Over Night Solar Lighting

C

ccflyer

New member
While my municipal dock has power "available", we are prohibited from hooking up over night. To enhance security I wanted to be able to show a cabin light behind the curtains. I searched for a solar powered option and found the Everlite EL7.

http://www.newlite.com/catpage/el7.html

I've been using it for about a month. It comes on and goes off with a photo sensitive switch. It seems to stay on most of the night but, I confess, I haven't checked it at 4 AM. I bought it online for $34.

The neat aspect is you can set it up to work unattended while on the hook and not draw on the house battery. FWIW: it's not a bad reading light if you're on board overnight. :thup
 
Thanks for sharing. I believe I will order one. This addresses a couple of things that have concerned me, including a reliable reading light when overnighting.

Steve
 
Thanks for the tip! I did a search thru eBay and found it at Amazon.com for $24.95 ($4.99 shipping - 4 days). This was exactly what I was looking for. I found a few similar here and there that would have sufficed, so walked away. I paid 5 bucks extra for the two-day shipping so I'd have it in time for the NC gathering in Oriental.

http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&me=A3L0BSKL461UR0
 
My sister gave me a great gift recently, a Cabelas "Panther Vision" camo ball-cap with 2 internal L.E.D. lights recessed within the brim. The batteries are small, replaceable watch-type located out of the way towards the rear of the hatband portion. The on//off switch is on the underside of the left side of the brim. This thing is great for boating etc. when a quick, push of a button provides great light for reading or locating instruments, tools, tying fishing knots etc. in those darker hours. I also have enjoyed using my two other headlamps for years but this is no bulkier or heavier than a typical ball cap and more comfortable than traditional headlamps. C.W.

panthervision_LED_hat.jpg
 
There is another combined solar cell/battery/3 white LED and 1 red LED which attatches to the hatch or windshield. It will theoretically give 10 hours of light, but mine gives less. It also has a photo electric cell and AA battery. http://www.sollight.com/products/lightship.cfm

For a head lamp, I like the Rayovac Sportsman 3 in 1 headlight. This has two red LED's, one white LED and one Kriptonite white bulb. It has 3 AAA batteries which are susposed to last 200 hours with the single LED--I haven't changed the batteries in 2 years--and probably should even though the lights are still bright--and no corrosion....I suspect that the hat is lighter and more comfortable--but the versitility of the 3/1 works very well for me--plus you can place the beam just where you want it for any work or chart reading etc....
 
Thataway
I've got one of those lights as well. They're stocked at West Marine. However it seems to hold a smaller charge. With the Everlite I can mount the detachable solar collector with some velcro between the window and curtain. That way, I can have all the curtains up during the day and still keep it charged every day and lit each night :wink:
 
We use 2 of the "Lightship solar lights" on SleepyC and really like them. They stay stuck where you put them, and the charge easily and will run on the single red all night (8-9 hours). We like to be able to leave them on when we are away from the boat and have them come on automatically when it gets dark enough.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Just received my EverLite Mini... got it on Amazon for 24.95 and 10 bucks shipping. Maybe could have found it locally and saved the send cost, but I think I'll like the light. Both the light and solar panel are small enough to fit in my 19' pilot house with ease. Lots of light for such a little thing! Thanks for the tip. Will have it operating at NC gathering this weekend!
 
The Everlite EL7 is now $23.95 on Amazon.com...if you can manage to get your order up to $25, the shipping is free...
 
EverLite Mini report - used it all weekend at the NC Gathering. Certainly stayed lit up for the duration they promised. I wouldn't call it a cabin-lighter, just a night light. Careful placement against a light background helps cast additional light. Not difficult to do given our boat color inside!

I do know as I ventured out at 1:30 AM I was quite happy to have the aft section lit up enough to see. If it lasts in the rather damp conditions, it's worth the price.
 
ccflyer":yamyn215 said:
Thataway
I've got one of those lights as well. They're stocked at West Marine. However it seems to hold a smaller charge. With the Everlite I can mount the detachable solar collector with some velcro between the window and curtain. That way, I can have all the curtains up during the day and still keep it charged every day and lit each night :wink:
Click to expand...

Hello,

I want to buy some solar lights can you suggest me some shops for buying Solar lights??
 
If they're like those solar lights you get for your yard, IME they last about 6 mos. before they stop holding a decent charge. Occasionally I'll get one that lasts more than one summer.

I have small LEDs mounted under the cabinet edge along the cabin that serve as night lights. They are on the battery. However, we only use them when we overnight on the boat.
 
I bought several of these

https://www.amazon.com/The-SunLight-Inf ... B00EOR8MJ6

Work quite nicely. Figured for $9 each I couldn't go wrong. Had them for 3-4 years now and they keep going. I think the longest I left them on was 5-6 hours and it was reasonably bright - it starts off really bright. I don't use them on a daily basis - really more of an emergency light.

It does not have a photo sensitive switch. Just on/off - but does strobe.
 
My question is "If LEDs are so efficient, why not shine one on a solar panel
over night to help decrease house battery energy loss?" Eah?

Aye
PS: Grandpa used to say, "A pirate's favorite letter is R: 'RRRRrrrr'".
 
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