Lights

[hobo]

Was sifting through my motley and ageing collection of backup lighting for the house and thinking I really need to upgrade...

My mainstays are several 13w tube rechargeable lanterns http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002UOIOXE for communal space (cooking, eating, etc) and freeplay windup indigo lanterns for individual needs (reading, taking to the loo...) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freeplay-AF-022 ... B0014DGXIK.
I've a few bit and bobs like these motion activated lights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9FSOdQ8BNA for stairs.

I'm thinking of a time when the lights go out - or I can't afford the electric bill anymore - and have only just begun to look at alternatives.

What are your suggestions in relation to my needs (above)?

To kick things off, what are your opinions of this one?
2 x Coleman Duos + Rechargeable Power Cartridge (which I can, in turn, recharge from my solar/battery set up)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-CPX-Duo ... m_sbs_sg_2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-CPX-Rec ... d_sim_sg_1

Look forward to your input!

BTW, budget is around £100

Hobo

[hobo]

Or I could go for 4 x Uco Lumora's http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UCO-Lumora-La ... 53f92ba3c6

110 lumens (as opposed to 92 lumens per panel on the Coleman Duo) + can be used as a torch. Runs off 4 X AA's
My thinking is that up to all 4 could be used as communal lighting and then individually.
Assuming I could use rechargeable AAs, this could be done from my solar/battery setup.

[hobo]

Also looking at the new Freeplay Indigo Plus http://www.freeplayenergy.com/shop/indi ... duct_id=71

I've just enquired as to the max lumens output.
This has the additional advantage of optional solar input.
As with the Coleman option, it works out a bit pricier than I wanted.

[Panther]

Rechargeable lanterns are fine if you're only preparing for short power cuts but if you envisage electricity being off for several days, weeks or even longer you'll need to consider some other solution. Battery powered lights are fine as long as you have a stock of rechargeable batteries and a couple of solar battery chargers.

I've decided the low tech solution suits our needs best so have several oil lamps plus a good stock of paraffin. In addition many hundreds of candles!

[Panther]

Oh, and I've also bought a dozen solar powered "rock lights" from B&Q which now adorn the garden. In the event of power blackouts I'll leave them outside to charge as normal during the day but then just bring them in at dusk and place them wherever needed around the house.

[hobo]

Thanks Panther. I'm thinking brownouts as the highest risk. So autumn/winter/spring evenings for lighting. Up to a couple of hours per evening.

Plan B, yes, plenty of candles and nightlights!

I'm going through other needs for my main concerns ie. brownouts, slow fall scenario. Such as power needs, heat, security, chocolate, etc. I'll think through those in due course. i need to approach one thing at a time as prepping sometimes overwhelms me and I back right off and nothing gets done.

;O)

[jansman]

We use LED lanterns, battery and wind-up. When occasion demands. Last year we had major electrical problems here at Chez Jansman. Before and during the rewire we used the LEDS. it was Autumn.
We have lots of candles, but, they are a bloody fire hazard. We do have a mahoosive site gennie, and a little 650w (draw) 2 stroke jobbie. I used to think the generator was essential, but frankly they are not. I LIKE the LED option. Especially the wind up ones. If the lights go out, you have to work with something less than the National Grid. Just be safe. Please be safe.

[ForgeCorvus]

Main problem with Gennies is they are really only a stop-gap measure, Post Katrina loads of people ran gennies so they could have their lights, fridges and AC.....For a short while, then the fuel ran low. Anyone remember the footage of the gas-lines? Long queues of people with several plastic fuel cans hoping to get something to feed the genny with?

Plus, you have lights and that distinctive sound of one running..... Whos house you think everyone is going to visit ?

Long term you need to change your usage habits..... Or even your lifestyle ("go to bed when its dark" kind of things)

LED (or other low-drain lighting) running from a battery-bank (solar and/or wind charged) is the way to go....... If you have the skills and the cash

[edward.21]

i have an led/solar setup using these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12v-LED-STRIP ... 4aaa15b3fe
on a fully charged car battery you can get around 150 hrs of light.
you will need a constant current constant voltage regulator but these do not cost much.

[hobo]

Good ideas coming. Thanks!