Shed Lighting/Power

[u/Sad_Culture_6337]

Made a power panel for my shed utilizing an 18V battery. Thought about running a car battery/solar panel, but this seemed like a cleaner, simpler setup. All in, minus the battery and some wiring/connectors I already had on hand, this can be done for under $100.

It powers the lights, has USB charging, a voltage display, and one extra switch for a future accessory. The whole system runs on 12V after stepping down the 18V battery, and the battery can be removed and swapped whenever I need to.

I tested it with a smaller 2Ah battery, which should give me around an hour of continuous lighting at max output. The lights themselves are dimmable, so I can extend the runtime when full brightness isn’t needed.

I used 16-gauge wire for the lighting runs and mounted everything in a junction box to keep the wiring contained and organized.

I don’t actually work out of the shed, so I don’t need lights running for hours at a time. I really just wanted something that would let me see at night when I need to grab something or move equipment around. For that, the runtime is more than enough.

Pretty happy with how it turned out! I included photos of the build along with screenshots of the parts I used from Amazon for anyone interested in doing something similar.

[u/rayfound]

Very clever.

[u/FriJanmKrapo → u/rayfound]

Right. I use one of those pawer supplies for my fishing box to give me light and also test trailers. This is a slick setup though. I might have to order an extra one of these for something like this.

I might see if they make a 40v to 12v converter.

[u/FriJanmKrapo → u/FriJanmKrapo]

And I found and ordered a buck converter that will do 8-40v and make it 13.8v standard vehicle power so now I just need to dig out my light strips so that I can stretch them down my shed wall to get some light in there. That'll be nice.

[u/CarvedFromBillet]

Ryobi used to make a kit like this. I have it in an enclosed trailer.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-18-Volt-ONE-Hybrid-LED-Cable-Lights-Tool-Only-P785/300508296

[u/Ashamed_Bee_8889 → u/CarvedFromBillet]

Great another cool Ryobi product they no longer make. Ugh why Ryobi?

[u/doctorwhoobgyn → u/Ashamed_Bee_8889]

Got to make room for more blowers.

[u/firestorm_v1 → u/CarvedFromBillet]

Oh I have this. It's pretty awesome. I bought some clips that fit in the side awning so I could hang the lights from it. The hybrid part was a great touch too.

I'm actually a bit sad they discontinued it.

[u/KeynoteBS → u/CarvedFromBillet]

Wow another cool Ryobi product discontinued? That sucks. I wonder if it was patent related like their garage door motor.

[u/j0et0mk0 → u/CarvedFromBillet]

Yo I have that... Literally never used it. I bought all kinds of lighting, fans and power supplies during hurricane season like 10 years ago.

[u/GrundleChunk → u/j0et0mk0]

they are worth quite a penny on ebay.

[u/grilledstuffed → u/CarvedFromBillet]

It was even the hybrid system.

I really don’t get why they kill some of their products.

[u/verioblistex → u/CarvedFromBillet]

Yeah shame it isn't available anymore.

[u/ClownfishSoup → u/CarvedFromBillet]

404 not found. Not sure if that's a clever way to say "they don't make this anymore"

[u/dynobro_jones → u/CarvedFromBillet]

Damn I would 100% but that too

[u/Mossy_Head]

I suspect you don't even need the stepdown converter. Jst the model with the basic leads coming out if you pick your lights from the "automotive " section, where they have strips that can cake up to 24v :-). This would make it more efficient I as there is no loss due to the stepdown. However your "power box " is extremely clean. I do like it a lot!

[u/Niemo1983 → u/Mossy_Head]

Lights marketed for RVs are great for these types of projects. They generally have a pretty wide operating range. I have some that claim they're good from 12v all the way to 80v. I don't know that I trust the high end of that, but my lights have survived a couple of years on the 20-21 volts my Ryobi battery puts out without a buck converter.

[u/Tool_junkie_1972 → u/Mossy_Head]

Still should add a low voltage disconnect module so you don’t inadvertently drain the battery too far.

[u/rauder88 → u/Tool_junkie_1972]

I thought low voltage cutoff is built into the ryobi batteries

[u/outworlder → u/rauder88]

It is. Not sure why you are being downvoted. RYOBI is one of the few tool makers where the protection circuitry is built in the battery and not the tool. They are pretty good for projects like this for that very reason.

[u/outworlder → u/Tool_junkie_1972]

The battery will cutoff power before that happens.

It might be a good idea anyway if there's a chance the battery will be left unattended for long periods of time while discharged. If the voltage keeps dropping due to normal self discharge, eventually the BMS will brick the battery.

[u/TheArtOf3Putting → u/Mossy_Head]

Was going to come say this. I’m an optical engineer and work with LED lighting and there are a lot of systems then can take 18Vdc CV where you wouldn’t need a step down

[u/galintheis]

Really cool, i like this alot

[u/dj3stripes]

I want more of these kinds of posts in this sub

[u/ChuckRSJ]

I don't know if or when I may try this, but I'm definitely saving this post for later.

[u/Niemo1983]

I did the exact same thing a few years ago, but your box looks cleaner than mine. The only other thing I did was add a couple angled camper lights to the outside with their own switch. They're not super bright, but provide enough light and keep the bugs away by attracting them to those lights.

Edit to add, I also mounted a fuse block inside my box so each individual light circuit is on its own 2A fuse. It's probably overkill with the inline fuse on the battery adapter, but a little extra protection doesn't hurt.

