Hi we have a three man tent and are looking for a really bright battery or mains operated lighting. We have quite a few lanterns but none of them are really bright. So I would be really grateful if anyone could recommend any good lighting solutions.
For a mains powered light, we bought one of those caravan awning bulkhead style ones (ours is a Kampa but I think they're all pretty much the same) and it's just the job hanging from the ceiling of our tent. It's not exactly attractive, but it's got a level of waterproofing, doesn't dangle down too much, and gives good, bright light that isn't as harsh as LEDs.
We use a P.L.S. Awning Light as a main light, to be fair though it is daylight bright at 1.2m in length although a tube of less than i" diameter, with it's 150! LED's, but like they say, what will do more will do less.
The light runs of 12v or mains via an adapter, it is handy to have so much light on tap for when you need it, but most of the time we just have the Aldi 20 LED remote control lanterns on, which give a more softer ambient light even if not that bright. we run those on rechargeables, as LR20 Alkaline batteries are way to expensive, each lantern takes 4 batteries, but they do power the lamps all through our two camps, also it's nice to just press the remote to turn the lights on, when you need to make a midnight dash, don't even have remote control lamps at home, oh what luxury you can have camping these days.
Hello Catherine.
After reading posts about Wilkinson 24 LED "UFO" lights I decided to try one.
After testing and inspecting it, I decided to purchase 2 more.
I wired them to operate from my car battery, rather than keep buying 9 AA cells for them.
I created a 12 Volt EHU to power them from my car battery, and customised the power lead to them for my tent.
The switch on them selects 12 or all 24 LED's.
If the light is considered too harsh, covering them with a thin white paper bag will diffuse it.
Even my wife is impressed with my creation, she can read her magazines or books due to the amount of light.
Worth considering.
Kind regards James
------------- In the beginning there was darkness.
Then I bought a tent.
I'm not destitute, I'm just poor.
Master stroke of genius the UFO light is great but your 12V hook up is a must do conversion before the season gets under way. Right soldering iron at the ready
------------- Dont dream your life, live your dream, or just go down the pub !!
Hello 2go'.
I bought most of the parts from Wilkinsons, the
three pin Non-Reversible connectors, 10 metres of 2 wire 8 Amp cable.
Local Sunday Market for the Croc-Clips to Cigar lighter adaptor (replaced the Cigar adapter for one Female 3 pin socket), and Maplins for the (speaker) twin cable, to series hard wire to the LED Lights.
The Cigar adapter is used at the tent end for powering air-pump, Lap-Top, or Phone Chargers etc.
Might post a photo to show what I've done.
Kind regards James
------------- In the beginning there was darkness.
Then I bought a tent.
I'm not destitute, I'm just poor.
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Topic: Tent lighting
the UFO light is great but your 12V hook up is a must do conversion before the season gets under way. Right soldering iron at the ready 
