Off Grid RV- just need some LIGHTS!!!

[ppreceipt]

just buy some premade lights.

you are probably better off just buying some premade solar lights

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=solar+security

two of them have bad reviews. The other two have good reviews.

You can get two lights for $50. If you built it yourself I doubt you could do it much cheaper.

[PNjunction]

While I'm not a big fan of their solar products, you may want to look into Goal Zero's led lighting. Their "light a life" and "estrella" lights both run at about 3 watts dc. Typically a bit of a blue color temperature. I cut off their custom connectors and made my own.

The Luna led light runs from usb, so that's handy.

You could even forego solar altogether - I really like the RayoVac Sportsman Xtreme SE3DLN led lantern if you don't mind using 3 D-cell batteries. Pretty good reviews from the guys at CandlePower forums, although the battery installation / twist at the bottom is a little funky if you don't line things up just right. It's my favorite led lantern since it is small, bright, and configurable. Of course my D-cells are rechargeable by solar externally, but then I'm kind of nutso....

[SolarRV]

LED's here I come. If that. Sounds like you need a couple grand just for lighting.

[Sunking]

So, I'm looking at LED lights? That friggin little light bulb is going to drain the damn battery in 12 hours?

Your battery if you burn 8 of those lights will be dead and destroyed in 1 hour and 15 minutes at most. Those lights use 1.8 amps x 8 = 14.4 amps. Your battery is 18 Amp Hours. So 18 AH / 14.4 amps = 1.25 hours or 1 hour and 15 minutes. In reality due to Peukert Law less than 1 hour.

[SolarRV]

So, I'm looking at LED lights? That friggin little light bulb is going to drain the damn battery in 12 hours? Really?

[Sunking]

You need to find a different light.

[SolarRV]

Ok, first post here, new to solar, just figuring this out. Need to make solar/battery purchase in a couple weeks.
I have a travel trailer I am wanting to keep lighted at night, thats about all for the electrical needs.

I am wanting to run up to 4-8 of these bulbs for at least a few hours a night: http://www.bulbs.com/espec.aspx?ID=10614

23/8.3 Watt, 12.8/14.0 Volt, 1.80/0.59 Amp Miniature S-8 Bulb

I am looking at this battery but I am getting the sinking feeling this battery would only run one bulb of this type for about 12 hours or so, is that correct? Then I am sunk.

12V/18AH/20Hr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180929731788?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

This is not even including probably a 250 watt solar charger to keep this battery charged enough? I'm in a pretty sunny area.