Solar powered garden lights?

[claw73]

I was walking through Home Depot and had a thought, scary, I know. I saw the little lights that are meant for gardens or along walkways that have those tiny solar panels and three LEDs. My senior project last year involved talking one of those and separating it for an electric load analysis on a model house. These were great because it offered us a solar panel, lighting, and storage. However, has anyone looked into these for a tear drop? I was thinking of using two or three on a switch just to give some light in the trailer. I don't need a huge lighting system, or ultra bright reading lights, just something to find my pants in the middle of the night and these seem like they could provide a good solution if I just splice into their circuit again. Just a thought I would like feedback on!

Thanks

[rxc463]

We have them here for just under $4.00. Hard to go wrong at that price. Kind of makes you wonder why larger panels are still so expensive
I'd say give it a shot, you're just about to start the next trend in teardrop lighting

[Arne]

why do you need pants in the middle of the night?

I think I'm doing something wrong, but I do avoid lighted areas.

If you can separate the panel from the lights, I see no problem in using them.

I have a solar powered security light with a motion detector. The wire length is about 12' so I can locate it wherever I want.. kind of.

[S. Heisley]

Yes, it would work. I have seen the inexpensive style of led solar landscape lights used even with tents. They are great to mark the path from your tent to the local outhouse. (I would still want a flashlight, to see what/where a growl or a rustle in the bushes came from.) . Although I can't remember where I saw them, I have already seen exterior porch lights that are solar fed and have a light and motion sensors in them. I have already seen these type of lights built right into camp restrooms, for the inside as well. However, here are some things to think about when using landscape-style lights inside your trailer:

- If you're going to use them inside the trailer, get the kind that has an on-off switch on the base. (Yes, they are available.) Most solar landscape lights have a sensor in them that lights them when it gets dark. Some also have a switch so you can choose when you want them lit. This would be important, especially if you like to sleep in the dark.

- Some of these types of lights also have a motion sensor in them. If you use this type of light inside and turn over in the middle of the night..... Again, the on-off switch would be important.

- The solar panels feed small, rechargeable batteries that need to be replaced from time to time. If you store your trailer inside a garage or storage area, these batteries may bleed down without being recharged. You'd probably be smart, in this situation, to remove the batteries when not in use. If you have an on/off switch, turn your lights to "off".

- On cloudy days or when the batteries inside the solar charger begin to weaken, the lights may not stay lit for as long as you might like. It’s a good idea to keep an extra set of the rechargeable landscape-light type of batteries and the proper screw driver on hand to open the container and change them out.

[claw73]

Wow! I was expecting to be slapped down at least a little

Heisley, the way we worked this system in the school project was that we removed the light sensor (which tells it to be on or off depending on the ambient light) and replaced it with a normal switch to be on or off as I felt necessary. I think that this would be the best way, since I could wire three or so in the cabin together and then have one switch for all the lights. As for the batteries....I'm still not sure what to do for that. Since it will be outside year long, I feel batteries would keep better during the winter but maybe I'll still need to take them out/have spares etc. The goal is to be using minimal energy for what seems to be at low cost too.

My goal for the trailer was to have lighting be the only electric load, and if I can get that to not require an extra car battery, I may be able to only run off these small panels. I see people that have microwaves, tvs, radios, etc in their trailer. This would be nice for some times but when I go camping I'm only inside to sleep, the rest of the time I'm fishing or hiking or something. Maybe I'll start playing with this idea after finals. I'll keep everyone up to date!

Just thinking ahead, does anyone know the best way to try and replace these "garden rechargeable batteries" with, say, AA rechargeable batteries? This would, in theory, give me more light at night, maybe add another LED to each set and get more light out, and be easier to replace.

[kirkman]

I have one of the small spot light ones mounted on a 6"x4" board that I set on top of the tear for a porch light. If I need it to look around for some thing I take it down and use it like a flash light.

[Corwin C]

Have had them for four years now and love them ... They are out in the yard year 'round when at home and I take them along when camping. I'm going to have to replace some batteries this year as they no longer last all they way to morning anymore.

I put a couple just outside the trailer door and one next to each guy rope on the canopy. Grab one right off the peg when leaving and replace it when I return. If you're camping on a hard surface, an appropriately sized hole in a 4"x4"x4" block of wood works well. Not a lot of light, but enough to avoid tripping over something.

I've really enjoyed these lights. When the power goes out (more often than it should) I just walk out and gather up a few. No worries about fire or dead batteries. Just remember to take them back outside during the day.

The kids also used them as night lights once when the elk were whistling and got them spooked.