Just wondering if anyone has tried these or similar. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B071KK6RTJ As we don’t have electric hook up I like the idea of being able to run them off a power bank. However I’m wondering if they’d be bright enough to be the main light in the tent.
Think white unblinking fairy lights.
They will be enough to mark and present your camp, enjoy a glass of wine and suitable nibbles on a warm summer's night under their glow, but you won't be reading or looking at maps.
Use a power bank and you'll need to drive the car a lot or have a USB solar panel to recharge it during the day.
Consider this instead:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-200-LED-Solar-String-Lights-Waterproof-Copper-Wire-Fairy-Outdoor-Garden-Xmas/332715599012?hash=item4d776524a4:m:mLQOO6OK25CMiwFASJJ-46w:rk:10:pf:0
I has it's own solar panel and rechargeable battery and will do much the same job.
Thank you for the suggestion but I already have something similar to that. Was looking for something a bit brighter. We already have several power banks and only tend to camp for long weekends so recharging them isn’t an issue.
They are 5 feet long and give off 450 lumens which is about equivalent to an old type 40 watt lamp.
So a reasonable amount of light but being spread out along a 5 foot long tube it won't appear very bright.
Lights normally have some means of directing the light where you want it. These will emit light in all directions so a lot will be lost as it doesn't light what you want to see. A light coloured background will help.
Because often we camp at festivals so electric hook up isn’t an option and anyway even when we camp at normal campsites we tend to go for the more basic ones rather than big flashy ones so often there’s no electric hook up on offer.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 22/1/2019
They are 5 feet long and give off 450 lumens which is about equivalent to an old type 40 watt lamp.
So a reasonable amount of light but being spread out along a 5 foot long tube it won't appear very bright.
Lights normally have some means of directing the light where you want it. These will emit light in all directions so a lot will be lost as it doesn't light what you want to see. A light coloured background will help.
I have two similar sets stuck in a drawer unused. I don't know how flexible the ones are that you linked to but the ones I bought a couple of years ago were quite stiff so difficult to hang in a convenient position. They were originally intended for sticking underneath kitchen units to act as hidden lighting for a worktop.
I bought mine to use with EHU but despite the advert saying they had something like a 4 foot lead I discovered that the lead with the plug on the end was only 18 inches long so again, difficult to reach my power source without using an extension lead. I originally ordered one and when I complained the advert was misleading as the connecting lead was too short they sent me another one with the same length of lead so I then had two useless light strips.
I did try them in my small bedroom at home and they seemed to give off a pretty reasonable light so should light a tent ok...if you can find somewhere suitable to hang them within reach of your power source.
Decided they were worth a try. Just got back from a weekend camping. They were very flexible and easy to put up. They gave off a really good level of light. I took a photo but don’t know how to attach it.
I ran them from a power bank. Used them for a few hours each evening for 3 nights and charge indicator only went down one of the four charge level indicator lights.
I was really impressed with them and have ordered another set.
I use one of the in the kitchen area of the croyde 6, gives a great light on either a power bank or straight to a usb adapter. I like the one simple on off switch and the price. Set I got were around £8 a couple of years back.
Also highly recommend the lanktoo (amazon) range of powerbank/lantens. I use the 6400mah version in the main area. Lasts a week of evening use and only needs a single fixing point. 3 levels but mostly used on low. Very compact, smaller than 2 tins of tuna and can double as a power bank of needed.
Also have a couple of 4400mah smaller versions which don't seem to be sold any more but these have been used as nightlights for The kids for The last year, charged every 2 nights The run at low setting for >26 hours with juice remaining so I expect The bigger lights to last well with more occasional use.
The fancy kampa a Velcro lights with remote control stay wrapped up, only ever used them around 20% brightness as they were operating theatre bright on full. The lanktoo and strip light are far cheaper and easier.