Easiest DIY Solar Lights I Could Think Of

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  • Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
  • I made DIY solar lights for my shed without using any tools!
    🔋 PARTS USED IN THIS VIDEO
    • Battery - amzn.to/3KN0VBq
    • Charge controller - amzn.to/3KO2tLJ
    • Solar panel - amzn.to/3GvdgaW
    • Mounting tape - amzn.to/43lXOYn
    • Adapter cable 1 - amzn.to/3zOffnc
    • Adapter cable 2 - amzn.to/43m3L7H
    • Lights - amzn.to/3meoJoE
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    These DIY solar LED lights make it easy to grab things from my shed at night without struggling with a smartphone flashlight.
    Overall, this DIY solar lighting setup is straightforward to make and perfect for sheds and small buildings, as well as boats and vehicles. If you need your lights to last longer, all you have to do is pick up a bigger solar panel and a bigger battery.
    Some things I didn’t mention in the video:
    - Alligator clips are far from the best way to connect wires long term, so if you want to make the connection a bit more permanent - especially in vehicles where everything gets moved around during transit - you can use electrical tape to tape the clips to the terminals
    - Lead acid batteries shouldn’t be charged below -4°F (-20°C)
    - The estimated solar panel and battery sizes at the end are conservative because I don’t want your lights to die unexpectedly 😜
    - The adapter cable I used has a 7.5A fuse, so make sure you get a solar panel that won’t exceed this limit
    ~
    Some of the links in this video's description and comments section are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one, at no extra cost to you I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you! 🙏

КОМЕНТАРІ • 64

  • @randallkipker9990
    @randallkipker9990 8 місяців тому +20

    Swiss multi-tool is a tool as are Tweezers!

  • @myname7914
    @myname7914 8 місяців тому +1

    Thanks for the inf Alex. Things I found very helpful... "Sealed Lead Acid" Battery is needed for freezing temps. I'll probably get the 30W panel, and 25-30 Ah battery. (btw, you used the trusty tweezers as a tool, LOL... could have used your fingernails)

  • @bernard9565
    @bernard9565 Рік тому +1

    Hi, can i use 12v led strip? And connect them to dc output on controler?

  • @ericaguirre9739
    @ericaguirre9739 Рік тому +10

    Im high af rn this video was dope af !

  • @madmedix2
    @madmedix2 Рік тому +11

    Nice video. Sage old advice (from formerly intact solar panel cables): If you have squirrels, you may wish to dab some clover oil on the outer casing of any exposed cable once in a while. Replacing damaged cables gets old fast.

    • @footprinthero
      @footprinthero  Рік тому

      Thanks for the tip! I definitely do have squirrels so I'll try this out

  • @truthalonetriumphs6572
    @truthalonetriumphs6572 7 місяців тому +4

    No tools 😂

  • @roboticalienman
    @roboticalienman Рік тому +5

    Awesome guide, and great way to start getting into solar on the cheap

  • @MrDavidBFoster
    @MrDavidBFoster 6 місяців тому +1

    Dude... You don't get to say tweezers aren't a tool just because they aren't part of the $10 handyman kit at Walmart! lol

  • @harshbarj
    @harshbarj 5 місяців тому +1

    Um, tweezers are a tool.

  • @zachvanboening3574
    @zachvanboening3574 11 днів тому

    Great video. Exact application in the exact shed I have! Thanks

  • @magajocca
    @magajocca Рік тому +11

    for safety reasons never cut corners and use proper equipment and tools.

    • @wardraven8755
      @wardraven8755 5 місяців тому +1

      What equipment was not proper?

    • @harshbarj
      @harshbarj 5 місяців тому +1

      @@wardraven8755 Well, the tweezers for one.

