I spent the day running. I did everything from teaching the middle girl how to parallel park to watching the Evens fight over at my buddy's house plus everything in between.
Even though I was busier than a one armed paper hanger, I still had the time to get my Solar Lighting installed in the Bathhouse.
I took a normal 20 ounce coke bottle, washed it out and filled it with water. I then added a cap full of bleach and filled it to the top leaving no room for air. Then I removed the label.
I drilled a three inch hole in the top of the bathhouse, stuck the bottle in it and siliconed the crap out of it.
I had to put a strap on the bottom to keep the bottle in place while the silicone dried for about four hours.
And there it is, a true solar light that is the equal to about a forty watt soft light bulb.
Tomorrow after church I plan to start on the stackable, wooden potato beds. I am done with tires, time to move on to something else.
My parent's have the comercial "Light Tube" kits(not expensiver themselves) in their bathrooms, you almost never need to turn on the light in there during the day.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought for people working with finished spaces that are on the north side of the building.
I am so glad you installed the solar light. I have been planning on too but haven't found the right place yet. Way to go! - Genevieve
ReplyDeletePretty slick. I like it.
ReplyDeleteNeat light. I'd want about three more of them.
ReplyDeleteBTW, how did the 'potato tires" work for you? I'm planning on trying it this year, but I notice you went to wood.
That's pure genius right there. I never would have thought that one up myself I like it.
ReplyDeleteBlogger hates me again, won't give me a 'post a comment' button, so I am left with 'reply' as my only option.
DeleteThis is a great idea, MDR! Like Gorges Smythe said, I think I would want a couple more ...maybe two over the shower/tub because a 40-watt soft light bulb might be pretty dim after you draw the curtain for a shower. But it's a great idea!
Odysseus - For a house those light tubes are great. Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteG - Thanks for the link on it.
Matt - Thank you and thanks for stopping by
Gorges - I plan to have one more. Remember the bathhouse is only a 8x10
The tires have done me good over the years but I am wanting another look. As long as you cut out some of the sidewall on the tires they will work fine. If not then you have to drill drain holes. If not things tend to rot.
Shepherd K - I wish I could take credit for it. This is what they do in the third world countries for lighting where there is no electricity. Thanks for the compliment.
HB - I plan to install one or two more. It is a small space. At night I only run two oil lamps and they give off enough light for me to see everything I need to wash so I figure one or two more solar lights should do it.
Thanks for the warning about the drain holes.
DeleteI used the wood potato boxes last year. They were ok, but I didn't have a lot of luck with them, but then nothing in the garden was much to crow about. I thought they were a little more labor intensive, but then I could have been on a lazy streak at the time.
ReplyDeleteJohn - These will be 3'x3' boxes made out of 2"x6". As the plant grows I will stack another box on top and fill it with compost. It is the same as the tires but with wood. I don't know how you did yours.
ReplyDeleteI have seen videos using this method! :) Fabulous:)
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! And a cheap replacement!
ReplyDeleteStephanie - Yup, Hilltop Homestead turned me on to this idea.
ReplyDeleteMandy - Better than running wire, thanks for the comment.
Cool!!!
ReplyDeleteNever saw anything like it. I would put one over the sink and the shower/tub so if it leaked the water would just go down the drain - no water to clean up. Now how are you going to keep it cool in there in the summer? I know you probably have something cooking in that head of yours :)
ReplyDeleteI saw how they do this for the poor folks that live in Brazil. They were choosing between meds and electricity. Some guy has a crew going around and doing them for free for old folks full time. It seems to have really made a difference. Good call. Maybe you could try a Sprite bottle for a little "mood" lighting next time. Excellent work.
ReplyDeleteSFG - Thank you
ReplyDeleteDenise - You got me on that one. I have no plans as of yet to cool the little building. I figure I will only be in it in the late evenings to just take a shower and shave. If I cooled it then I might want to sleep out there.
HillBilly - Yup, that is where I got it from.
As far as the mood lighting goes, it would be okay but I am usually in there by myself.
That is really impressive! I was telling my husband the other day about your bath house and told him I wanted one, but all he could think about was needing to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night in the snow :-)
ReplyDeletei think that might be the coolest thing i have ever seen....poor jambaloney!
ReplyDeleteyour friend,
kymber
That's pretty neat. Of all the reading I've done over the years, I've never seen this. Thanks MDR!
ReplyDeleteKelly - Tell him it is a summer bathhouse and the composting toilet is only used in an emergency. If I have no water in the house, if I am in the garden after some spicy Mexican food, you name it. It is there just in case. LOL
ReplyDeleteGorges - You bet buddy
Kymber - You are going to work that poor man to death.
Alex - Thank you my friend. If you you tube it you can see some of those poor countries doing it as a group for each house in the village.
If you do the same thing with a couple of those solar yard lights that you stick into the your yard on a stake, you will have light at night too.
ReplyDeleteAnony - Good thought. I will look into that.
ReplyDelete