Now, I may end up feeling a complete numpty on this one but I'm going to ask anyway. After years of non electic camping we opted this year to go for power only to be let down by the site who put us on a non electric pitch.
It turns out the most major problem , for two 13 year old daughters, was the lack of light, yet we had all our normal battery operated lighting with us. This got me thinking, even if you do have electric, what source of lighting do peeps use. Whilst I love the idea of de-camping the standard light from the corner of the lounge it doesn't seem to fit the camping spirit.
So folks what do you lot all use ?
Can't wait for the answers on this one.
(Just be aware there was talk a couple of years ago on these forums that some of these were coming with 2m of cable, despite stating 5m on the box. We got ours from GO about 12 months ago, and it came with the correct 5m cable).
Doesn't include a bulb!
Need something to hang it from. Has an in-line switch, hanging carabiner, and as it emits light symetrically, like a normal lamp, as opposed to light coming out of one side, is ideal for a central position. Perfect for our 3.5m square tent, but I've read others with larger tents are equally happy with them too.
In our case, we added a remote control dimmer bulb (Which cost more than the lamp itself! ) so we can have warm or cold whites, bright for reading, dim for erm... those relaxing moments!
You can get remote bulbs with multi colour options for between £8 - £10. We have one as back up, but not used it yet. I'm happy to highly recommend the one in my link though... despite the high price!
I also recommend the one Mucker has linked to. I bought the castor from Ebay second hand and only gave about £8 for it. As is also mentioned some only have 2m of flex, as mine did, I just added more wire. The light comes with a switch and is pretty good.
I use a warm white LED bulb in it which lessens any heat issues and gives a warmer bright light than the pure white I tried out first, it was a bit stark in a tent.
Funny enough I have found that I seem to need less lighting devices when camping than at home?
I use a couple of plastic ikea lights called Lampan, it's £2.49 and takes any bulb. Argos have similar but they are in blue and pink and don't have a white one like Ikea does.
Or you can take any light from home, I find a desk light pointed up to wash light over the roof gives a good lighting level inside.
We use BulkHead Polycarbonate lens lights, each has a 105watt Halogen bulb (150watt) or 1800 Lumen each in new money, one for inside the Tent one outside attached to the Sun-Canopy and a third one for in the Kitchen Tent.
All the lights each have an inline switch and inline rotary Dimmer control, and around 7m of rubberised flex, not seen anything like them of the shelf, but easy to make with the most basic of DIY skills, cost was under £20 each.
For when there is no mains electric, we have 2 of the Outwell 400LX lanterns, although just bright enough at 400 Lumens, I intend to upgrade them with the new 600 Lumen (50 watt in old money) model, although is still only just over half the brightness of a single mantle gas lantern.
That looks fantastic, but there is no way that the glass lamp shade would survive the 1000 mile journey to the campsite we go to in the South of France!
Cheap and cheerful, robust enough to get shoved in the bag with the EHU lead, clips to the tent frame or has a hanging loop. Gives enough light to light up the inside our Camplet at night.
I use a hanging work lamp inside and outside the tent, different designs, the one side is IP rated.
I would also recommend head torches for use inside and outside the tent.
DK
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We have not tested this system yet but what about this as a happy medium for the family. Charge your gadgets up and run lighting without the need for EHU.
That Hubi looks interesting. I wonder how it would compare to a couple of these and these. The solar panels are a lot smaller so I assume it would take a lot longer to charge.
Quote: Originally posted by Kuppenbender on 31/8/2015
That Hubi looks interesting. I wonder how it would compare to a couple of these and these. The solar panels are a lot smaller so I assume it would take a lot longer to charge.
I did a little research on these prior to buying. I have found that small cheap solar panels can lead to disappointment. The amperage on the batteries looks great but I cannot see how that panel could possibly charge that capacity. If you can charge it before leaving for a short break maybe it's something that could nicely trickle charge to the end of the holiday.
Not that I know a great deal on solar but it's quite an exciting technology. The panel with the HUBi 10K is a 20w panel and it says it takes c7 hours to fully charge the 10ah battery. The panel is about 18" tall and 11" wide.
I will be testing it out at the end of Sept so it will be interesting how it performs in Sept in the North West!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Electricity/Lighting
) so we can have warm or cold whites, bright for reading, dim for erm... those relaxing moments!
