In recent times we've noticed many campers with gimmicky lighting set up around their camps such a solar lights near their tent pegs that turn red, green, blue then yellow constantly all night.
The other day we noticed someone whose awning had more LED lights than an amusement park ride. Even along the ropes holding it down.
Last night the people that camped next to us had a slow cooker that looked like a UFO coming in to land, constantly shining & dimming every 30 seconds as the temperature fluctuated.
Each to their own we say, LED's & solar have revolutionised camping lighting but we're getting to the silly stage now don't you reckon?
Next thing you know we'll have disco mirror balls hanging everywhere.
Are you a lighting junkie?
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Trip Reports posted on feathersandphotos.com.au Go to Forums then Trip Reports.
You do wonder DD, to think we find a nice quiet bush camp, no street lights, car lights, house lights, away from the city lights, then light up your camp site.
I admit, we do have two solar lamps, one on each of our guy ropes, but that is for safety only.
We just love sitting out under the stars in the dark, waiting for the inevitable shooting star.
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DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
We've got LED strips along inside the roof. wired into roof lights.
Gives better WHITE light for reading etc.
Cut down 5 mtr roll along inside top edge of roll out.
Comes on when outside light turns on and roll out. out..
Torches.
Around 9 at present with another 3 different ones on the way.
Great toys. and costs, almost cents.
When I put guy pegs out. I have 3 x tiny 1 in by 1 1\2 in, slow flashing LED's
For on the pegs. To notify people.
Safety. Fine.
I'm a lighting addict - I probably need to get treatment as I'll buy the latest and greatest bit of lighting kit I can get my hands on. You can never have too many lights.
I agree, people are really going overboard as the LED/Solar/Party lights are so cheap and readily available.
However there are one area where I really like what is happening. The trucks on our roads and highways.
Back in the 70s, so often it was difficult to see trucks at night especially in less than perfect conditions.
Now it is like as though they are all trying to out do each other with the number of lights on their trucks. You can see them coming for considerable distances and similarly as you come up behind them
I have the LED strip down the side of motor home on annex side . One short strip on top of switch box to read gauges and switches at night . Best part is they don't require large sized wire ..
Lovely night at Arkaroola, thought we'd get the 8" reflector out and do a bit of stargazing. Across the park some modern campers had a couple of tall vertical very bright lights that spoiled the darkness a bit, but we were able to position the scope so they were mostly obscured behind their tents and vehicles. Anyway, the moon was bright, so it didn't matter very much. Then they got out a very bright LED torch and flashed it around a bit. Well you can't complain, they were searching for something and they weren't deliberately pointing it our way, and eventually they found what they were looking for and put the very bright LED torch away.
But when the kids got their green laser pointer out, I had to draw the line at that. Even the briefest of flashes in our direction which happened to run across the face of the scope could result in a horrible "welding flash" or much worse, potentially blindness in one eye.
Fortunately, when I asked the adults if they could ensure that it didn't shine our way they immediately saw the danger, and the pointer didn't come out again. I invited them over for a peek at Jupiter if they wanted, so that helped.
Not sure I'd let kids have laser pointers of any description. Just too dangerous and the damage happens in an instant. Some of the astronomy club members have them to help with aiming their scopes, but they are treated with great caution.
Some of the vans do look a bit like the space ship from Close Encounters, but looking at the bright side, at least you don't trip over their tent pegs!
My husband says the same thing about the Triton - we have 10" driving lights and a 36" light bar. In camp, we have LED light strips, and we use as few as possible. Torches for dog loo runs....
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The Mobile Madhouse: me (Rosie), him (Troy), a kelpie, a kelpie-dingo, a husky & a rainbow lorikeet.
I do carry a couple of sets of those XMAS LEDs but rarely use them. They were purchased for use when we were with the grandkids at Ballina in the run up to XMAS.
Then there are the two sets of LEDs that I have for under the Awning. Bloody bright they are too. Got one set at a charity auction & the other roll up set was given to me as faulty & I repaired the fractured section. Don't need the old portable Fluro any more.
I have several LED down lights for the Gazebo when I take it with me. Usually when we are beach side for a few weeks.
Of course all of my inside lights have parallel LEDs & I replaced all the Van running lights with LEDs. A few LED cupboard lights too though I have baulked at putting LEDs along the Awning rafter or on the kitchen bench undersides like some modern Vans.
And on & on it goes with torches & headlamps. Looking for a super torch at the moment & a LED camping lantern for when I go RedClaw trapping.
Put a good strip of LEDs in the front van boot, lights up better than daylight! Just putting strips in all the under storage areas of van, cupboards and small access points cupboards at floor level.
i have two led hand lamps that light up any area that need til illuminate around the van on leads.
have 10 high quality led torches of various strength and size just in case I need to find something or defend myself by ensuring the offender only sees white for a couple minutes while their eyes adjust gives me time to get away or call for help.
yep love led technology!
but I don't have any colour changing ones, might have to get some of them !
Try this one $30 del "Sky Ray King 4x18650. 4*Cree XM-L U2 3-Mode "
Google "Lightmalls " and peruse. Can get cheaper if persevere and look around. They easy.
I use the thin 2\3 cell ones with 3 L2's in head. Above one is stronger.
For a Pencil beam that goes forever. C8 torches Are very good, and start at $6.50ish. $9-12 gets a good one.
XM-L2 are strongest, but XM-L do a good job.$8-30ish. L2's start around $24+
I have a Q5 I bought 5 or more yrs ago.(weaker Bin.) Pencil beam goes right across park with clear shots on houses there. at LEAST 150 mtrs. and fits comfortably into jacket pocket.(Got an L2 in post) $4.50 from memory
Pricing Depending. AUS or OS. Same torches differing prices. MUCH more exxy here.
I like the "Ultra fire". and "SKY-RAY" ones. Well made + finished. Comparable to $60-110 models.
DON'T get hooked on 'em...I got around 10 with 3 more on order. Toys. Mate has near 50. Like me with my fishing gear.
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 20th of May 2017 07:50:32 PM
Perhaps I'll try a budget one to try them out as a supplier while I choose a good one from the higher priced ones.
Edit .. Looked at the one you suggested ... price goes up a bit when you add on the 4x batteries @ $21.43 each & a charger I suppose (cheap one $4.49!).
-- Edited by Cupie on Saturday 20th of May 2017 09:48:26 PM
I gotta admit, I'm one of those who just can't help buying L.E.D's for our van,
A little while ago I spotted a led remote control unit made for 12v led lights, for sale on Evil Bay, it only cost a few bucks so I bought a couple,
I have since fitted one unit to the outside led strip light that I fitted above the door on our Coromal,
Very pleased with the result, we can now leave the van and turn on or off the light from a distance of about 15m very handy when we return to the van after dark, no more fumbling for the door keys now.
Another set of leds were fitted into the shower ceiling in the form of exhaust fans, actually they are 12v Computer fans......
Expensive ones are NO better than these things and 4 or 5 times the price. A lot of people in lighting forums have compared. It's mainly to have the name I think. "I got a ??)
Mate's son in police. My 3 battery 18650 with 3 x XM-L2 head. is as good as his issued $160 item. Beam and light wise. and I paid $23.50. Del.
Those 4 battery things with 4\5\9\15 bins in there are blinding, and go forever. But I think. Bulky, in hand.
, at least you don't trip over their tent pegs!