    • @mattburrows2615
      @mattburrows2615 3 місяці тому

      Hair clip​@@wardraven8755

  • @footprinthero
    @footprinthero  Рік тому +1

    PRODUCTS
    Battery - amzn.to/3KN0VBq
    Charge controller - amzn.to/3KO2tLJ
    Solar panel - amzn.to/3GvdgaW
    Mounting tape - amzn.to/43lXOYn
    Adapter cable 1 - amzn.to/3zOffnc
    Adapter cable 2 - amzn.to/43m3L7H
    Lights - amzn.to/3meoJoE
    ~
    Some things I didn’t mention in the video:
    - Alligator clips are far from the best way to connect wires long term, so if you want to make the connection a bit more permanent - especially in vehicles where everything gets moved around during transit - you can use electrical tape to tape the clips to the terminals
    - Lead acid batteries shouldn’t be charged below -4°F (-20°C)
    - The estimated solar panel and battery sizes at the end are conservative because I don’t want your lights to die unexpectedly 😜
    - The adapter cable I used has a 7.5A fuse, so make sure you get a solar panel that won’t exceed this limit

    • @lizardman1303
      @lizardman1303 3 місяці тому

      About 110 dollars for this build . Might be cheaper just buying the solar power lights

  • @LukeWallis009
    @LukeWallis009 8 місяців тому +2

    thanks you may have just saved me in my DT school project

  • @connorhunt5115
    @connorhunt5115 7 місяців тому +1

    Hey Alex, just wanted to say maybe you should just use the right tools for the job

  • @TonyHendren
    @TonyHendren 6 місяців тому

    Ummm...would have been easier with a standard screwdriver.

  • @Estoooopid
    @Estoooopid 7 місяців тому +1

    Nice job. Maybe next year for me. Ima continue using my phone light for those rare occasions i need something from shed in the dark.

  • @gamallevarity5809
    @gamallevarity5809 5 місяців тому

    Tweezer and nail clippers still a tool 🔨bruh

  • @OutdoorLiving88
    @OutdoorLiving88 4 місяці тому

    When you used your tweezers they became a tool.

  • @daves2822
    @daves2822 Рік тому +3

    FYI anything you use as a tool is a tool.. you even said multi tool.

  • @motardmania5567
    @motardmania5567 3 місяці тому

    How long can you keep the lights on?

  • @beholder4465
    @beholder4465 8 місяців тому +1

    good video but tweezers or nail cutter are still tools 😉

  • @BlackSuneEmpire
    @BlackSuneEmpire 4 місяці тому

    Vey nice video, but you made a common mistake with your led light strip. You are supposed to face them away from you to stop you from being dazzled and to create a more defused light effect.
    Though I'm sure you are happy the way you installed them.

  • @scottf9044
    @scottf9044 6 місяців тому

    How do you match the panel size (watts), controller (amperage), LED light requirements (amperage), hours/day and battery capacity? In other words, if I used the same LED strips you have, which are 2A, but need them to run 8 hours/day what do I need in the panel, controller and battery capacity? Essentially, what specs do I need to look for? I'd probably go with strip lights that I can wire directly to the controller (vs. USB) or directly to the battery. Thanks.

  • @MeliSandra
    @MeliSandra Рік тому +1

    What charge controller do I use for 100 watt solar panel

    • @footprinthero
      @footprinthero  Рік тому +3

      There are lots of options! The one I use in this video works with a 100W panel. It can handle up to 130W. I'd recommend it as a good budget option

    • @MeliSandra
      @MeliSandra Рік тому

      @@footprinthero thankyou

  • @halohahaha
    @halohahaha 3 місяці тому

    Thanks for a nice video. I can see you used a 12v battery and 5v lights. Does the controller somehow convert the voltage or how does it work?

  • @user-zb2pt9qu2g
    @user-zb2pt9qu2g 6 місяців тому

    But in the summer time this type of shed temperature can reach more than 50°c. Isn’t it dangerous for the battery

  • @nicc8230
    @nicc8230 7 місяців тому

    great video, I'm trying to make this project as cheaply as possible any have zero electrical skills this seems perfect. Any idea for solar panels that just need daylight? There is usually no direct sunlight on my property in PNW. Thanks

  • @nemanjarodic1049
    @nemanjarodic1049 3 місяці тому

    I build this and it is trash.

