Campsite Lighting

[JAK]

I am looking for feedback, setups and recommendations for campsite lighting. I started with a Coleman Lantern years ago based on my need for nostalgia. That lasted a year. I switched to a couple of Snow Peak Hozuki Lanterns and loved them. They are pricey though and the 3AA batteries are a pain. When I bring along a trap I use glow sticks to mark the guy wires to prevent tripping. I have an array of headlamps and flashlights for mobile use, moving between tent, truck, table and so on.

Tell me what you've got. Even better, show me what you've got.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[dBeau]

I've recently started using landscape lights. I've added anderson connectors to each light and made a couple of extension cords with anderson connectors on each end. Then, just plug then into a battery box. The LEDs use so little power, a small 9ah security battery gives me weeks worth of use on a single charge.

I use this flood light as an up light on the inside of my awning and this bollard light casts enough light near the ground for walking around the campsite. I use a brighter flood pointed down at my kitchen work surface.

 

[acg]

I have four of these ... LED (less power consumption), different illumination options, can be easily hung or laid on camping table for $14.95:

http://truckandwinch.com/tuff-stuff-led-camping-lantern-30-led-light.html

 

[jeeps4fun]

Anderson Connectors?

 

[acg]

The concept for these look good. However, I have not tried them out yet. 200 lumens per unit.... which means possibly couple or more of these will provide adequate lighting for camping:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Coleman-Black-Solar-LED-Camping-Light-with-Charger-SPD486/203566812

 

[dBeau]

Anderson Connectors?

Anderson Powerpoles are popular among ham's for connecting their radios to power sources. They're also great for anything 12v. Make sure to use the right crimper though or you're likely to waste a few connectors.

 

[perkj]

I personally still use Coleman white gas & kero lanterns. I mostly utilize the 500 candle power (CP) lanterns which include the Coleman 237 (Kero), 236(WG), 639(Kero) and the Northstar(WG). Typically 2 of these 500 CP lanterns are enough to light up any large camp site. Get 6-8 of them and you can land the Shuttle . IMO there is not a LED lantern that can match the amount of light these lanterns produce.

 

[WeLikeCamping]

I am migrating toward electric lighting all around. I have an Apollo Black Diamond which puts out 80 lumens, which is a lot more than it sounds. I have a string of coleman mini-lantern led string lights which seem like a novelty light, but you would be amazed at the amount of light they put out. I also have several ENO string lights, which also put out a substantial amount of light. All of these lights can operate at full power for at least two nights and will light up a campsite without making a sound or smell. I bought some cheapo (89 cent) solar powered landscaping lights which I use to light tarp stakes, or paths to the potty shelter. I have coleman and century propane lanterns, but I only use them if I'm with a big group or serious car-camping. I have a variety of headlamps and flashlights that put out a good bit of light as well. The little j5 Tactical on one AA battery is amazing.

Here is a pic of a recent camp using a combination of string lights and the black diamond:

 

[racehorse]

I personally still use Coleman white gas & kero lanterns. I mostly utilize the 500 candle power (CP) lanterns which include the Coleman 237 (Kero), 236(WG), 639(Kero) and the Northstar(WG). Typically 2 of these 500 CP lanterns are enough to light up any large camp site. Get 6-8 of them and you can land the Shuttle . IMO there is not a LED lantern that can match the amount of light these lanterns produce.

x2^ spent a couple nights in anza borrego - nice and dark and beautiful skies. I have three primus lanterns I bought at a discount and a snow peak lantern but really, me and my neighbor that was at the same camping event chuckled at how nothing really compares to our 30-year-old Coleman lanterns when wanting to light up a camp site properly.

 

[JAK]

I've recently started using landscape lights. I've added anderson connectors to each light and made a couple of extension cords with anderson connectors on each end. Then, just plug then into a battery box. The LEDs use so little power, a small 9ah security battery gives me weeks worth of use on a single charge.

I use this flood light as an up light on the inside of my awning and this bollard light casts enough light near the ground for walking around the campsite. I use a brighter flood pointed down at my kitchen work surface.

I have started to swap out my home landscape lighting with these same LEDs. I find that if they are not properly pointed the can leave me with with a blind spot for a few minutes. The bollard light looks interesting as it may be more diffused.

I really like the idea of a single power source for the lighting but am concerned about the wiring being a trip hazard. One of things I find most cumbersome is that each lamp or light source that I have now has its own set of batteries that need changing or charging.

I have marine grade diffused LED lighting on the rack of my Land Rover which is great near the truck. But I seem to never be able to park by the fire or table.

I like what I am seeing here.

Thanks,

Jeremy

 

[NikonRon]

I still use a coleman propane lantern as well, like the nostalgic sound of it. Ron

 

[craig333]

My white gas and propane lanterns stay at home now. I use a flourescent lantern for most tasks. True, nothing beats the colemans for maximum lighting but I rarely find the need for that much light anymore. Unless its for playing poker, then the big lights come out

 

[4x4junkie]

I built a bunch of these clip lamps using MR-16 12V LED lamps of various wattages (range 3-10 watts).

View attachment 92713
View attachment 92712

Two mounted up on a 15' collapsible light pole:

LED light strips such as these (used with a dimmer or a resistor of about 5-10 ohms) also offer up a ton of light for very little energy. I'll string a couple strips above camp between the trees if in a foresty area, from points on the ceiling to light up inside of an old mining cabin, on or in between the vehicles, etc.... There's many different ways they can be useful. I carry a bunch of spring clamps like what I used for the clip lights to provide ways to secure them (just don't let pressure from the clip rest directly on top of a LED though, as that can damage the LED).

The light pole and one LED strip together beats the light output of a two-mantle propane lantern 2-3 fold.

 

[screwball48]

I have yet to officially try my new set up. It consist of two goal zero sherpa 50's and two light a life 350's plus all of the support gear associated with them. All of it fits nicely inside of a pelican 1400 case.

I did a impromptu shot of the back of my xj tonight. Both lights are suspended by the magnets on the lights hooks.
Both in flood/area mode. One on high one on low.

One light in area mode one light in focused mode.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dBeau]

I have started to swap out my home landscape lighting with these same LEDs. I find that if they are not properly pointed the can leave me with with a blind spot for a few minutes. The bollard light looks interesting as it may be more diffused.

The bollard is very diffused and very low power. But, just one will give enough light to keep you from tripping over stuff near it. The floods are a bit brighter but not crazy bright. That's why I use one to up light the awning. The whole thing just glows a nice soft light with no bright spots. I also really like the color temperature. They're probably around 2700k... about the same as a dimmed incandescent so they lack that cold bluish hue that most LEDs have.

I really like the idea of a single power source for the lighting but am concerned about the wiring being a trip hazard.

I do agree that the wires could be a trip hazard. I consider my lighting to be part of my kitchen. The battery box sits under the prep table by the stove and the bollard goes near by... close enough that you wouldnt walk between the light and the battery. The flood is atop the "lantern pole" that is attached to the prep table. So, again, the wires dont run where you might walk.

One of things I find most cumbersome is that each lamp or light source that I have now has its own set of batteries that need changing or charging.

The 9ah security battery are a pretty good choice for this sort of thing. Using solar to recharge them is very easy but it's even easier to charge them from the vehicle. I use a DC-DC charger connected to the truck to get the job done, but I suspect it would work fine to just connect one directly to the vehicle's electrical system... dont forget the fuse though.

Since I have anderson connectors in a few places around the truck, depending on how I set up camp, I dont always need the battery box. Instead, just plug them into the truck's aux battery. It's a pretty flexible system provided you can get past the wires.