Shed refinements

[Moo]

Now that the lovely little shed that Jocelyn so kindly donated (PPUK doesn't just give advice) is safely installed on my allotment, and is getting properly equipped with things like a camping stove and a kettle, I've been thinking about the onset of winter and the long dark evenings. After a day's labour I like to settle down in the shed with a cuppa and the crossword, to recharge the batteries before the long walk to the bus stop, but in order to do this I will need some sort of lighting.

The obvious solution would be a gas-powered camping light, but in yesterday's Telegraph I saw the following:

If your shed or greenhouse needs brightening up but you don't want to go the effort of connecting it to the mains, try this powerful Smart solar shed light from Shedstore (http://www.shedstore.co.uk/itemdetl.php/itemprcd/smsoshli). Attach the solar panel to the outside of the building, mount the light inside, and leave the sun to do the rest. It's waterproof, compact, easy to instll, and has rechargeable batteries in case of bad weather. It costs £33.25, including delivery.

On the face of it it seems ideal, but I'd be grateful for comments before I make a decision. It's the bit about rechargeable batteries that bothers me.

 

[Lime]

It sounds ideal, just what you want, but perhaps not so cosy as a gas or an oil lamp.
Pop in a tortoise stove and winter's sorted too!

 

[NT]

The solar system would indeed be ideal for any passing crook, who will not only see the valuable item on the shed but also realise that it is your shed that will contain the greatest value of equipment inside.

I've used backup lighting for many years, and in my experience battery based systems just dont have good long term reliability, whereas gas does.

If youre using the shed when its semi-dark but not completely dark, it may also be worth considering a concentrator reflector, which will simply reflect more of the available light into the shed. But you'll still need gas for the dark times. Candles are another option.

If you can find some really bad looking tools, maybe hang them where theyre visible from the window. Eg an obviously cheapo trowel, rusted, chipped handle etc.


NT

 

[Moo]

The thought of theft is worrying, it is true, but I don't keep any tools in this shed. They are stored in the shed provided by the council, and hung up well out of view of its little window.
All I've got in Joss's Shed is a little table (rescued from the old shed), a couple of old camping stools, a tin of tea-bags and the camping stove & kettle. Do you think they'd be tempting for a thief?

What I like about the idea of a little solar panel is that it's in keeping with the environmental ethos that prevails on the site. But if I've got to cart batteries home to charge up it rather defeats the object, doesn't it?

 

[Lynn]

I once was on an email list and a person posted a message entitled:

solar system for sale....

I asked which galaxy.

There are a lot of people running their main houses "off the grid" in this area, but they all use battery backup since when you need it most the sun isn't shining. Batteries are the weak point in all the systems I've encountered, although I guess the technology is progressing. The collectors are also getting much better too. For your small application there I can imagine the area you would need to devote to batteries, unsightlyness of the collector, and maintenance of a complex system would be enough to tip the balance toward oil lamps or candles. ( I looked at the one you are considering and you'd be better off getting a rechargable flashlight (you call it a torch I think) and bring it with you when you expect to be there at night. I think it would get much more complex if you really wanted to have solar provide sufficient light on dark winter evenings.)

Most folks I know who use solar for lighting end up using compact flourescent bulbs which I find an unpleasant dim at best. If it has to be dim, might as well be a flame.

 

[Moo]

I hadn't thought of candles, but am finding the idea more and more attractive......

 

[biffvernon]

...safely installed on my allotment, and is getting properly equipped with things like a camping stove and a kettle...

No, I'm afraid you've got the wrong idea. The allotment shed needs to be equipped with a fork, spade, trowel and rake.

 

[Lime]

What I like about the idea of a little solar panel is that it's in keeping with the environmental ethos that prevails on the site. But if I've got to cart batteries home to charge up it rather defeats the object, doesn't it?

I think the solar panel charges up the batteries sufficiently to last on a dull day. It depends on how long you wanted the light on.

 

[Penners]

All I've got in Joss's Shed is a little table (rescued from the old shed), a couple of old camping stools, a tin of tea-bags and the camping stove & kettle. Do you think they'd be tempting for a thief?

