Solar lights indoors

Chambo · Post: # 31023Post **Chambo** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:24 am

I was round someones house the other day and noticed that what they were doing was leaving some of those cheapo garden solar lights in the window bottoms to charge, then using them in the house as hall lights etc - sometimes they are a Ã‚Â£10 for 4

Shirley · Post: # 31024Post **Shirley** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:26 am

Interesting idea! We've got some that DP bought a few years back but we haven't got round to using them yet... might give that a go as a nightlight!

Andy Hamilton · Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:58 pm

Never thought of that, I got one for my birthday will have to give it a try indoors. - good idea!

Chambo · Post: # 31143Post **Chambo** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 5:33 pm

yer I'd never thought about it either, I noticed that he had a couple in the window bottom and one in a bit of wood with a hole in it. Such an obvious idea, dont imagine it chucks out a huge amount of light, but nough to navigate by at night

Martin · Post: # 31192Post **Martin** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:51 pm

they usually have nickel cadmium batteries, so for the longest life, ideally you should let them run completely flat before recharging - the batteries will last a lot longer! They are designed to be bunged in the garden, and forgotten - they'll charge up during the day, and burn all the charge during the night, ready for a complete charge the next day - so if you're using them indoors, and using the on/off switch that some have, let them go totally flat before bunging them out for another charge!

Shirley · Post: # 31221Post **Shirley** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:56 am

So... if they usually use nickel cadmium batteries, just how eco-friendly are they?? Can the batteries be replaced or are they 'disposable'??

Was wondering about this the other night - we've got a couple of wind-up torches but they don't look as if they are designed to take a replacement battery. They have a good clear led light and a flash setting with red lights on the side for emergency use...

Martin · Post: # 31228Post **Martin** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 8:58 am

most of the cheapie garden lights use a couple of "AA" size Ni-cad batteries, that are replaceable when they finally conk out - as to disposal, there is apparently no recycling facility for them in the UK, they are sent to France instead - I presume contact your local recycling centre for safe disposal!

As to "windup" torches, I'm not sure what type of battery they use - I've never pulled one apart!