Solar Shed Lights for Camper Lights

[Catherine+twins]

Okay, I really don't want to deal with a deep cycle battery and wiring my trailer and such. I live in the southwest, where sunshine is the one thing we can count on, and even most camp sites I have been to are partly sunny all day long. So I'm thinking of installing a couple of solar shed lights, one for inside, and one for the galley area.

OTOH, the reviews of shed lights tell me the affordable ones don't put out enough light for my wants, and the ones that DO put out enough light are twice as expensive as the motion-detector lights with the same or more LEDs.

I have poked around a bit on the web, but haven't found any instrutions for replacing a motion detector with an on/off switch. I have no fear of poking around in the guts of electronics, that's my job, but I do like some clues to work with. Dimms I know, I pulled phone wiring to every room in my house, I've even installed speaker jacks in portable TVs, but I had schematics to work from for my little projects. I don't want to ruin a $60 solar light poking around inside it trying to install an on/off switch.

Can someone give me some advice, suggest a switch to install, or even just hold my hand?



Catherine

[8ball_99]

If you need one light that might be a decent option.. If you need a few your probably better off just getting a Deepcycle battery and your own lights.. The panels on those shed lights are very low wattage.. The batteries don't hold that much of a charge either..

[Engineer Guy]

I would consider setting aside your present solution involving Shed Light modifications and go back to the original need: lighting in a couple of places, achieved most easily.

See a sample linked here of what's out there. There's more of these types of Lights than you can imagine:

Canspot LED Lights

I got a nice little 115 VAC Charger to use at Home for Rechargeable Batteries. The Batteries last longer between change-outs than you might think. It all depends on the number of LEDs being operated [current draw], and how long you leave the LED Lights on.

Search Results: LED Lights

I've also bought bright, LED, Battery-based Worklights and Rechargeable Batteries at 'Big Lots' Discount Stores on the cheap.

You can charge 3 - 1.5 VDC Batteries via a USB-style Charger. 3 Batteries = ~4.5 Volts, which is what many LED Lights work off of.

Search Results: USB Chargers

This type of solution skips the complexity of Wiring and Switches. You need only charge and keep handy some spare Batteries.