lighting it up while we are doing it

dawa · Guru

lighting it up while we are doing it

PeterS · Senior Member

biggrin

pauline · Guru

One of those led lights that go round the head would be the go or one of those led light lanterns that run of household batterys maybe............

fireheart · Senior Member

There is a plethora of comebacks there with your heading Dawa, however I will be a good girl and keep my thoughts and mind out of the gutter.

On a more serious note, that is also something else to think about. Wow the closer I am getting to actually having this happen the more there is to think about. I guess that is where a kindle would be an option as they come with a back light.

I am loving hearing about your adventures, keep doing it and sharing. I am learning heaps.

thanks
Sharon.

dawa · Guru

hi Pauline;

Love your avatar.

I have a lamp that is great but the batteries only last me two nights.

Dawa

dawa · Guru

i asked a serious question here.

beiffe · Guru

Dawa we need a bit of info.
1.Do you have a battery in the van and if so how big and type of battery.

beiffe · Guru

Sorry press the wrong bL**Y button.

2 Do you charge from the car. eg do you have an anson plug at the rear and if so how big is the cable. there should be a large pair of cables running between the car and the van if you have this.

3 If you have a cable to charge the van battery what is involved. eg a voltage sensor or relay controlled by ignition switch. This is needed to cut the connection between the crank battery in the car and the second battery
4 Do you have extra charging option.

A couple of simple options that can be considered.
1. If you have a battery in van get a portable solar panel say 2 x 40w with regulator on the back and then get a decent plug in side of van to connect. I ran this way for nearly 4 years on the road full time and I ran a compressor fridge etc. I was supplemented by motor alternator when driving as well. Make sure the cable are heavy cables. The thickness of a pencil if possible. The thinner the cable the more loss of charging. I changed my cables and then I could use longer cables to enable getting the panels away from the RV so I can park in the shade and put the panels in the sun and chase it.
2. If no battery in van and you have a second battery in the tug then run a cord from the second battery. Ensure when stationary it is disconnected from crank battery.
3. Add a panel on the roof of the van. More expensive and less effective as far as charging but you have to get your head around that someone may pinch them but mine were left out 24/7 when I camped and I never lost one and I camped in many spots, some crowded and some isolated.

Hope this helps a bit.

I am not a techo so used basic descriptions but no one else was prepared to offer help. Get back to me if you want more detailed explanation etc.

Regards
Brian

Travel Bug · Guru

dawa, I promise to be serious wink smile

Have you tried the "itty bitty book light"?

It is quite compact and flexible, clips onto the book while you are reading and throws a good but not glaring light.

I have had mine for a few months and have not needed to replace the battery yet.

I also clip it onto my Kobo e-reader which is not back lit.

I bought mine at Angus and Robertson...but my friend recently bought one at Woolworths supermarket. It is a different brand but it looks and works exactly the same as mine. They are about $20.

Hope this helps.

Safe and happy travels. smile

PeterS · Senior Member

Dawa seriously now. LED lighting is very efficent and low draw and there are now so many options available. A small reading light should be able to run for days without recharging. I am not sure what sort of vehicle etc. you are using or what sort of power supples you have but as I said heaps of LED options out there now, just shop around.

Sorry but you topic titles leave it so wide open to norti comments biggrin

dawa · Guru

OH NOW I get what Peter was on about......really >>>>>

My mind doesn't work that way and I tend to forget that others look for secondary meanings........sheesh do I have to monitor everything i say here.

what a nuiscance

Dawa

dawa · Guru

OK i have a toyota campervan

It has a solar panel on the roof but i can't find an isolating switch so a bit wary that i will flatten the crank battery.

there is a battery connected to the solar panel and when i get to Deni i am going to find out if there is an isolating switch.

Was thinking of getting those solar panels and recharging yet another battery.

I am wanting to stay min of 5 days in each spot. Puter and lighting to read by.

I read for hours at night.......maybe i need to change that.....but i haven't slept well for a long time now.

Dawa

the rocket · Guru

beiffe wrote:
Sorry press the wrong bL**Y button.

2 Do you charge from the car. eg do you have an anson plug at the rear and if so how big is the cable. there should be a large pair of cables running between the car and the van if you have this.

3 If you have a cable to charge the van battery what is involved. eg a voltage sensor or relay controlled by ignition switch. This is needed to cut the connection between the crank battery in the car and the second battery
4 Do you have extra charging option.

A couple of simple options that can be considered.
1. If you have a battery in van get a portable solar panel say 2 x 40w with regulator on the back and then get a decent plug in side of van to connect. I ran this way for nearly 4 years on the road full time and I ran a compressor fridge etc. I was supplemented by motor alternator when driving as well. Make sure the cable are heavy cables. The thickness of a pencil if possible. The thinner the cable the more loss of charging. I changed my cables and then I could use longer cables to enable getting the panels away from the RV so I can park in the shade and put the panels in the sun and chase it.
2. If no battery in van and you have a second battery in the tug then run a cord from the second battery. Ensure when stationary it is disconnected from crank battery.
3. Add a panel on the roof of the van. More expensive and less effective as far as charging but you have to get your head around that someone may pinch them but mine were left out 24/7 when I camped and I never lost one and I camped in many spots, some crowded and some isolated.

Hope this helps a bit.

I am not a techo so used basic descriptions but no one else was prepared to offer help. Get back to me if you want more detailed explanation etc.

Regards
Brian
wow Brian. I am soooo impressed with your answer. you have some very good ideas none of which I had thought of. It is good of Dawa to ask questions not just for herself but lots of us are learning as well. For something really simple,there is an LED torch you crank it up & it stores energy for a couple of hours & we purchased it at Bunnings for about $20 and it is bright. rocket n strop

Happywanderer · The Master

Dawa, I will try and be serious too.
I do have a headlamp which I find the best. I do also have a lantern lamp but the batteries don't last very long.
Have now bought a lamp from Bunnings that has a solar panel connection. The solar panel can sit on the dash all day charging. Then you use the lamp at night, its very bright and cost under 20.00
The solar panel is about 4 inch square.

