Solar Lanterns

[jazzy]

i bought 2 solar lanterns at walmart to try them out and was very happy with them, so i found 2 more of a different type on ebay and just got them.

i set them on my windowsill during the day and use one at night to give me some extra light to read in bed. its soft enough to not hurt my eyes, but bright enough to read by. they arent exceptionally bright, ive turned off all the lights in the house at night and used one to walk around with to see how well they do. not bad at all.

i have a few old fashioned ones that use lamp oil, and a few rechargeable wind ups that i like too, but i thought it a good idea to have a few of these also.

anyone else try any solar lanterns?

[Little RedRidingHood]

I bought a box containing four last summer on sale. They work great. Just recently bought a single solar spot light and a three light solar spot light that works off of one big panel for the three. They have been charging and work great. Plan on using them to light the hill behind the house for security reasons.
We bought a solar fence charger for the horses that does 20 miles of fence and the horses sure know it's hot! It will work three days or more without any sun. We're getting a small unit just for the stallion pen on the next supply run.
Next thing will be a solar pump for the well. And also thinking of solar motion detector lights for around the house and garage.
So far we have been very pleased with these small systems as we are with the big house panels.

[DreadPirate]

In the past I had an idea to run 12Volt wires through the house and hook up 12V lights to them. Run it off a batt. and use a soler panel to charge it during the day. Still havent got around to doing it but it should work good.
Maybe stylish outdoor path lights. :wink:

[Little RedRidingHood]

It works great. We had two, one hooked up and one charging. Lived on top of a mountain with no power grid hookup. Remember if you plan on doing this to hit Wal-Mart for the right light bulbs!! Go to the Auto/RV section, the bulbs were 50 cents each but ... in a pinch it's light!

[WVtreehanger]

Same kind as you Jazzy. We alternate them to keep one charging in the windowsill at all times. Work great.

[Midnight Blue]

i bought 2 solar lanterns at walmart to try them out and was very happy with them, so i found 2 more of a different type on ebay and just got them.

i set them on my windowsill during the day and use one at night to give me some extra light to read in bed. its soft enough to not hurt my eyes, but bright enough to read by. they arent exceptionally bright, ive turned off all the lights in the house at night and used one to walk around with to see how well they do. not bad at all.

i have a few old fashioned ones that use lamp oil, and a few rechargeable wind ups that i like too, but i thought it a good idea to have a few of these also.

anyone else try any solar lanterns?

I haven't tried them but would like to. How much were they at Walmart and what brand specifically?

I've also seen the outdoor solar lights that come on at night and change colors all night on one of the home shopping networks.... and no I have never bought anything from them but they sure have neat stuff.

[jazzy]

hmmm, i think at walmart they were about 20-25$---i just looked at one, and you know what--theres no brand name or label at all....odd, huh?

i have to go to walmart tomorrow so ill look to see if they have any more--they seem to sell out real fast. id like to get 2 more.

the ones i got from ebay, im not real pleased with---smaller, didnt hold a charge as long as the walmart ones. well, live and learn--maybe it needs more full sunlight, ill put it out on the patio tomorrow and see if that makes a difference.

id like to get one of those solar spotlights to put out back---they seem to run about 50-70$, the ones ive looked at. i think it would be worth it in the long run tho'.

someone did mention to me that if there were no other places with electricity and i have spotlights on outside (solar) it would make me a target, so im still ruminating on that.

[dreadstalker]

I haven't bothered with the solar lanterns but I have had excellent results with the solar path lights.

[DreadPirate]

We have a couple at the chicken coupe and the one that gets full light stays lit all night.

[kelee877]

We have the outdoor solar lights..and I took the dog out the other morning really early and underneath the newly fallen snow I saw a glow...lol...it was one of the outdoor solar lights glowing through the snow..so hey they work really good...

the snow must have melted enough for it to get some sun light and then we got the day before I went out 6 inches of new snow fall so i was seeing the charged solar light glow through the snow...it was cool

If you don,t get the lights this summer then come fall they will go on sale..I know seems we are getting closer to SHTF....so might be better to get these things as you can....

