Indoor Solar Lights??

[patriotchick]

I am not financially able at this point to go totally off grid as much as I would like to. does anyone have a recommendation for solar lights that can be used indoors?? I would like to use them instead of my electric lights if I can find good ones. I could use lanterns but the kero/lamp oil smell drives me and my allergries nuts. I unsuccefully tried to use the solar out door lights inside but they are no where near bright enough. So any input would be greatly appreciated, I figure every kilowatt I dont use keeps money in my pocket.

[Anon001]

I don't see where anyone has replied to your posting yet. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will come along. I have been 100% OFF grid for 10 years and use only solar. If it was me, I would use a couple 12V compact flourescents and get a couple batteries charged by a solar panel. Most desk lamps and floor lamps can be used with 12V by changing the bulb.
Like I said, maybe someone with more knowledge will come along.
Paul

[kberg]

I would go with a 12v led setup over CFL bulbs. But that's just me!

[Anon001]

I had thought about LED's as well, but they just aren't far enough along to light well enough for me to see..... unless something has developed in teh last few months. As for regular lighting 12v cfl is much better. If you are using point of use task lighting, LED will work in some situations.

[patriotchick]

Thanks for the input, at least I now have a place to start, I will look into the 12v route with the cfl bulbs, the led lights are what are in the out door solar lights and to get enough light out of them to actually do anything that needs light is impossible...I have seven of the outdoor lights torn apart and all seven of them together give off hardly any light, so I quickly realized that wasnt an economical option. Thanks again

[Archangel]

A few years back my daughter went to summer camp and wanted a reading light so I hooked up a small solar panel to a battery and she used a car reading light. It was a fun rig. that maybe a idea.

[Anon001]

Patriotchick,
I only know what little I've learned from personal experience, but anytime I have a question, I go to my distributor whom I trust... Then I do more reading. If it were me, I would do just as you've done and ask the forum. Then I would talk to a couple distributors and get their input. If it is a good distributor, they won't try and "sell" you or force you. When I first was studying solar and its many many options, my distributor would not only keep me on the phone until my question was answered but he would keep me on the phone until HE believed that I fully comprehended and understood the answers.

I recently had to order some new bulbs for my 1950's bathroom mirror that has a light on each side. The main thing with CFL bulbs is that you have to keep the voltage high in the batteries. If you consistently use that bulb with low voltage, they will burn out much too soon. The other option is 12V halogen. They do use more power but aren't prone to excessive wear with lower voltage. So, that is another option.

The other thing you didn't mention is what the use of these solar lights would be. Are you wanting them for your main light source or just reading lights and task lighting or......? The type of bulbs you decide on would be determined in part by the purpose of that light. Like kberg said, LED's are a good choice but only if you want them for reading lamps or task lighting. If you are looking for entire room lighting, then you may have to look at other options.

I would like to throw one more idea out to you. If you are going to convert your lighting, you must learn about solar, it's components, how they tie together and work. In simplified thought, you have a solar panel wired to a battery. They light runs off the charge stored in the battery just like your outdoor solar lights do. But, you typically need a "charge controller" between the panel and the battery to make sure you don't boil the battery. Between the battery and the light, you want a fuse. If it was me and I couldn't afford much for solar but knew it was my ultimate goal, I would go with something I could "add on to" later.

For example. If you know that you will someday be off-grid., buy a panel that you can add more to later on. Then you not only have tried out solar lighting, but you have also taken the first step toward utility independence.

I was forced to go 100% off grid cold turykey! But it worked out.

Good luck, and keep us informed what you do.
PaulNKS

[patriotchick]

Thanks PaulNKS....not being very technically inclined I found a local distributor that is going to come and do a sight eval here at my place for solar and wind, after reading about solar I realized that it was all beyond my realm of knowledge, so figured I better get advice from a pro. I figured if I could even start with half my whole room lighting being solar in the long run it would save me money and after reading and pricing components I figured that I need to focus on the end goal to be off grid even if I started small it would be most cost effective to get a system that could be added too, as you suggested, in time. The guy I have coming was recommended by an electrician aquaintance and the eval is free, so I figured it doesnt cost anything to talk to him. hoping by the end of next week I will have a better understanding. thanks for your input.

[12vman]

Are you wanting portable lighting or something attached to the wall/ceiling?

[Anon001]

Patriotchick,
12vman knows his material. Come back after your evaluation and let him know what you are told and he will give you the best advice.
Paul

[patriotchick]

12vman I was looking for lighting that was fixed to the ceiling/wall. I have seen alot that is for outside that is on motion detector settings with no way to turn them off or on, so those wouldnt be appropriate for inside I wouldnt think...and like I said the ones that come on at dark and go off in light that are made for outside are just not bright enough.

I ran into the guy who is coming to do the site eval at the grocery store, he basically said that to do 12 batteries with the solar panels and all the rigging it would cost me roughly 10 thousand, but they also help fill out the paper work to get a kick back from the state of roughly $4500. He told me that I could try to do eight batteries with the solar panels and all the rigging for around $6000 to start, and then add later if I needed more and that I would still be eligible for the kickback in the amound of roughly $2000. Lots to think about, but I will know more definites when he looks my place over.

[12vman]

Some of the Amish in my area have mobile light fixtures that they move from room to room as they need them. They have an area in the house that they "park" them during the day to get them charged. Like a fueling station.. ;D

The panel(s) are mounted on the south side of the house, either on a pole or the roof, and the wiring is routed inside to the charge controller. Everything is basically plug and play to the light fixtures. This avoids wiring throughout the house and still have decent lighting when/where you need it. The wiring is only at one spot.. The fueling station area.

The light fixtures are on casters so they can be moved easily. They are basically a box on wheels with a battery/electronics stored inside of the box made to look like a piece of furniture. The actual light fixture is supported about head height with a piece of wood turned on a lathe with some design. I've seen variations on the light itself. Some were conventional 120 volt units powered via a small inverter and 12 volt units. Some of the units had magazine racks built to the sides of the box. Very beautiful..

I thought this was a very crafty idea. No need to do any major wiring to the house and still have lights when/where you need it. Just move them from the charging area and use them. In the morning, move them back to get them charged.. 8)

[Naughty_Pines]

;D Clever people, the Amish. ;)

[madmac]

I live in a fifthwheel. 12v through out. Sometimes too much lighting,LOL. Anyway it uses 12v automobile lights. When we build or buy a small cabin or house I will go solar. Great idea the amish have. Might be worth a thought. Thanks for sharing that idea 12vman

[sawyerob]

I've done a bit of work for the Amish. Around here, all the Amish use propane lighting in there houses. At night you can see a single light in each room and it doesn't look very well lit to me.