Apocalypse solar lighting system.

Something worth adding to this. During the current war against Ukraine the cost of power banks has been price gouged and strings of low voltage LEDs sold out fast. the Ukrainians have indeed been using LED strings like these for comfort illumination.

I get the feeling that the primary survivors of an apocalypse will be technically inclined people who can scavenge technical stuff to provide basic comforts like food, light and heat. Heat is trickier, but light is surprisingly easy.

This is a very relaxed project where you can scavenge things like solar panels and batteries from other products to cobble together a light that can harvest whatever solar energy is available for decorative or practical use. You can also buy the 5/6V solar panels from eBay very cheaply if you have nothing suitable laying about.

This design will work perfectly with two solar panels from standard single NiMH cell garden lights wired in series, or a bigger 5V/6V solar panel. The NiMH cells can literally be anything you can find, as can the LEDs. The only thing to watch out for with the LEDs is duff ones that have developed a leakage resistance and will drain the batteries without providing light.

Ideally the solar panel will be aimed at an area of the sky that the sun traverses across during the day for maximum efficiency. The amount of charge the solar cell can put into the batteries is dependent on location and cloud cover. Some days it may be a lot and some it may be low, but either way the LEDs will continue to glow at low level even after several very dark overcast days.

This simple arrangement would be perfect for an ambient light in a remote log cabin. It could also be a source of visual comfort during power outages in areas subject to regular storm damage.


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