[momof23goats]

I was wondering about that my self. I think I even mentioned it to dh. I am going to get some of these. charge during the day, and light your home at night. that is great. I think I would like about 8 of them. would be great, for sure. I have lots of windows, or could stick them on the deck, each morning, we have had a lot of cloudy days this winter, wonder how that would effect them?

[Little RedRidingHood]

I put mine on the deck in the sun each morning all during the coldest, darkest months and had no problem. My problem came in the past few days when I forgot to move them to their "summer" spot for their daytime charge!
Due to the different angle of the sun the deck roof was blocking the sun!
I looked at the box the new ones came in and the brand name is Malibu. I've gotten all of ours at Wal-Mart.
The solar water pump came from Northern Tool.

[momof23goats]

thanks so much for this info. was the solar pump expansive?

[Housekeeper]

How well do they charge on a cloudy day?

[Little RedRidingHood]

So far they have done very well.
The solar fence charger for the horses does 20 miles of fence. So where we have it located, and on the amount of hot fence, it will keep a charge for nearly 5 full days without sun. If the frost is really hard or it snows alot I just take a dry, soft washcloth out and wipe the panel off.
We like it so well we plan on getting another one for back-up.
Mom ... Yes, I'm afraid it was expensive for the solar pump. I already had the large solar panels so it was cheaper than it would have been if I'd need to put out all the cash at one time. The new price I saw late yesterday was $699! from Northern Tool! That is nearly $200 more than when we bought ours nearly 15+ months ago.
On another well we put a hand pump, and there is a 12 volt on another,
We need to make sure the water works everytime we need it since we raise horses and guardian dogs, plus have other livestock.
Hope this helps! :)

[DreadPirate]

Went and found this for you mom.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200332019_200332019

Hay little. I was looking as you where typing. :lol:
I have acually been looking for something like this. Thanks

[jesner]

Last year I found some solar lanterns that work on rechargeable AA batteries; in case I need some charged AA batteries for something else.

[momof23goats]

looks like it would do the trick alright. be a pretty handy thing to have for sure .

[DreadPirate]

looks like it would do the trick alright. be a pretty handy thing to have for sure .

I agree. Just have to get over the sticker shock. :shock:

[momof23goats]

it is a little pricey, now does it come with its own solar panel, or do you have to get one. wonder what size you would need.

[DreadPirate]

Well that is a great question. It doesn't say anywhere. I also did a zoom on the image and the data plate is devoid of such info.

[momof23goats]

well, it appears to me, that you have to have panels, already. so that is going to add more on to the cost.
but still worth it, if the grid does the rolling thing this summer. I have livestock, and must have water.
you can do the solar lights for your house, and a solar pump for your water.
now I will need to find out how much for a few panels, for fridge, freezers, pump. one air, conditioner, a solar panel of any size to it, it costly for sure.

[Little RedRidingHood]

I bought two large ones with some friends about three or four years ago. As a group buy from Siemens we only payed per panel $245 delivered to the door. BUT it was a big group buy. The next year we all wanted to do another group by and the price had jumped almost a $150 per panel!
BUT ... if the grid does go down those of us with livestock need either the well running, or live water in the form of creeks, streams or rivers.
That is the only mistake we made when we bought this place was NO live water. Big Mistake BUT using the solar equipment will help solve the problems when the grid does go down.
You may be able to buy directly from a solar panel maker near you for alot less. Do you get Countryside, Backwoods or Mother Earth mags? If so, they have ads for solar panels in there. If not let me know and I'll get the addy's for you.

[momof23goats]

well, fore what i need, i am looking at about 600 a panel. and I would need several. now i think I will buy one, and have it for the well, then try to get a couple more, for the freezers. and fridge. and one to run the air. thats it.

[Samurai Jane]

Anyone else noticed that the cheap solar yard lights only last a few years? The clear plastic over the solar cells deteriorates and turns milky pretty fast.

[momof23goats]

I saw some that aren't clear, guess those would be better. so guess i will get them .