What are you guys using for interior/exterior lighting at camp?

[jeepfreak81]

I will hopefully have the lift/rack finished this week, and will start packing and outfitting the trailer next week. I have a small Coleman LED lantern for inside, and a couple lanterns for outside, but am looking for camp accent lighting that won't eat the battery too bad, or might run directly off 12V. What have you guys used, and where did you get it?

 

[Mark Harley]

I use a vintage propane lantern on a distribution tree mounted on my tank.
Works well but a little loud on high.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

LED rope light...
Very low power consumption
Does not attract bugs
Does not blind you
Last forever
Very durable

 

[Desert Dan]

Had been Coleman gas and propane but now mostly LED lamps and lanterns. No noise but not a cheery as the old Coleman.

 

[WATERJETGUY]

GOAL ZERO . with soft solar pannels charging it during the day or just running it off my trailer battery

 

[Titanpat57]

LED rope light...
Very low power consumption
Does not attract bugs
Does not blind you
Last forever
Very durable

12V or 120V?

I noticed quite a difference in price point of the two..the 12v type being considerably more.

I also like the LED lights from http://stores.ebay.com/randpcarriagestrailersales..I used these folks for all my lights...great customer service, and the LED's are pretty good quality.

For a main light I use the Coleman Northstar as a main camp light...hands down the brightest I've ever seen... http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-North...b-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373

 

[Mc Taco]

Battery powered LED lantern. Battery and solar powered white Christmas light strands. Stock up on those during the season, which sadly has already started at Costco. And even LED votive candles for a "mood".

I prefer to avoid the propane lantern. Fragile mantles and less chance of starting a fire. (I still use propane to cook and BBQ.) Just want to use a safer way to illuminate.

 

[hollaback55]

led lightin

I went with the 36" strip LED from AT. flexible mounting options, low profile, and definitely helps with the bug aspect. Other than that I Run the LED backup light on the Jeep and I have the black diamond lanterns.

 

[Pikeman]

Still building my trailer. Inside I am planning on LED rope lights like the others. Outside for accent/ work area Tantrum LED rock lights by Vision X. There are 8 small 1" pucks that can be placed all over, 12v and come with a remote. I am still not sure of needing a bright light as one reason I enjoy camping out is being able to enjoy all the stars I can't see in the city, however the Tantrums are pretty bright.

 

[tripc]

I got red blue green led strip lights. Changes colors, dimes, strobes and fades. Even has a remote. I hooked it up straight to my deep cycle and presto. Plenty of lights...

I installed them inside the awning rails. And it works awesome. My favorite part of the whole trailer

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00812EH9Y/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00

 

[dflesher65]

GOAL ZERO . with soft solar pannels charging it during the day or just running it off my trailer battery

Same here...plus you can piggyback the lights from a singe power source.

 

[dwh]

I picked up a couple of these a while back to play with:

http://www.amazon.com/LEDWholesalers-LED-Light-white-1230WW/dp/B002L22SLE


I have to say, I'm impressed. Pretty bright, but the beam spread is kinda tight. I found that if I use two of them and wash across the white fiberglass ceiling, it gives as much or more light to work with than a single 18w 1141 lamp.

I picked up a couple of the MR16s and a couple of MR16 ceramic sockets at the local electrical supply house just to play with.


I'll probably end up modding a couple of MR16 landscape fixtures and making the install permanent at some point. Something cheesy, like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-GL22...G8U4/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_c/175-4163042-0945206


Right now though, I'm just waiting to see if they last a while at 14+ volts, or if I'm going to have to add LM7812 voltage regulators to cut it down to 12v.

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

I am going to wire in some external LED lights controlled by a switch. I have them under the Jeep already, and use one as a license plate light...very bright and cheap (I have the top ones).

http://www.oznium.com/super-bright-12v-led-module



I have 4 to put externally on the trailer, and I have a 9 LED light strip for under the lid with an on/off switch integrated, that was also $9.00 locally at Princess Auto. I am going to put a couple of LED lights in the tent, and run them off of a dimmer switch also available locally from Quaele Electronics. I think the dimmer was $12.00 and you can run a huge number of LED's or strip lighting off of it, and it is the size of a matchbox car. Their light strips (9 LED) and the dimmer was under $30.00 IIRC?

All this off of a deep cycle in the tongue box and charged by the Jeep or a small solar panel. Of course, the trusty Coleman Propane lantern will also come with on trips, always does.

 

[STREGA]

I have gone to all rechargeable battery powered LED's, oldest one is a Coleman that looks old school gas style, can be recharged by either 12 or 120v or runs on D cell batteries. Puts out decent light but is a little on the large size so I don't take it with me much anymore. I replaced it with a LED Craftsman mechanic's trouble light, recharges either 12 or 120v, easier to store than the Coleman and puts out decent light as well. Also picked up a couple of Solar powered lights made by Nokero earlier this year, these were originally made for 3rd world countries and are shaped sorta like a light bulb even have a fake threaded end where it's hangar is attached to. They have a low and high setting but don't put out a lot of light but are good for mood lighting which I prefer over a blinding light if I'am not cooking or doing something that requires more lighting. I picked up a Goal Zero lantern at Overland Expo this year that recharges either 12 or 120v and also has a hand crank for charging, but I really got that for emergency use at home but may use for camping also. The light I like the most is the one from the propane campfire. :elkgrin:

 

[grimbo]

I just use some LED strips I got for a few dollars off eBay. These are stuck to the inside of the trailer lid and cast plenty of light. For inside the tent we use an ARB fluruo light. These are all powered from a Waeco Coolpower pack. Also have another fluruo in the back of the GU over the fridge and some LED strips that are under the lip of the awning.