Decorative Solar Lighting

[EX121]

Thanks Matt.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I thought about getting some of those solar lights that people put along their sidewalks and putting a trip wire on them so they will come on if tripped, just to play around with if the need ever arose.

I figure Trapper has it figured out but for the rest of us a short set of videos to demonstrate the intial setup

I'd still rather have a quality alarm like the one at JRH but this is a viable option for a quick, lightweight, cheap visual alarm that the neighbors won't notice or the badguys won't think of as an alarm.

[PerryJeff]

You can take the tops off the bigger ones and set on top of wide mouth canning jar makes nice cheap lanttern. I like to set one upstairs in spare bedrooms near window and move every few days. Makes it tough for anyone to pattern you.... I also put one in sheds outside from time to time near window also.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I got a cheapy $1 at WM to try. Was upset with no light at night - until I read this thread and somebody mentioned the paper needed to be removed. Opened mine and pulled the paper tab and wah-la! light! So far it stays on from dusk until dawn.

and now you know how to make it into a visual alarm as well!

[Triple-sod]

There handy things, me and a mate used to ‘borrow’ his mums out the garden when we went camping.

[eeyore]

We have used them when the electricity is out to light the bathroom or hallways.

Also sometimes you can catch a string of 15 christmas lights that run on a C battery, we have used these in the bathroom also, alot safe then candles.

[goatlady]

I got a cheapy $1 at WM to try. Was upset with no light at night - until I read this thread and somebody mentioned the paper needed to be removed. Opened mine and pulled the paper tab and wah-la! light! So far it stays on from dusk until dawn.

[rockriver]

there is a sensor that turns them on at night.
i'm not sure of run time but it is 4:24 am e.t. now and they are still on.
i don't think mine last all night.
i have picked one up and use it to provide light on occasion when i didn't get a flashlight!

[miked2345]

I saw several different styles at walmart yesterday.. They all said about 8 to 10 hours of light output. What's been your experience? do you get several hours of light from them? And do they have a sensor that turns them on at night?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Has anyone used them to re-charge batteries?

Yes the single AA, they do a decent job as long as there is full light. i have to replace the batteries about once a year in them

[EX121]

Has anyone used them to re-charge batteries?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

good post.
at Christmas we bought a box of solar lights from sams to put out away from the house.
i've liked it because there's no elec bill and yet i've added a little better vision to those areas.
--
we decided to get some more. went back to sams. none there, so we bought elsewhere.
we did not check the output.. drastically lower. it would take 3 of the new ones to equal light from
one of the prior.
still, this is a great post and good idea.
rr

The dollar store has the regular ones for a buck each which i prefer but like i said these are pretty and the wife wanted them so we compromised and she got them LOL

[rockriver]

good post.
at Christmas we bought a box of solar lights from sams to put out away from the house.
i've liked it because there's no elec bill and yet i've added a little better vision to those areas.
--
we decided to get some more. went back to sams. none there, so we bought elsewhere.
we did not check the output.. drastically lower. it would take 3 of the new ones to equal light from
one of the prior.
still, this is a great post and good idea.
rr

Use the solar lighting at distance when doing night watches. If something is moving around, the light will disappear when the object moves in front of the light. Remember though, depending on the angle, whatever "it" is may be in your lap.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I thought about getting some of those solar lights that people put along their sidewalks and putting a trip wire on them so they will come on if tripped, just to play around with if the need ever arose.

It would be simple enough, in fact the regular ones come with a piece of plastic between the battery and device that you pull once you get it home. All you have to do is secure the line to it. I can do a video on how to or someone else can