2 new low-watt lighting ideas
By spinningmagnets, Section Light Posted on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 06:26:17 PM MST
water-bottle as a sola-tube, mineral-oil globe as LED light diffuser

I've seen this story a couple places recently, if you cut a hole in the ceiling of a shed, and insert a 2-liter clear-plastic bottle, filling it with water (and 2 caps of bleach to keep away science experiments) brings in sunlight much like the "solatube". It was promoted in Central America, and to turn off the lights, you set a black plastic bucket over the "light". Of course, you would seal around the bottle against rain... http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-turn-a-2-liter-bottle-of-water-into-a-50-watt-lightbulb This didn't use LED lights, but I've heard that one of the drawbacks of LED's is that their light is very directional. This mod uses a downward facing tube lamp, that is set over one of those glass cylindrical globes that protect outdoor bulbs. By filling it with mineral oil (colored or clear) the downward-shining light is diffused http://www.popsci.com/bubblelight

2 new low-watt lighting ideas | 7 comments (7 topical)

Re: 2 new low-watt lighting ideas (3.00 / 0) (#1) by ghurd on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 01:13:04 PM MST

The light directionality from an LED is determined my its internal reflector. The viewing angle is a measurement of how wide the light beam is.  Sometimes called 'viewing angle' or '2θhalf'. It is better to use a wider angle LED than try to spread out the light with something else. G-

Re: 2 new low-watt lighting ideas (3.00 / 0) (#2) by dnix71 on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 03:39:04 PM MST

The use of mineral oil with a high powered LED might work well. Heat kills LEDs. An oil bath would conduct away heat without conducting electricity. The soda bottle skylight idea seems a little warped, but if you live where proper skylight material is expensive or unavailable, then it looks like it might work. He doesn't say how he prevents roof leaks, or keeps the bottle from melting or exploding in summer heat. Costco uses skylights in their buildings to save on lighting. They have a light sensor that automatically adjusts the electric light to maintain an even amount of light inside. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sundaybuzz/2004160941_sundaybuzz03.html

Re: 2 new low-watt lighting ideas (3.00 / 0) (#3) by zap on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 03:46:28 PM MST

"He doesn't say how he prevents roof leaks, or keeps the bottle from melting or exploding in summer heat." Or freezing. zap [ Parent ]

Re: 2 new low-watt lighting ideas (3.00 / 0) (#4) by wdyasq on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 05:02:38 PM MST

"Central America" .... unless one is in a very high altitude area .... they should be safe. Ron Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen [ Parent ]

Re: 2 new low-watt lighting ideas (3.00 / 0) (#5) by wooferhound on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 07:56:01 PM MST

All of my LED projects require wideangle LED's but they are eather harder to find or more expensive. So I just use a sharp set of wirecutters and cut off the round lens on the front of the LED, Presto ,instant 120 degree angle LED. W o o f -={(

Re: 2 new low-watt lighting ideas (3.00 / 0) (#6) by ibedonc on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 09:27:46 AM MST

you should try one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/12V-10W-600Lumen-White-Led-Energy-Saving-Lamp-NEW_W0QQitemZ170309776922QQcmdZVie wItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item170309776922&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205| 66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50 very bright

Re: 2 new low-watt lighting ideas (3.00 / 0) (#7) by ibedonc on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 09:34:22 AM MST

also it is 160 degree [ Parent ]

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· http://www .wisebread.com/how-to-turn-a-2-liter-bottle-of-water-into-a-50-watt-lightbulb · http://www .popsci.com/bubblelight · Also by spinningmagnets