BajaNomad - solar powered camp lights

solar powered camp lights

woody with a view - 4-21-2006 at 07:40 AM

i was looking around the net for some solar powered camp lights and found these from bell and howell.

http://www.ekitchengadgets.com/sopofllisof2.html

anyone have anything similar that they like? for $20 i'm thinking of trying em out. they seem like they would be perfect to stick in the sand around camp and you don't have to worry about broken globes and mantles. :fire:

[Edited on 4-21-2006 by woody in ob]

David K - 4-21-2006 at 07:44 AM

Woody, they are pretty weak... at least all the solar powered landscape lights I have seen.

I pretty much now use battery powered lanterns with the neon or LCD bulbs. The neon models are pretty good and no mantles or propane bottles to mess with. My LCD lantern is not very bright and gives off a blue light.

Bob and Susan - 4-21-2006 at 10:11 AM

:lol:

Woody

MrBillM - 4-21-2006 at 05:27 PM

Like you say, they're CHEAP. Buy a couple and try them. Everybody has a different satisfaction level. I've bought a lot of solar powered landscape and security lights over the years and they run the gamut. Some are pretty good, some aren't. Right now I've got a $79.00 Brinkman Solar dual-lamp motion sensing light over my garage and it's pretty good. Puts out enough of a light pattern to read by. I've also got a bunch of Malibu Amber solar landscape lights that I've bought for $20 (four-pack) that give off a nice glow and last all night when new, up until about 3 a.m. after a couple of years.

Bob and Susan - 4-21-2006 at 05:55 PM

don't waste your money..

they are just too little....ornamental only...

i tried them for my sister....junk

dead guys?

woody with a view - 4-21-2006 at 06:26 PM

in the desert? :?:

:moon:

Bruce R Leech - 4-21-2006 at 06:39 PM

be careful . I don't trust these chinese Co's that pick a name similar to a well known reputable co. like Bell & Howell. the co. you are talking is Bell + Howell :lol:

Made in china

Correto

Sharksbaja - 4-21-2006 at 06:44 PM

Right-on Bruce!

Bought some similar LED/Solar lights...

Mexray - 4-21-2006 at 08:16 PM

...from my local Tar-chez (Target) store...

Paid $35 for a 3-pack. The solar panel is 2 x 3 inches, and the dual-LED 'projector' lamp head is 2 inches in diameter. they call them ' Solar Spotlights', and they do provide accent light in the yard...they would work for camping to light small areas...maybe to help keep one from stumbling over rocks and such when moving about after dark!

Bruce R Leech - 4-21-2006 at 08:22 PM

Brinkmann is a good co. how much did they cost?

[Edited on 4-22-2006 by Bruce R Leech]

bajalou - 4-21-2006 at 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mexray
...from my local Tar-chez (Target) store...

Paid $35 for a 3-pack. The solar panel is 2 x 3 inches, and the dual-LED 'projector' lamp head is 2 inches in diameter. they call them ' Solar Spotlights', and they do provide accent light in the yard...they would work for camping to light small areas...maybe to help keep one from stumbling over rocks and such when moving about after dark!

Looks like $35 for 3 of them

Those look pretty neat

Hook - 4-21-2006 at 08:59 PM

Any idea how much they cost?

Oh yeah, ........and who's on first, Lou? :lol:

The secret to keeping the solar lights working------

Barry A. - 4-21-2006 at 09:07 PM

-------is to replace the AA Nickle metal hydride batteries after about 3 years, or whenever they start to fail. This is pretty easy, but can get a little pricey, depending on how many batteries each unit has. The units with only two batteries are not so bad------maybe $5 to replace the two batteries.

So, buy good units to begin with, and replace the batteries when they start to not last very long at night---------that has been my experience, anyway. I have some that have lasted for over 8 years, and still going, with replacement batteries.

The Brinkmann's come with...

Mexray - 4-21-2006 at 09:28 PM

...two AA, Ni-Cad batt's that are easy to replace...units like this, with replaceable batteries should last a long time as Barry A, suggests.

We, like others, these days have some similar Solar/LED lights 'stuck' around our palapa down at Bahia Concepci?n when we're 'home' there! Kinda neat effect on the Playa!

