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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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solar powered camp lights
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.
[Edited on 4-21-2006 by woody in ob]
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David K
Honored Nomad
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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.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
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Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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MrBillM
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Woody
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.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
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don't waste your money..
they are just too little....ornamental only...
i tried them for my sister....junk
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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dead guys?
in the desert?  :moon:
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Bruce R Leech
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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 + HowellMade in china
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
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Correto
Right-on Bruce!
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Mexray
Super Nomad
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Bought some similar LED/Solar lights...
...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!
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
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Brinkmann is a good co. how much did they cost?
[Edited on 4-22-2006 by Bruce R Leech]
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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bajalou
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| 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
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Those look pretty neat
Any idea how much they cost?
Oh yeah, ........and who's on first, Lou?
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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Location: Redding, Northern CA
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The secret to keeping the solar lights working------
-------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.
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Mexray
Super Nomad
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The Brinkmann's come with...
...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...
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
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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
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
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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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.
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Mexray
Super Nomad
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Bob...
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...
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
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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.
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oladulce
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Bob & Susan-
What kind of fixtures are you using those bulb in ?
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
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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
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