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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Solar Shed Light?

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Joe MD

02-07-2005 08:18:52




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I would like to set up some sort of solar powered light in a small shed (10 x 8) that we use for potting and to store our handtools and small power tools. We do store 2 stroke mix in the shed. Not sure if that is a concern.

The entire interior is charred black (I think it used to be a smoke house) so I would need to throw a good deal of light.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Joe from MD

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old blue

02-07-2005 19:15:05




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 Re: Solar Shed Light? in reply to Joe MD, 02-07-2005 08:18:52  
Not to ruin the theme but why does it have to be solar powered? Isnt there a building near by that has power? even if its a hundred yards or better away why not just dig a shallow trench and run a line of 110 or 120 out to it wire it up to a plug adn have a plug in light or even a switch to a nice 4 foot florescent? i understand the idea behind solar but for me the cost seems very prohibitive for the amount of use it would get.

also i take it your agaisnt just painting the logs with some white paint? maybe some old sheets could liven things up for ya.

just my inquisitive nature speaking here

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Rusty Jones,

02-07-2005 17:04:25




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 Re: Solar Shed Light? in reply to Joe MD, 02-07-2005 08:18:52  
I'm not well versed on solar lighting but, for the inside walls, why not nail up some drywall or something similar that could be painted on both sides, white, to help your lighting do better in there?! If you don't want to nail into the original logs/ wood, make up spacers out of strips of wood, about 3 inches wide, into rectangular spacers, then nail the panelling to that. It would then only take a few screws or nails to hold the panel sections in place! You could even hang panels from the ceiling. I finished off a room under the front porch (Concrete block walls, concrete floor!) by using the aforementioned type of panels. It is self supporting, even the ceiling, and has been holding up good for 30+ years! I did use 4 2x4's to support the ceiling, by placing the ends on the wall panels! And, i hung a light on it too. White walls and ceiling will make any lighting much brighter! If you need a drawing, please contact me. by: Rusty J.

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Bob

02-07-2005 15:45:02




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 Re: Solar Shed Light? in reply to Joe MD, 02-07-2005 08:18:52  
LED's are the "next big thing" in lighting. Brightness is going up and prices are coming down.

If you buy right, and get a good solar charger and a deep-cycle battery and some LED lights you can put together a setup the will give good, useable light, along with good battery charge life, due to the extemely low draw of the LED's.



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RN

02-07-2005 14:16:16




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 Re: Solar Shed Light? in reply to Joe MD, 02-07-2005 08:18:52  
Light? Check Northern Tools, last catalog had solar panel, battery and yard light kit for about $70.00. They had some other battery maintainer panels under $100.00. For interior blackened walls- hang white plastic shade as reflector. RN.



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Chas Kies

02-07-2005 13:25:59




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 Re: Solar Shed Light? in reply to Joe MD, 02-07-2005 08:18:52  
Not sure if this would work out for you or not...but I know they have solar powered electric fencers that will also put a charge to a battery. That way your fence will still be hot durring prolonged cloudy periods. I don"t see why you couldn"t put the panel outside, wire it to the battery inside, and wire some tractor lights off of that.



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Butcher

02-07-2005 12:22:40




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 Re: Solar Shed Light? in reply to Joe MD, 02-07-2005 08:18:52  
I like the battery and tractor light for the cost. But if you want a solar panel check this place out. Hold on to your wallet though.



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Coloken

02-07-2005 13:12:05




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 Re: Solar Shed Light? in reply to Butcher, 02-07-2005 12:22:40  
Nice, but where do they get the prices I am seeing for LED units? LED flashlighs came up a while back and I could not believe the prices. I have several flash lights...one has 6 LEDs ..don't think I gave over 4 or 5 dollars for any of them. Were on E-bay 6 months ago. LEDs at R shack are something like 6 for $1.98.
Kenny



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greenbeanman in Kansas

02-07-2005 11:32:08




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 Re: Solar Shed Light? in reply to Joe MD, 02-07-2005 08:18:52  
Well what I have in mind might be more work for you but would save some solar panel money.

I would wire/install several bulb fixtures, expecially over the typical work area, then install compact fluorescent light bulbs into them.

I would power these with a small wattage invertor via a 12 volt battery. After numerous sessions of using the light simple take it to the farm shed, garage, or wherever and charge it up with a battery charger. Have an extra battery already around out of a combine or ???

The only problem is that in colder weather the fluorscents will take awhile to warm up to full brightness. I use one in an outside yard light and it never fails to light. I used to have to replace an incandesent bulb about every 6 months, but since switching I haven't made a fluorscent bulb replacement after several years of photo-eye activation use.

I suppose you could always add a solar battery maintainer panel, but just charging the battery every so often would save the cost of one.

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Coloken

02-07-2005 11:00:14




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 Re: Solar Shed Light? in reply to Joe MD, 02-07-2005 08:18:52  
That chared black is going to eat up any light like crazy. How about a 12 volt bulb in an overhead reflector. Car fog light? Backup light? Tractor light? They make florecent for RVs but I don't think much of them. 12 volt car battery with whatever solar 12 volt charger you can afford. Check the RV stores for charger.



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Joe MD

02-07-2005 10:31:17




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 Re: Solar Shed Light? in reply to Joe MD, 02-07-2005 08:18:52  
Sorry, I should have mentioned that skylight or window is not an option . . . This building is at least 150 years old and I don't want to cut into it.



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Weirsdale George

02-07-2005 08:41:25




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 Re: Solar Shed Light? in reply to Joe MD, 02-07-2005 08:18:52  
The best solar powered light is a skylight!



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