We illuminate the interior of the palapa with a total of (5) low-wattage (100 watt equivalent) florescent 110VAC bulbs. We run them off our inverter/battery system, and when we have all five turned on, our neighbors have 'named' our palapa; "Casa de Luces". It is kinda BRIGHT...but it's nice to have the 'light' when you need it...

Bob and Susan - 4-22-2006 at 05:42 AM

I just bought and tested these...

3.4 watts gets you a 40 watt light

The only problem was when I used only 2 the power required wouldnt turn on the sleeping inverter...

Now I need more...
$20.00 includes shipping

Mexray..you could light that palapa up like Chino Prison :lol:

Specifications
Bulb Type PAR38 70 LED
Life time 50,000 Hours
Color Warm White 4000K to 4500K
Light Output 65 Lumens (about a 40 watt Incandescent bulb)
Operating Voltage 110 - 120 volt AC
Consumption 3.4 Watt

woody with a view - 4-22-2006 at 09:23 AM

i just saw an ad on the fox news channel for bell and howell lights for $29.99 + 7.99 shipping. there must have been a load of them on the APL Panama that finally hit the shores. :lol:

Bob...

Mexray - 4-22-2006 at 11:22 PM

That seems like a good price for a '70 LED' unit!

Where did you buy em'? I've never seen them that cheap!

I've bought fluorescent reflector units like that for only a few bucks at one of the mass-market places...they aren't very bright, probably in the 40 watt (equivalent) neighborhood, but have got to be about twice the actual wattage of those LED units of yours.

Of course, those LED are going to last a lot longer (and run cooler) than the fluorescent types! LED's are just the greatest gadgets to be mass-produced these days! They've been around for ages, but these newer, hi volume types have really begun to change the way we all are to look at 'lighting'...pun on me! Those new 1.5 watt LED flashlights really put out a good beam.

I believe we'll be seeing more LEDs in all our stuff, every year. Look at all the LEDs now being used in auto's, trucks, signage, etc...what's next, LED decoder rings in our corn flake boxes?...Sorry, you're probably too young for that reference...try Cracker Jack prizes... :lol:

Bob and Susan - 4-23-2006 at 09:50 AM

Ebay...i love that place...

Shop and have it delivered right to your door

http://stores.ebay.com/1Som-BidSome

The guy lives in California... and I've talked to him by phone.

He's OK...I'm currently buying two more...

The clear ones are 60 watts but put out a blueish light.

oladulce - 4-23-2006 at 10:47 AM

Bob & Susan-
What kind of fixtures are you using those bulb in ?

Bob and Susan - 4-23-2006 at 11:42 AM

I just made them...110v to plug into the inverter

2 regular flood light sockets screwed to an electrical box
6 feet of conduit
Electrical box on the bottom with electrical plugs and a light switch

I made 2 sets and mounted them to each side of a center concrete support pole in the garage.

Lights up the entire place for 14 watts

I'll use these LEDs in all the casitas now...

but you do need more bulbs than regular lights...

and they cost way more...but the electrical usage savings is outstanding.

Get the soft white so the light looks like a regular light bulb...

the clear bulbs look blueish

bajarich - 4-25-2006 at 11:54 AM

About 5 years ago my wife purchased a solar powered florescent lamp at a specialty "Discover Store" or "Discovery Store". It puts out as much light as a Coleman florescent lamp, and it seems to work really well. The name on it is "Solar Navigator". It also has a radio (AM, FM, Weather) in it. I have been using it for the past five years on my trips to Baja and haven't had any problem with it.
It's been in storage all winter and I just turned it on and it still has the charge.
I don't know what she paid for it.

Diver - 4-25-2006 at 12:12 PM

"Solar Navigator"

http://21st-century-goods.com/page/21st/PROD/SL9100MRC

Looks like everyone should have one !!

MAN!!!!!!!!

Hook - 4-26-2006 at 04:34 PM

THOSE NAVIGATOR'S ARE WAY COOL!!!!!!!!

Now if someone would come out with one with a strip of warm white LEDs, it would be the ultimate.