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12v DC photocell switch that powers one circuit at day and another at night?

Daniel Clark

May 16, 2016
8
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May 16, 2016
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8
Does anyone know of a component - preferably weatherproof - that will power one 12v DC 65w load during the day, and switch to a different 12v 65w load at night, never powering both at once?
 

Audioguru

Sep 24, 2016
3,656
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Sep 24, 2016
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3,656
A 12V solar panel will power a 12VDC/65W load during the day if it is in direct sunlight. It powers nothing at night.
You need a battery and a charger for it to power a load at night.
 

hevans1944

Hop - AC8NS
Jun 21, 2012
4,880
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Messages
4,880
A SPDT relay with a low-voltage DC coil driven with one or more solar cells (however many are needed to provide sufficient voltage to energize the relay coil) can be used to switch between daytime and nighttime operation.

The power source is connected to the moving contact of the relay, the nighttime load is connected to the normally-closed contact, the daytime load is connected to the normally-open contact. When daylight illuminates the solar cell(s), the relay is energized and power is applied through the (now closed) normally-open contacts to the daytime load. At night the relay coil is de-energized and power is applied through the (now closed) normally-closed contacts to the nighttime load.
 
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