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I am designing an off-grid cabin with a solar panel array charging a bank of batteries with a propane generator backup. I run ethernet as power with a custom de
by samtho 4y ago
I am designing an off-grid cabin with a solar panel array charging a bank of batteries with a propane generator backup. I run ethernet as power with a custom designed PCB that terminates at the outlet side where it exposes a 20 watt USB charging port and an ethernet port.
The lights are all basically cut 12v light strips inside of old light fixtures with a custom controller that also terminates PoE. The 48 volts that most PoE standards specify is more than enough to push power down the line for < 100 meter runs.
The advantage of PoE here is that anything under 50 volts is considered low voltage and does not need to follow the same rules as normal house wiring. I did not like that everything is hinging upon a beefy PoE switch so I actually made it passive PoE instead by design.
- int0x2e 4y agoIf you're willing to share your design, I'm sure there are other folks like myself who think this is a cool idea. I've wanted to do PoE (or passive PoE) for lights for a while now...
- samtho 4y agoI am going to open source it. The goal was to be able to get all the SMD stuff available at JLPCB so you can just send it to be fabbed (with some thru-hole components you would just solder yourself) or I would also sell them at cost + 10%. My brother designed some 802.3at chips and was going to have him review my work first as I don't want to send out into the world a poorly design power system (there are enough of those things out there unfortunately).
- zulfazli 4y agoCant see any github link in your profile. Any way I can get notified when you open source this? Thank you.
- notjtrig 4y agoI'm interested in installing your design in my cabin as well, could also be very useful for boats too.
- readertime 4y agoSell them at cost + 100% so you actually do it. I reckon buyers won’t care.