I suppose it depends whether the thief already possesses a little table (rescued from an old shed), a couple of old camping stools, a tin of tea-bags and the camping stove & kettle.

We used to have a couple of solar powered garden lights, and frankly they were rubbish. After a really bright sunlit day they would glow for about 3 hours, but after that they barely mustered enough oomph even to be visible. Even at full belt, they didn't throw out enough light to actually illuminate anything.

On a dull day, they barely did anything at all.

So I'm a bit sceptical about solar-powered battery lighting. I suspect it may not do enough for you get your nose stuck into your EDP.

Personally, I think I'd go for a camping gas lamp - for convenience, one that uses the same canisters as your stove.

 

[Moo]

What a wonderful place the PPUK forum is! Such good advice (which I shall follow), and the added bonus of sensible tips about what sort of gas canister to get.

And, Biff, I have two sheds - one for rest and recuperation after the digging and another for the tools and other gardening equipment. We're ever so genteel at Bluebell North, doncher know.

 

[BMcD]

Moo
Camping lamps (and heaters for those winter months). Other outlets are available

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr46.html

 

[Sue Wilkinson]

Moo, I know that camping gas is easy, but have you thought about getting a hurrican lamp and using that for your lighting? A lovely soft glow, bit like a beefed up candle, looks just right for the shed and can be carried outside if you need to see anything out there. Although you might have to buy a new one (might find an old one if you ask around) they are galvanised, so soon mellow.

My childhood camping holidays were always lit with a hurrican lamp. My aunts tent was up the in world, they had a Tilley lamp, which involved some pumping of a little brass knob for some reason (my uncle did that).

How exciting! I love the idea of a little shed for 'being' in rather than the junk. Sort of antidote for all these hugely expensive garden rooms we see advertised everywhere, yet does the same job.

Enjoy.

Sue

 

[NT]

Imagine youre homeless, youre cold to the core and have been all day, shivering your way thru the night, so cold you cant sleep. And theres your shed, shelter from the rain, a door to keep people out, hidden from view, with table, chair, tea, light, kettle... sounds very tempting!

So thats the lock gone, and the next visitor will find an opened shed tempting... thats your everything gone. With candles it doesnt matter, they can steal them as often and they like and really who cares, tealights are only a few p each. With solar systems, youre going to feel rather sore.

Then theres vandals, with which high price glass isnt compatible.

If you do go gas, look at the different types of canister/cylinder, some are cheap to run and some stupidly overpriced. I used to use extra large bottles at £1 each. Not sure the exact weight but about 2-3x the size of your usual blowlamp canister. I made a little convertor to enable the cheap gas lights that no-one wants to buy to fit them. Gas lighting for a fiver all in, and enough gas to last years when used for backup only.


NT

 

[biffvernon]

(Optimistic chap, that NT fellow.)

Hurricane lanterns are lovely but if you want light bright enough for easy reading then use a tilly lamp. The running costs of parafin lamps are lower than gas and it saves sending the little non-returnable empty gas canisters to landfill.

 

[Moo]

You realise what you lovely people have done, don't you?

Now I'm going to have to spend a whole day dithering between gas or hurricane lamps (hadn't thought of that one, but it's a lovely idea.) or whether to invest in a stock of candles. Or perm any two out of three.

I shall put in some serious digging, make some tea on my new little stove, and sit and have a really long ponder.

 

[Mark]

Im sure that i have seen wind up led lamps on sale. A spin off from the bayliss radio I think. Dont know how bright and certainly more expensive than candles, but still better than gas I would think.

 

[plumbers mate]

Is this a period shed = make sure you don't need listed shed permission!

 

[Moo]

I'm not sure about the Listed Shed Permission - I shall check with Jocelyn, its original owner.

And - I've just spent a happy fifteen minutes browsing through "Results 1 - 10 of about 2,170,000 English pages for <wind-up lamps>" courtesy of dear old Google.

So you're right, Mark - there's a lot of them about!

 

[Penners]

And, Biff, I have two sheds.

I dunno - what with two-jags Prescott and two-sheds Moo... talk about conspicuous consumption!

 

[Penners]

Im sure that i have seen wind up led lamps on sale.

Don't believe him, Moo. It's just a wind-up.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

(sorry)