PotusGobbleBottom
Corn Pop was a bad dude.
YES, I have a lot of 48v light bulbs that I plan to use in any scenario that requires strict power rationing. Lights without the use of an inverter is KEY.
Is it acceptable to use a standard wall switch for a low amperage DC application?
- Thread starter Andrewr05
- Start date
Biggest advantage of these is that they are multivoltage (so work regardless of battery voltage from 12v up to 85v) plus they look just like 'normal' mains voltage bulbs and can be used in any normal lighting fixture (ES or BC) so to all appearances your offgrid house looks completely 'normal' (a far cry from my first place in the 1980's- where I used 'car blinker bulbs' hanging from the ceiling for lighting, and car spotlights for yard lighting...)
Checkthisout
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2021
- Messages
- 4,941
Checkthisout
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2021
- Messages
- 4,941
Also,
Decora Snap switches are like 75 cents each. Even if they fail every couple years, who cares?
They won't but still, who cares?
Decora Snap switches are like 75 cents each. Even if they fail every couple years, who cares?
They won't but still, who cares?
Andrewr05
[Replicant 42069]
That's what our off grid cabin is right now, is it's literally sealed incandescent headlight bulb housings for outdoor spotlights and like wide beam truck reverse lights for interior flood lighting.
FAR from efficient.
This new setup with the string lights and low voltage e26 bulbs would've been a pipe dream 15 years ago.
Attachments
I am imagining car fenders and interiors hanging all over the place...
Like a 50's diner with a car theme...
Like a 50's diner with a car theme...
Replacing with modern LED bulbs will give a FAR better life for the batteries per night, and far more light to boot...That's what our off grid cabin is right now, is it's literally sealed incandescent headlight bulb housings for outdoor spotlights and like wide beam truck reverse lights for interior flood lighting.
FAR from efficient.
This new setup with the string lights and low voltage e26 bulbs would've been a pipe dream 15 years ago.
Plus look so much better lol
Andrewr05
[Replicant 42069]
I didn't specify, but for now these are actually going to be run off of the 12 volt port off of our Bluetti unit at our cabin.
But I have a few of those wide range bulbs inside for my 36v battery system, they work great no matter what SOC is.
But I have a few of those wide range bulbs inside for my 36v battery system, they work great no matter what SOC is.
Andrewr05
[Replicant 42069]
Oh for sure.
It hasn't been what we had totally relied on all this time, although the system has still been there. We still use it occasionally.
In the past 10 years or so we have had generators up there and use regular incandescent bulbs.
And now obviously switched over to standard LED bulbs and now with the plethora of different a Power Stations that I have I actually rarely ever fire up the generator either.
That's an advantage (and a disadvantage lol)
I could tell the battery voltage in my first place just by the colour of the bulbs at night...
;-)
But the LEDs just 'work' and give the same (full) brightness regardless of battery voltage...
McKravitts
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 536
I'm sure it will work, however FWIT, in your poll question, you specified " a standard 110 Vac wall toggle switch".
Every wall switch I've ever seen has a minimum rating of 120 Vac, which should do fine at 12Vdc.
A switch rated for 110 Vdc is a little on the low side for the 10 % "rule of thumb".
Given the ambiguity in your poll question, I think all respondents can be considered correct.
Andrewr05
[Replicant 42069]
Eh, I've always said 110v ambiguously interchangeably with 115 and 120v.
CaliSunHarvester
Solar Enthusiast
I have a building (1000sqft) with ~40 LED lights and they are switched by 10 AC decora switches. The house is fully DC 12V only, kind of an experiment. A little over 1 year old.
No problems.
No problems.
I run 26V bare LED strings (no electronics) in my kitchen switched via regular wall switch and powered from DC power supply. Never been a problem. Tried switching my water heater element from same type of a switch on 44Vdc and there was big continuous arc!
Andrewr05
[Replicant 42069]
CaliSunHarvester
Solar Enthusiast
Maybe I should mention that they are 12V 3W recessed ceiling lights, sold to the RV community. And 4 under-cabinet sticks of 9W each.
One switch controls 6 of the 3W cans = 18W = 1.5A.
Another switch controls 4 of the under cabinet ones.. 36W = 3A. The other switches control 1A or less.
Andrewr05
[Replicant 42069]
Still good to know.
All of my LED lighting combined probably won't be anywhere near the theoretical limit of 10A.
Besides voltage and amperage ratings, most manufacturers also spec expected lifetime and/ or number of on/off cycles.
Almost all AC switches will work with DC but the lifetime can be shortened if the DC specs are exceeded.
If no DC specs, use the 10% rule as stated in a few previous post, or just plan on replacing the switch occasionally.
Almost all AC switches will work with DC but the lifetime can be shortened if the DC specs are exceeded.
If no DC specs, use the 10% rule as stated in a few previous post, or just plan on replacing the switch occasionally.
Andrewr05
[Replicant 42069]
Andrewr05
[Replicant 42069]
It just took me over an hour to upload this video, as I'm out in bumf**ck nowhere at our family cabin-
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