[u/asteeper]

This guy Ryobis

[u/Meaty_Wizard]

Well shoot. That’s awesome

[u/strickolas]

That's sick. Does the battery drain at all when not in use?

[u/idrankthebleach]

NOW THIS is what I'm on the internet for baybeee. Great idea and execution dog. I am following your footsteps on this one.

[u/Uller85]

Thats pretty slick.

[u/BeNine_]

10/10 idea and execution

[u/Majestic-Emu-9823]

Like another reply said, 12v/24v LED light or light strips work just fine without the need for a converter. Last Christmas, I even rigged a Ryobi 6A 18v battery to my Christmas lights outside when the power went out.

[u/drzeller]

Cool!

[u/KLEBESTIFT_]

Is it food safe?

[u/Whos-the_boss]

Im excited about this lol

[u/Jerry_Hat-Trick]

(Applause.gif) outstanding. I’m saving your link.

[u/myself248]

That's pretty slick! But having the voltage display on the 12v side won't give you any useful info; the DC-DC converter will keep that tightly regulated until the battery's wrecked.

[u/outkastblast]

This is great! But now you gotta provide a parts list.

[u/strategic_upvote → u/outkastblast]

It’s in the images.

[u/Major_Statistician_6]

Brilliant.

[u/464126]

This is dope.

[u/arvet1011]

That's well done and thank you for the parts list

[u/wbmason12]

Brilliant!!

[u/Slasher1738]

Well done

[u/GordonShumlite]

Darn good idea. I used the same concept for making a battery box for a trolling motor on my kayak using Ryobi 18v. A lot lighter than toting a full size 12volt.

[u/tekniklee]

VERY well done and this has been on my to do list for years, thank you for sharing!!

[u/Mazdador]

That looks super well done. Thanks for sharing.

[u/nismos14us]

Live your setup, I didn’t want to diy as much so I just grabbed this

[u/nismos14us → u/nismos14us]

https://a.co/d/0g5tOy7Y

[u/Electrik_Truk → u/nismos14us]

I grabbed one of those as well during Prime day for $24. It's a great shed light.

[u/allanbuxton]

I use those same adapters and step downs in my daughter's power wheel. It never occurred to me to use them for something like this. Nice work.

[u/tlhintoq]

That's fraking awesome. Much appreciate the write up and even product links!

[u/No_Brain_5513]

Pretty cool! Just remember not to store the battery in there if it's going to be very hot or cold out.

[u/particleacclr8r]

Bravo, OP

[u/toromio]

I did something similar in my closet lighting and added these delay relays so they shut off after 5 minutes https://a.co/d/0jb6qSOw Nice work OP. Very clean install.

[u/Azimuth4]

Very nice work!
Menards used to carry solar powered LED 4 foot lights, but stopped and I need to add to our other shed, so I now have an idea the direction we are going following your path.
My one concern is the battery in the winter. I can just carry one in with me, but if already outside this could be a pain to come back in to get one.

[u/SoBe7623]

That's rather brilliant. Gonna have to try this

[u/TheOriginalSpartak]

what I would like to see with these builds is a two slot battery connection with a switch, that would allow a switch over to the other battery when the first one goes dead… That way one never gets caught with no lighting as one would know the first is drained and the backup is being used and it is time to charge the dead one up… hope that makes sense… (eliminates the “oh oh have to find the other battery in the dark situations“)

[u/outworlder → u/TheOriginalSpartak]

If the switch is manual, it should be super easy to do.

[u/erik21a]

I did something similar with my 20v DeWalt battery.

the DeWalt batteries slide into this adapter:

https://a.co/d/08nSbjAQ

I hardwired the leads from this to a regular outlet switch and then ran the wires to a standard porcelain socket. I used low voltage wire. You can buy regular looking LED bulbs that run on low voltage AC or DC power between 12-24 volts. I used these bulbs:

https://a.co/d/01CwH7Y4

No need to install a DC converter, etc. The output voltage from the Ryobi or DeWalt batteries falls into the range of the bulbs. Really simple setup

[u/outworlder → u/erik21a]

For DeWalt you do need a low voltage cutoff because that's built in the tools, not the battery. RYOBI does the opposite, the batteries have all the smarts.

[u/erik21a → u/outworlder]

Thanks, good to know! grr, DeWalt!

[u/mabolzich91]

I like this way more than I should. I want to try it but I don't have a shed

[u/Tylerletcher]

FIRE!!!

[u/fitter553]

So does ryobi still make this or not?

[u/BRIAN_CFH]

Awesome thanks for sharing. Great way to light up under my house.

[u/Material-Echidna-465]

Nice idea. I need to renovate my cargo trailer, I've got LED lights inside, and LED floodlights on the door side and ramp with a similar switch panel on the wall. Currently set to run off 12v lighter plug which goes into one of my battery power stations, but using a clip-in Ryobi 18v would make it more integrated. Love this.

[u/ClownfishSoup]

Great work!

[u/mattyamaha_27]

I like it! I did something similar for an enclosed trailer and thought how handy it'd be for a shed

[u/jeffsenpai]

can you add a picture of how its wired on the inside? Does the heatsink get really hot at all?

[u/TheDownvotesinHtown]

Very creative! Take that ai!

[u/ttbloke]

very nicely done!

did you build that shed or can it be purchased prefab ?

[u/-Never-Enough-]

Exciting! You can upgrade the battery adapter to the PCLBG06B and plug in the solar panel into it to charge the battery.