-Voltage-Switch-Disconnect-Module-for-1-50V-3-8V-24V-Battery-Charge/323377825208?hash=item4b4ad205b8:g:KcYAAOSwT9JbVYov

looks like it will do what i want, It may need a relay but that is not too much of a hassle and the price is about what i want to spend for the project.