Cruising Granny · Guru

As the topic suggests, it's not healthy to light up anytime, particularly "then".
Sorry, but it had to be said.
There are all sorts of solar options out there in the cheap shops. I've "light-scaped" my little garden and some of the smallest lights are the brightest.
There are batteries which are rechargable and hold a charge for quite a long time, lithium based.
The LED globes are the best and most economical.
Gee after reading all these options, I'm glad I don't read much, especially at night. I don't write at night either.
My tiny brain has to have a spell some time.
Check out the cheap shops for these lights. Check the battery before you decide, so you get the longest light from the best battery.
How often do you plug in to 240V? A chance to recharge those rechargable batteries. Have fun.

Sheba · Guru

I've got an external solarpowered Shed light, that I can put on the dashboard to charge during the day. I could use that at night if necessary.

My lights run off the solar battery though, so I'd only use that one outside.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Hi Dawa a foldout solar light is a fairly cheap investment from ebay and will solve a lot of those problems for you so you might want to consider that. Also a solar rechargeable led light will be even cheaper. I think in the long run if you want to do a fair bit of free camping the extra investment in solar and 12v is well worth it because you recoup your investment very quickly in saving of CP rentals

Beth54 · Guru

I have the the shed light that sits on the dash during the day to charge. It's great!

But for reading, I use the LED head lamp with lithium batteries.

As to most of us reading other things into your wording...I suspect you're pulling our legs with your naivety.

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Dawa when you get to Deniliquin have someone rig up a simple solution for you - it should be cheap and effective and very easy to install and maintain. I paid $45 for a little solar rechargeable led lantern which lasts for hours. As for leg pulling I'm with Beth me thinks the lady protests too much.

Jack Mac · Senior Member

I bought a couple of portable 12 volt (basically trouble lights) from supercheap for my camper trailer. They are LED that plug into the cig lighter or other 12 volt cig lighter type plug if you have them fitted. They draw b***er all and give me enough light for my camper. I sure they would be enough for your reading requirements. They have a hook on them so you can hang them where you like. From memory they were about $13 but certainly under $20 ( I'm a cheapskate).

Just another thought.

ozi2 · Guru

Hi Dawa,

I have recently purchased the best L.E.D light that I have found....that actually works, lasts and just so practical.

Google: Crescant Might D Light and see what you think. It costs $59.00 at autopro etc. It is an 80 white light LED, super for reading at night, 240/12v recharging, adjustable and suitable for a wide variety of uses.

cheers,

ozi2

neilnruth · Guru

We just had an experience of the rechargeable lantern not holding it's charge and the generator not working and we were very glad I had bought 3 small LED lights from Aldi which even had batteries in them. They lit up the van quite well. We have since bought a 35LED light which recharges from the car as we are driving and will last for 16 hours. Now that's a lot of reading! It only cost $35.

Elle on Wheels · Guru

ozi2 wrote:
Hi Dawa,
I have recently purchased the best L.E.D light that I have found....that actually works, lasts and just so practical.
Google: Crescant Might D Light and see what you think. It costs $59.00 at autopro etc. It is an 80 white light LED, super for reading at night, 240/12v recharging, adjustable and suitable for a wide variety of uses.
cheers,
ozi2

This one would be worth investing in - yet another item for the shopping list...... sigh

Sheba · Guru

Got home safely. Been trying to upload Pic. of the Shed Light I was talking about, but even after downsizing, it doesn't want to . Will try again later.

Got it.

Picture 508.jpg

Cheers,

Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Thursday 5th of April 2012 07:06:55 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

The best light of all during my trip up was the solar powered one. The light is about the same shape as the rear vision mirror. It sits in the back with a cord long enough through to the front with the 4" x 4" solar panel sitting permanently on the dash. Never had to move it and it was there to turn on when ever I needed it. A good bright light.
My head lamp is a dead loss, I had to replace its batteries every night so gave up on using that for reading.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

You can, of course, buy a light that uses only 1 amp per hour - so hardly any draw on your battery at all. Have had one for a long time - can get 12 volt or 240 v - think the brand is Navara or something like that - used it in camper trailer as well as caravan - really bright, good to read with etc. Also have one of the solar shed lights from Bunnings - puts out an amazing amount of light.

billeeeeeee · Guru

.......

malfromcessnock · Veteran Member

Beth54 wrote
As to most of us reading other things into your wording...I suspect you're pulling our legs with your naivety.

Beth, just going back through some older posts -

you're not silly are you.

Beth54 · Guru

malfromcessnock wrote:
Beth54 wrote
As to most of us reading other things into your wording...I suspect you're pulling our legs with your naivety.
Beth, just going back through some older posts -
you're not silly are you.

Sometimes I am. wink

03_troopy · Guru

jules47 wrote:
You can, of course, buy a light that uses only 1 amp per hour - so hardly any draw on your battery at all. Have had one for a long time - can get 12 volt or 240 v - think the brand is Navara or something like that - used it in camper trailer as well as caravan - really bright, good to read with etc. Also have one of the solar shed lights from Bunnings - puts out an amazing amount of light.

Hi Jules, that light if it draws 1A for an hour would also draw 1A for 1 second. What sort of light are you talking about? is it a LED light or some form of incandescent light and most importantly, how much light does it produce. The point is a 12Volt 12Watt incandescent globe would would also draw 1Amp ( for however long it was connected to the battery or the battery died) but it doesn't put out much light. The brand is probably Narva from the sound of it too.

Cheers Bob