Alternative in/outside Lighting

[rAcErRicK]

Ran across a neat idea a few days ago, in Dollar General found 6 small solar powered LED marker lights,(in a kit) (for the stairs) for $15, works great, just enough light to see. Realized that they would be great INside if no power, not bright, but ample, and the great part is that you can take them out the next day and they recharge up. Only uses one AA batt too. You could also use the recharged batt for something else if necessary. Now, there are some larger/brighter ones that would be even better for this purpose ($3 and $4 apiece), so I'm gonna get a couple more larger ones to save for A cheeep alternative light source, and batt charger too. Prolly a dim light is better sometimes too, looks like nobodys home. Can't be seen as far if not near a window.

[capecmom]

I've done the same thing. If you go to someplace like Homegoods this time of year they even have decorative solar powered table top lanterns. I figure like you that even though they don't through around a lot of light, they are enough to keep you from bumping into things during the night. Especially if you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

[☼ ЯÏĊk ☺]

We are of the same mind, although I have 10 small lights. (had 2 more but the wind killed 'em!) 4 live down on the lower pasture pallet fence to help piss off predators.
We also have 2 larger spot lights to light up Old Glory that can come in during an outage. They have like 16 led's and are bright enough to read , cook with or play cards or whatever.
I leave 3 right in the house with the batteries out and ready to go in short order. I love the fact that we think alike on so many subjects and idea's. Its very cool! There are so many small things that the average person has no clue about that can make life more enjoyable if/ when needed.
I want to run maybe 6 LED lights off of a small panel and battery sometime soon. There are great kits at NH Northern, as well as tons of other places.
Also, I keep my 5 D cell maglite with an led bulb on the nightstand, right next to my nighty night weepon. ; )

[leatherneckpa]

Being the only one in my family has any appreciation of family heritage I was the one Mom offered her grandmother's oil lamp to. It's a very nice crystal base with a tall glass chimney. We used that a few years back during a 24 hr outage and Cindy liked it so much that she collected several others (each one a different look/style) when she saw them at flea markets. So we've got one Coleman propane lantern (the mantles are a PITA) and a half dozen of these oil lanterns. Two of them even have little handles built into the glass base. Her only regret, that she can't color the oil in them to make them pretty.

[capecmom]

You can't use food coloring?

I have a few of those oil lamps too-I love them!

[rAcErRicK]

I've seen colored lamp oil, several different colors.

[leatherneckpa]

Mar 24, 2011 11:41:15 GMT -4 capecmom said:

You can't use food coloring?

The thought has crossed my mind (it's a short trip). Just haven't gotten around to trying it.

[☼ ЯÏĊk ☺]

Mike, I used oil lanterns my first two years here, before I had power. I even made tinfoil and cardboard reflectors to read by. My eyesight went to hell FAST even then. They live on a shelf in the backroom, all 8 of them. Spare wicks and all.
Given the chance, I'll go with LED's over the table to read with. Safer, too.

[rAcErRicK]

Mar 24, 2011 21:53:51 GMT -4 ☼ ЯÏĊk ☺ said:

Mike, I used oil lanterns my first two years here, before I had power. I even made tinfoil and cardboard reflectors to read by. My eyesight went to hell FAST even then. They live on a shelf in the backroom, all 8 of them. Spare wicks and all.
Given the chance, I'll go with LED's over the table to read with. Safer, too.

Yup, thas my thinking too, hurricane lanterns are extremely dangerous. Kids, critturs, or clumsey and blind ole pharts in wooden houses and those can be a bad trip.