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Exeric · 02-02-13, 02:15 PM

I just thought of one additional possible benefit of locating all led transformers in one central location in the attic or crawlspace. If one ever decided to have backup lighting for power outages then you could use this central location to hook up, as an example, a 12 volt battery. Even in a grid tied solar system, it would be convenient to have at least one or two solar panels that feed a dedicated backup power system. Those panels could be used to charge some conventional car batteries, instead of the hugely expensive deep cycle batteries used for whole house non-gridtied solar systems. (Those battery expenses are what keep me from entertaining the building of that kind of PV system.)

In this kind of simple backup system there would be no need for a complex automatic switching system. Instead just install switches at the input and output of the transformers. The switch in front of the transformers would simply disconnect it from AC power, a safety switch. The switch after the transformer would switch from the transformer output to the 12 volt dc input. The output of that switch would go to all the 12 volt circuits.

It goes without saying that this would be a lot of work so it would be better to get one fairly large 12 volt transformer to feed all neccessary 12 volt circuits. This would eliminate the bank of switches you would otherwise and would reduce the complexity enormously. Less stuff to go wrong. So, finally, locating all 12 volt transformers together could have big benefits down the line if you are the ambitious type. If enough people are interested maybe this topic should be put into its own thread.

02-02-13, 02:15 PM	#34
Exeric Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: California Posts: 274 Thanks: 19 Thanked 37 Times in 28 Posts	I just thought of one additional possible benefit of locating all led transformers in one central location in the attic or crawlspace. If one ever decided to have backup lighting for power outages then you could use this central location to hook up, as an example, a 12 volt battery. Even in a grid tied solar system, it would be convenient to have at least one or two solar panels that feed a dedicated backup power system. Those panels could be used to charge some conventional car batteries, instead of the hugely expensive deep cycle batteries used for whole house non-gridtied solar systems. (Those battery expenses are what keep me from entertaining the building of that kind of PV system.) In this kind of simple backup system there would be no need for a complex automatic switching system. Instead just install switches at the input and output of the transformers. The switch in front of the transformers would simply disconnect it from AC power, a safety switch. The switch after the transformer would switch from the transformer output to the 12 volt dc input. The output of that switch would go to all the 12 volt circuits. It goes without saying that this would be a lot of work so it would be better to get one fairly large 12 volt transformer to feed all neccessary 12 volt circuits. This would eliminate the bank of switches you would otherwise and would reduce the complexity enormously. Less stuff to go wrong. So, finally, locating all 12 volt transformers together could have big benefits down the line if you are the ambitious type. If enough people are interested maybe this topic should be put into its own thread.