Hybrid power source lighting and energy management system for operation in harsh and/or remote locations

A method for controlling the energy input and output of a hybrid light tower having at least one light, an internal combustion engine (ICE), at least one renewable energy source, at least one controller, and at least one battery storage system, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring available power from the at least one renewable energy source and at least one battery storage system, wherein the available power from the battery storage system is monitored by monitoring the current state-of-charge (SOC) within the battery storage system;
• turning on the ICE to generate electrical power when the current SOC is below a lower SOC threshold or based on an operator programmed start time;
• turning off the ICE when battery power is above an upper SOC threshold or when an operator programmed runtime is achieved;
• and
• controlling charging of the battery storage system by the ICE by applying a battery charging algorithm in which the upper and lower SOC thresholds are within a bulk stage of the battery system such that the battery charging algorithm only charges the battery system according to a bulk charging cycle within the bulk stage of the battery system.

A method for operator control of a hybrid lighting system having at least one light operatively connected to a mast system moveable between a lower and upper position, an internal combustion engine (ICE), at least one solar panel connected to the hybrid lighting system and moveable between deployed and non-deployed positions, a control system and at least one battery storage system operatively connected to a control system and ICE, the method comprising the steps of:

• deploying the solar panels to a deployed position by activation of a solar panel switch connected to the control system;
• deploying the mast system to an upper position by activation of a mast switch connected to control system;
• and
• activating the hybrid lighting and ICE system by an activation switch operatively connected to the control system, the activation switch having an auto-run position for activating the control system to activate the ICE based on pre-determined operational parameters and wherein the control system prevents activation of the ICE if the mast is not in an upper position.