Comments on: Reading by sunlight, at night http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/ adding up the little things that make a big difference Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:58:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: jmhunt http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-2609 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:41:27 +0000 http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-2609 I've continued modifying my cheap lights from the Christmas Tree shop. I bought a white LED from Radio Shack (cost more than the original light) soldered it in one of the 2 (of 3) LED slots on the circuit board and it worked better. Not quite as bright as twice the original, but a noticeable improvement. I also moved the switch to be outside the plastic shield so I don't have to remove it to turn the light on or off. And I redid the aluminum foil reflector. I think it would be better to buy a small LED reading light, some rechargeable batteries and a solar charger would produce a much better result and at $5 a pop for white LEDs from Radio Shack, might even be around hte same price. I’ve continued modifying my cheap lights from the Christmas Tree shop. I bought a white LED from Radio Shack (cost more than the original light) soldered it in one of the 2 (of 3) LED slots on the circuit board and it worked better. Not quite as bright as twice the original, but a noticeable improvement.

I also moved the switch to be outside the plastic shield so I don’t have to remove it to turn the light on or off. And I redid the aluminum foil reflector.

I think it would be better to buy a small LED reading light, some rechargeable batteries and a solar charger would produce a much better result and at $5 a pop for white LEDs from Radio Shack, might even be around hte same price.

]]> by: jmhunt http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-1998 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:13:21 +0000 http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-1998 The lights I got are barely passable as a reading light out of the box, but with a little alumnium foil to direct the light, I think I can make it useful. The lights I got are barely passable as a reading light out of the box, but with a little alumnium foil to direct the light, I think I can make it useful.

]]> by: jmhunt http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-1966 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:24:14 +0000 http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-1966 Great find at The Christmas Tree shop - 3 pack solar pathway lights with on/off switches for $9.99 (for the 3 pack). I haven't tried reading by them, but will try tonight. Most of the inexpensive solar pathway lights have a single led which doesn't produce much light, particularly when spread out with the diffusers. The more expensive ones from like Home Depot have more LEDs and might be more useful for reading. Another solution along these lines is to get a solar charger for rechargeable AA/AAA batteries and use an led flashlight or headlamp. Just remember that rechargeable batteries loose a little bit of their charge even when unused each day so storing rechargeable batteries in a flashlight for occasional use may leave in the dark. Great find at The Christmas Tree shop - 3 pack solar pathway lights with on/off switches for $9.99 (for the 3 pack). I haven’t tried reading by them, but will try tonight.

Most of the inexpensive solar pathway lights have a single led which doesn’t produce much light, particularly when spread out with the diffusers. The more expensive ones from like Home Depot have more LEDs and might be more useful for reading.

Another solution along these lines is to get a solar charger for rechargeable AA/AAA batteries and use an led flashlight or headlamp. Just remember that rechargeable batteries loose a little bit of their charge even when unused each day so storing rechargeable batteries in a flashlight for occasional use may leave in the dark.

]]> by: jeff http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-1354 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:38:39 +0000 http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-1354 I agree -- in the months since I posted this I very excitedly bough a few lights to use inside/outside the tent I was living in for the summer, and while they were nice to light my way to the tent at night, they did not cut the mustard for reading once inside. I wondering too if there are other, more effective lights that I don't know about. I agree — in the months since I posted this I very excitedly bough a few lights to use inside/outside the tent I was living in for the summer, and while they were nice to light my way to the tent at night, they did not cut the mustard for reading once inside.

I wondering too if there are other, more effective lights that I don’t know about.

]]> by: makeshiftmom http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-1351 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:01:21 +0000 http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-1351 My understanding of these lights is that they actually give off very little light. My parents have them "lighting" a pathway, and we had them in our yard years ago and they just give off enough to see the walkway, etc. Now, there might be others that are brighter - I am very curious to hear more about this@ My understanding of these lights is that they actually give off very little light. My parents have them “lighting” a pathway, and we had them in our yard years ago and they just give off enough to see the walkway, etc.

Now, there might be others that are brighter - I am very curious to hear more about this@

]]> by: ~Dawn http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-79 Tue, 08 May 2007 23:20:03 +0000 http://onelittlething.org/today/2007/05/08/reading-by-sunlight-at-night/#comment-79 Good practice for when you camp or the like, that way you know how much light you will need. Good practice for when you camp or the like, that way you know how much light you will need.

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