Quote: Originally posted by DaveH24 on 08/9/2008
For background lighting in the tent we use a single 8watt fluorescent tube like this connected to a small lead acid battery ( 12volts 7Ah ) should last for about 10 hours off a charge . I picked up two batteries for £23 from batterymasters.co.uk.
The battery is also used to power the pump to pump up our airbeds , saves dragging the airbed to the car ....
Cheers
Dave
I have one of those lamps for emergencies and a 17AH car starter / compressor thingy I bought in Aldi.
Those 12 volt fluorescent lamps seem to be under-run and actually take 1/3 amp / 4 watts - hence the long battery life. I never used to get full whack from those batteries when I used them for bicycle lighting so I switched to more efficient lights and 3.3 AH NiMH batteries - which cost £20 each.
Of course you have to add the cost of a charger whatever sort of battery you use.
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We have one of these it acts as an extension lead for three items. we hang another light the other side of the tent plugged into it along with our bug zapper
we have electric hook up and take1 small bedside light but we also use the ufo lights from morrisons. We've camped for a total of 4 weeks this summer and I haven't changed the batteries yet. The kids use them as torches for midnight loo visits! We pop one in the pockets facing in to the kids inner and it's great when they're dropping off to sleep. Also have a small tent we used for overnight stopovers on way to croatia and put ufo light in little pocket thing on ceiling - great.
Quote: Originally posted by sholiver on 09/9/2008we also use the ufo lights from morrisons. We've camped for a total of 4 weeks this summer and I haven't changed the batteries yet.
Maybe the fairies did when you weren't looking
... or perhaps you forgot how much brighter they were for the first 45 minutes or so.
If not, I think you need to share the name of your battery supplier.
I have just bought a dynamo 12 LED lantern - but I don't think the light you get is very good and certainly not adequate - even when plugged into charger you can hardly read with lamp on lap!!
I wouldn't even like this LED lighting as background as it is very 'white' - not very ambient - so falls down on both counts for me and I will be returning it.
My search for a light that doesn't eat batteries but gives off adequate light continues.
I'm not sure about being the safest option if you have kids around, but no-one has mentioned the Coleman dual fuel lantern yet.
I cook with a dual fuel, so keeping fuel sources in line with each other, I bought a Coleman Northstar lantern. Very powerful and has the added bonus of extra heat in the living area when in use.Then for temporary lighting during the night, I have an Outwell cassieopia remote control collapsable led lantern.
Coleman lights get VERY hot, though they are excellent - nothing brighter. Gas lamps will shoot a large flame out if knocked over, net really safe in a tent. UFOs eat batteries. Flourescent tubes are pretty bright without too much drain on the battery. We use a twin tube flourescent from Argos, with built in torch. It does need charging every day though. This can be done with the EHU or via the car lighter socket. All have pros & cons. You'll get a fairly decent battery one for about £15.