solar garden lights

[Adam Aglionby]

Got some Maplin models form 4/5 years ago, 2 Jump Sun 600mah NiCd in them, decent size solar panel on top. Retrofitted couple with 3 green LEDs, green LED will light on microamps, one lights all year round even over Christmas for couple of hours and has done for at least 4 years.

White, green and blue all need over 3V to light so the single and double battery models use a charge pump to boost the voltage, amber and red dont need it, but are usually a sign of really naff solar lights.

Looking at the size of the actual panel gives a gues lot of them are couple of stips of ofcut buried in large amount of black gunk, look for something where the black area is actually panel.

Adam

[meow2222]

ways to get much more light output:

1. fit a reflective collar in winter so the panel gets more light - but remove in summer so the panel doesnt burn
2. fit a lot more LEDs, bigger NiCd and a bigger panel
3. Forget about ready made micropower things and make a solar light system from scratch.

NT

[whisky-dave]

I want a solar powered dark room.

[Mary Fisher]

You obviously didn't make the connection between my first and second sentences :-)

Mary

[Mary Fisher]

I have a solar powered key-ring.

Mary

[John Rumm]

Just get yourself some of those solar garden lights and use them inside ;-)

[Roger Mills]

It might take a while to charge the batteries!