12V DC input LED drivers for solar powered project?

I'm just getting my feet wet with solar power, and looking to set up a small 2x2 veg tent which is solar powered. I have a 12V solar system, and while I do also have a 120V power inverter, it seems like there would be excessive loss stepping the voltage up to 120V AC from 12V DC, only to step it back down again to lower DC voltage. I'm thinking about having a HLG QB120 or QB132 as the light, and get a 12V DC input to 24V DC output driver power the board.

Does anyone run any grow lights from DC input power, or have any experience with those drivers?

I know Meanwell has a couple of series of DC to DC drivers with built in buck-boost converters. They will take inputs from about 9V-24V and output in a range of 12V-60V.

7CardBud said:

I know Meanwell has a couple of series of DC to DC drivers with built in buck-boost converters. They will take inputs from about 9V-24V and output in a range of 12V-60V.

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I'm looking at this driver as being a good match for either a QB120 or QB132, and would be right around the power I'm looking for:

Ideally I won't top 125watts total for a small 2x2 tent, including lights, fans, and possible heat mat (if I can get away with it). I'll need one or two more batteries too, because right now I just have this three year old marine battery which only seems to hold around 0.6 KwH, based on 120V draw from a power inverter (using a killowatt meter between the inverter and the load). I know the inverter has additional draw that I couldn't measure with the killowatt meter. The solar panel that I got with my kit is only 200watts, so will likely need to add another panel as well. This is really just a project for funzies, but also to give myself a little off grid backup power in case of emergency.

PJ, my best friend here lives off grid. Alaska homestead. We’ve been after this for a while. Good luck and I’m going to check in to see if more experienced minds pipe up.

@salmonetin left a post here, which is now deleted, in which he asked some good questions.

I don't have all the answers yet, but the inverter I have is a Bestek 500w pure sine wave inverter: https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Inverter-Adapter-Converter-Charging/dp/B082MDRC64

The 12v Battery that I have is an Interstate 12V Marine with 600 CCA: https://www.costco.com/interstate-27dc-marine--rv-battery.product.100476408.html

Like I said the battery is 3 years old, and also hasn't been maintained well, so not sure how much loss there is. I need a new one or two.

As far as QB120 vs QB132, I think the QB132 will be the way to go (I wonder if HLG will sell me just one board instead of a 4-pack), due to the current and voltage requirements of QB132's:



It looks like that will match real nice with a Meanwell LDH-65-1750W @ 12V DC input from my solar controller:



As far as fans, I'm thinking just two 12V DC computer type axial fans, one for exhaust (passive intake), and another for in-tent circulation). Not sure what exactly, but maybe something like this:


As far as the heat mat, that part might need to be run of 120V AC, unless I can find a 12V DC powered option. Those mats are only like 15 to 20 watts, which is likely around what the power inverter itself draws, so I might just cheat and plug the heat mat into the wall when I use it.