Shed some light for me please

[mercrocker]

Storage unit I am using this winter is great but limited on power supply.  I do have access to electric but have to run cables and bother people.   All I want to do more often than not is just spannering for which I only need decent light.   Thought about those LED work lights - not the wanky wand type but something around 10W and freestanding.   Needs to be rechargeable with at least 5 hours "burn" time.   Any recommendations?

[lovejoy]

12 volt battery  +  invertor  + fluorescent light  ?  job done  !

[mercrocker]

Already have that option, which is good but I am looking for something a bit more portable for use elsewhere if necessary.   Its lugging the stuff about that gets a bit tedious - the van that I am storing has its batteries on condition charge at home....

[gordonbennet]

Alternatively, what about an old low power genny, i have an old Honda genny that's ideal for such things, it only makes about 1/2 KW, ok for lights but useless for power tools, but one giving a bit more would be fine for lights and the odd power tool, being Honda very quiet and runs all day on a cup of fuel.

Light enough to be carried one handed too, so useful for myriads of jobs.

[dollywobbler]

Tilly lamps. Sorted.

[lovejoy]

not that bird from the movie "Bound" , by any chance ? her lamps made me light up,

 

(Jennifer Tilly) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000236/?ref_=tt_cl_t1

 

along with her sidekick "Gina Gershon" in the movie - bet you don't get much spannering done then...

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115736/Enjoy !

[Bobthebeard]

As Dollywobbler suggests, a Tilley lamp will provide both light and heat!

I use one. Lasts around ten hours on a fill up of paraffin and has roughly the light output of a 60 watt bulb!

[castros_bro]

I find the LED flood lamp too directional so got a load of MR16  12v "white" LED spots and made mountings out of solvent welded polypipe, the MR16 just fits inside and a crock clip for a mount via and M6 bolt on the outside.....as in this autocad* master blue print.   MR16 doesn't care about polarity and "bell wire" is good enough for them.  Half a dozen in various positions to get rid of shadow and run on a 12v battery connected onto an optional solar panel on shed roof.  I also sometimes get paid to install the same into horse boxes.

 

[mercrocker]

Thank you CB for the authentically AS way of doing LEDs.....Tilley lamp idea also under consideration as is genny.   Not happy with having to buy Chinese landfill which is what LED will undoubtedly involve.   I have stored the dampervan over the winter before and got bugger all done on it cos couldn't be arsed but having something to see by will increase chances of things happening.....

[michael1703]

How about 12v strip lights from camping and general, the battery stays in the garage and you put one of them £20 "ring" solar panels on the roof ?

[cobblers]

Try these:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10W-DC-12V-High-Power-Warm-White-LED-Wash-Flood-Light-900LM-Waterproof-Outdoor-/120885064331?pt=UK_Garden_Lighting&hash=item1c254fb28b 

 

Run off an old car battery. They draw about an amp each and are really quite bright (equivalent to a 100w normal spotlight, I have two and they light my garage up reasonably well. One of them lights up the whole garden)

 

Even an old crap battery will run one for 8-10 hours +, then just take it home with you and charge it.

 

Solar panels would work to charge it but you'd need quite a large one if you wanted to use it every day.

An overcast winters day will give equivalent of 1hr "peak" sun, a summers day approx 5hrs of "peak".

 

So to run the light for 3 hours a day you'd need a 30-40w panel. But you'd get away with a 20w one if you just used the light on weekends, like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20W-solar-panel-kit-trickle-charger-12V-battery-car-van-motorbike-boat-3m-Cable-/301153695554?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item461e28b742

Which would put two hours worth of light use into the battery every day.

 

You could even hook the battery up to a car with some jump leads and leave it ticking over for 15 minutes which would give you probably 3 hours worth of light.

[Asimo]

Most Knackered car batteries that wouldn't start anything will run those led lamps for hours and hours.

[purplebargeken]

Just bought two of those lamps. I will report back.

[Minimad5]

This thread has given me ideas (thanks !)

As my unit has some fat fluorescent tubes, that cost an absolute bomb !

[cort16]

Get yourself a handful of stormy petrels.

 

[forddeliveryboy]

Strips of LEDs can be good - they're versatile and cheapish.