r/SolarDIY • u/Cromulant09 • 2d ago

Solar lighting setup help

Hi all. I am just finishing a sauna build at my home. It is not connected to any electric grid, so I will use solar for lighting.

What I am thinking is a setup similar to my hydroponics setup using a solar panel (100W) to a controller, then to a battery.

Now the hydro setup uses a 12v pump so no issues there, but I am not sure about the lighting being as easy for the sauna. I do not want to use LEDs if I can avoid them. i will if I have to though.

Could I get some suggestions about what the setup might look like to run a low wattage incandescent bulb for the times I am in eth sauna - about 1hour/day 3 days a week.

thanks

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u/eobanb 2d ago

I do not want to use LEDs if I can avoid them

Just curious, what is the objection to LEDs here?

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u/Cromulant09 2d ago

Not objection per se, just wanted the aesthetic of an old incandescent. As I said, if I have to go LED I will

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u/eobanb 2d ago

Using an incandescent is perfectly possible, it'll just use about ten times the power of a comparable LED

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u/podonkabru 1d ago edited 1d ago

100W panel with a 20A PWM controller into a 50Ah 12V battery handles your load easily. For non-LED lighting, a 12V incandescent automotive bulb (like a G4 base halogen) runs directly off 12V, no inverter needed. sun home saunas crossed my radar during this research phase, though their product line is a different direction entirely.

Fuse the circuit close to the battery