Has anyone installed additional Led lighting powered by rechargeable batteries? Preferably with a changeable battery which can be powered by a USB similar to a camera battery.
There are a lot of different solutions for installing LED lighting and many USB powered solutions. I would say though, from my experience as a lighting electrician in the entertainment industry that LED lighting (mainly with regard to LED tape that can be easily bought online) that it isn't as efficient as many people thing.
In a domestic situation it's easy to see how replacing say an LED GU10 downlight LED bulb compared to a halogen equivalent can easily reduce the current required for the same light output but i've seen a lot of people power LED tape in camper vans, presuming that it is ultra low current whereas it can use around 14watts or so per meter (RBG at full tilt granted) which can be quite a power draw on lower end leisure batteries when someone may have installed a few meters or so.
What sort of thing are you trying to achieve here?
I was thinking that if when off grid we could use the alternative lighting thus saving the leisure battery. We don't want lamps dotted about so if we had rechargeable batteries that could slot in the unit which would be placed under eg cabinets or where we needed them. Might be unachievable though..
Maybe a sort of solution, the doorway (bit too grandiose to call it a hallway!) in my caravan is very dark, especially as when standing in it you block the light from ALL the lamps elsewhere in the van. I wanted some additional lighting to be able to see to do up/undo shoe laces etc., so considered adding an additional light fitting. I'm more than capable of sourcing a 12v power pick up point and wiring in the new lamp, but thinking it through, decided for the short time the lamps were required, self contained battery powered lights would suffice.
I found a compact 'cupboard light' (from Lidl middle aisle) that was adequate light output, ran from 2x AAA batteries, could be simply stuck to the ceiling and didn't require any mods to the van, and was very cheap. It's been in place for a couple of years now, done the job admirably, and with it's only intermittent use, still running on original batteries!
If you only want lighting for occasional use, then self contained battery powered LED lamps may suit you well enough. If you use them more frequently, then rechargeable batteries, with a 'spare' set charged and ready for use may overcome the cost of disposable batteries.
I did look at this type of light from a number of sources: https://www.toolstation.com/integral-led-sensorlux-rechargeable-cabinet-wardrobe-l........
but decided I didn't want the PIR feature, the USB charging didn't really bring me any benefit, due to it's size it was more challenging to fit in the space available (I'd have needed to move the smoke detector to make room), and overall it was a LOT more expensive than what I finally chose.
A USB power bank is an obvious option as well. That will allow you to plug in a multitude of different USB powered string lights. We do this in our van though we have 12vdc to USB sockets dotted about the van (run from the leisure batteries) but we have used power banks in the past. It really depends on whether you are trying to flood the inside with bright white light or you want something mellow, warm and relaxing in the evenings.
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Topic: Additional Led lighting
via mobile 27/2/2023 at 9:03pm
