Let there be Light

Even though I am not in Hawaii, I can still work on projects to improve conditions there. I have been working on lighting. I have been relying on two inflatable solar lights for my lights at night on previous trips. Very much like these:

They have a small solar collector in the end you cannot see and they put out a great deal of light. My problem is that they need to be put out in the sun each day in order to provide enough power to last me at night. I keep forgetting this step. Now that I have some solar panels and a whole solar “system” I want to do something a bit more permanent and idiot proof.

I went on line and purchased four small LED light fixtures. I plan on installing these in the four corners of the shed somehow to provide light inside the shed. I will wire these up to my batteries that are part of the solar system. That way, I will have lights at night from the batteries that will be charged each day.

I also picked up some electrical crimp on connectors and some 18 guage wire. I know that I have some of these somewhere, but I do not know where I have put them. I figure that the best way to find the ones I already have is to purchase some more. That way, I will find the ones I already have the next day.

Rather than depend on my ability to create good connections simply by crimping these onto the wires, I decided to solder them on as well. Now to find my soldering iron. I know I have one . . . somewhere, . . .but where did I put it? I may have thrown away the connectors, but surely, I would not have thrown away the soldering iron. I go next door to borrow one from my neighbor. They do not have one either. So, I purchase one. Not very expensive, only $4.99. The connectors were only $7.99, and I will use them eventually anyway, even if I do find the ones I already have.

I built four triangle panels to install in the corners of the shed for the lights, and soldered connectors onto the wires for the lights.

I made up connecting wires for the lights with a variety of smaller gauge wire I already have, by soldering the connectors onto the wire ends.

What about switching? I went online and found some low voltage switches for installation into automotive/boating/travel trailers, etc.. I found one that has six switches, one cigarette lighter type power outlet and two USB ports. It also has a voltmeter that tells the current voltage in your battery bank.

I like it, and I purchase it. It arrives the next day. Three corners are broken, so I return that one and receive a new one. I built a wooden box to hold this switching panel.

I hooked it all together on the card table outside in the carport next to the car. That way I could use the car battery as my power source to test it.

Instantly, I see that the volt meter is registering 12.1 volts. YEAH! Success! So I test each switch.

As I turn on the switch, the switch lights up as well as the light.

I like that feature.

Also, as I turn on each light, the voltage drops the 3 or 4 amps that the light is drawing.

I still have two switches left over. These I will use for lights outside on the Lanai.

Now I need to pack all of this into my luggage to get it all to Hawaii.

Progress.

As a side note: I did find my soldering iron . . . and the other connectors. I never would have found them if I had not bought new ones.

TTFN