  • @ceciyeltom235
    @ceciyeltom235 4 місяці тому

    Amazing. Thanks for sharing great details & where to purchase.

  • @ne-phil
    @ne-phil Рік тому

    Excellent how to! Thanks. I've got the same brand shed as you do but mine is 15' deep. I noticed the lights you used from Amazon are only 6.5' in length. Can I add a couple more together so the lights go from the front to the back of my shed? Thanks again.

  • @juanitagonzalez9289
    @juanitagonzalez9289 9 місяців тому

    Can you make a video adding a timer so that the lights turn on and off by themselves?

  • @emanuelnolasco3745
    @emanuelnolasco3745 5 місяців тому

    How much time is the light turn on?
    All night?

  • @ramidaoud3776
    @ramidaoud3776 Рік тому

    do you have a video or if not help us diy "sunne" solar lamp

  • @Zaniith
    @Zaniith Рік тому

    I'm thinking of doing the same thing with 12v fluro lights, will have a couple panels and potentially a couple batteries aswell, would that work?

    • @jimmymaracas6442
      @jimmymaracas6442 Рік тому +1

      Yes but there’s a specific way to do it, you’ll probably want to connect multiple batteries in parallel.

  • @Fokky.
    @Fokky. Рік тому

    won't the batteries overcharged? i mean the controller doesn't have mppt feature right?

    • @footprinthero
      @footprinthero  Рік тому +1

      Good question - Nope, the charge controller has overcharge protection! And I don't know of a charge controller that doesn't protect against overcharging. It's a standard feature, regardless of whether it's a PWM or MPPT charge controller.

  • @cidadao400
    @cidadao400 Рік тому

    I would like to transport the solar light into different places in my house (no batteries, no solar panel)

    • @xFGBxHD
      @xFGBxHD Рік тому

      You can’t have solar light without a battery in night , the idea is the battery gets charged by solar and then the battery powers the lamp in night

  • @3RDPeakAdventure
    @3RDPeakAdventure 5 місяців тому

    Awesome - very nice and simple

  • @ahmadgondal732
    @ahmadgondal732 10 місяців тому

    Great video! Easy to follow and Thank you for the item links.

  • @hakan3525
    @hakan3525 Рік тому

    İlk Türk abonen benim 🇹🇷

  • @samueladams584
    @samueladams584 Рік тому

    That's cool..

  • @amperetimemarketing7931
    @amperetimemarketing7931 Рік тому

    great video!

  • @rocktman81
    @rocktman81 Рік тому

    I have a resin-type shed that's similar to yours. I'm hoping to maybe one day have solar panels covering the one full half of the roof (the south facing half of course) and running power (under ground) to a ductless minisplit unit (with the outside compressor about 30 feet from the shed, and the head unit of the minisplit installed in an upstairs bedroom). They now have minisplits that can run on a combination of DC and AC (where they prioritize the DC first). With the minisplit's variable speed compressor, they can apparently run at low speeds with relatively small power consumption. Since my shed is only 7'x7', and with only 1/2 of the roof facing south, there's not a ton of room for solar panels. Maybe I can fit four 100W panels I'm hoping. Anyway, this is just a thought so far. Haven't started taking measurements or running numbers yet. Current "concerns" are 1) how much panel and associated power generation can I fit on half of the roof of the shed, 2) how heavy will the panels be on the shed roof, 3) how can I safely run power underground from the shed to the outside compressor unit, 4) how much power I will lose in that ~30ft run, 5) what is the bare minimum power that a (maybe 9k or 12k BTU) minisplit can run at a slow speeds with its variable speed compressor (e.g. does it need say 250W or so to even run at all).

    • @joniboulware1436
      @joniboulware1436 Рік тому +1

      If you are powering a minisplit for an upstairs bedroom, and HOA rules aside, why wouldn't you set everything up on the house?