[Brijjy]

I can't get power out to a new shed but would like some lighting in there. Has anyone any experience of solar powered lighting? Any recommendations gratefully received.

[Lesley Silvester]

What a great idea. I put a battery operated light in the goat shed but the batteries didn't like the cold so the light wouldn't work in the winter which, after all, is when I need it.

[mab]

The big problem with solar lighting is that you get the least power from solar when you need the lights the most, so you need a big solar panel for winter which then generates far more than you need on the summer.

My local electrical wholesaler sells a 3watt (equivalent to ~30W normal bulb) solar PIR security light which is a complete unit with a separate solar panel attached by a length of wire for about £90; and a 6W version for about £110 (+vat). But the battery is quite small so I'd guess it would be only good for maybe 2 hours tops from a full charge, and in winter it may take a full sunny day or a week of dull days to fully charge the battery.

A cheaper option if you need minimal light is a few of those solar garden lights with the panels detached and placed on the roof (and if your electrical knowhow is up to it a switch between the battery and the LED driver so you only use the battery when you want light).

If you want serious light and/or extended daily runtime in winter, then you would be better with a 12v leasure (arguably) battery, a 'proper' solar panel (50W or more, depending on usage), a solar controller/regulator, and some off the shelf 12v LED's (like the LED substitutes for 12v halogen lights). Also can be used as a power source for electric fencing (though add another 20-30w of solar on top of what you want for lighting).

there are some 'kits' about like these:-
http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu0-catshow/solar-lighting-kits.html?gclid=COrTgNyel7oCFQTMtAodC0MA3w

but they seem expensive to me, compared to buying the separate parts elsewhere, and are short on details. If you do find a kit that seems to suit, ask them how bright the lights are, how long the battery will run them, and how many dull midwinter days it would take to fully recharge the battery.

without knowing how much light, how often and for how long, it's difficult to give specific suggestions.

[RUSTYME]

I have a couple of those solar shed lights .
A small solar panel that fits on the outside of the shed and a light unit that has 10 or 15 led's in it . The small solar panel charges 3 aa batteries that then give about 3 hours of light .
I charge up extra rechargables to swap over if one set runs out of power .
They give enough light to work in , i can even read with them .
Only problem is they give that blue sort of light , but i think they are starting to do the warmer 'yellow' led's now .
I got one given to me , the other was £9.99 from Maplin.co.uk .
 

[bigchicken]

Yes I've got a couple just the small solar panel type, one packed in very quickly but the other one is still going strong after 2 years. The light has a motion detector or a ordinary light function. Think I got them on flee bay. Or what about a tilly lamp.

[tizaala]

Presumably you only want light for when you are in the shed ? Why not get one of those head torches that fits  like a miners lamp, they leave your hands free . 

[happygolucky]

I am interested as I will put them in the new house shed, even thought there is an outside street type light in the garden with a waterproof socket...I am so impressed by solar lighting, I think its getting better and better.......

[hughesy]

I looked into solar lights last winter but decided that anything worth having was too expensive. Definitely agree that a modern led headlamp is the way to go if you only need the light when you're in there.

[fbb]

Hello,
I have a solarmate 2 which I bought off e-bay 3years ago in my barn. It is on probably half an hour in the morning and the same at night for feeding up. I have had no problems with it apart from forgetting to turn it off and then having to put the car battery on charge. Would recommend it.
 

[benkt]

I bought a couple of cheap lights from Maplins (£9.99 http://www.maplin.co.uk/remote-control-portable-solar-light-223425)
last year for our goat shed to help with milking in the winter and they are both still going strong. Would recommend at that price compared to the expense of putting in a 'proper solution'.

[Foobar]

What a great idea. I put a battery operated light in the goat shed but the batteries didn't like the cold so the light wouldn't work in the winter which, after all, is when I need it.

If you use a solution that uses batteries (ordinary or rechargeable) then you need Lithium ones if you want them to work in low temperatures.  Same goes if you use head torches, get yourself some lithium batteries for it, it'll perform much better in the cold.

[Brijjy]

Thanks folks. Got a very good headtorch that I use for work but it does tend to confuse my eyes if I use it for prolonged periods. The light in the shed needs to be on in the daytime for the chooks as it is a bit dark in there. Hopefully encourage them to lay a bit better. Only a temp solution til I can get some windows in there.