Thoughts About Porch Lights...

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Thoughts About Porch Lights...

Postby Guest » Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:31 pm

With the advent of LED lighting, I'd like to get others thoughts about porch lights.
All I've seen in LED, are a few back up lights and the boating world has what are called courtesy lights and they seem like they might be a bit on the dim side...
I've asked a couple of members and got a varrying degree of opinions about even using a porch light in the first place.
I plan on having one at each door and would like something that puts out a decent amount of light.
One side will eventually have an attached canvas type privacy room, so I'll need some pretty good lighting there.
I dunno, should I consider an incandecsant light for this instead of LED?
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Postby Ken A Hood » Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:45 pm

When I get mine built :R I plan on using lights near the door. Since I camp in provincial parks (to date) there's no street lights etc, and it get's really dark at night. So in my opinion any kind of light will work, all I'm looking for is general lighting near the door.
Here's the kind I have, the pic shows amber(which I have) but I also have clear lens ones, and depending on how bright they are, I might switch out the bulbs to LED
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Postby Guest » Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:51 pm

I've read about the amber ones being better for bug control, but with my eye balls, I'll need all the light I can get, so I'll put up with a few extra moths and whatnot for decent lighting...
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Postby Leon » Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:59 pm

I made mine out of LEDs (was in the light contest about a month ago) and it lights a fair amount of ground around the door area. I could have bought brighter LEDs but I used what I had in a junk drawer. I sure do like the low amp draw. I put the LEDs in a conventional porch light lens mounted to an oak backing. Worked great.
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Postby Arne » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:18 pm

I've thought about an outside wall mounted bracket into which I could put a solar powered light.... no wiring, but another thing to carry around (and be sure to take off when traveling)..... I actually bought the light but have not mounted it, yet.
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Postby Chip » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:21 pm

Dean,,, The main reason I want or need outside lights is to keep me from tripping over stuff in the middlw of the night,,, so instead of an outside mounted on the wall I am mounting clear clearance/tag lights under the floor on the frame,,, this will give a bit of light for stumbling around in the middle of the night without having a spotlight blind me ,, I cant say how well this is gonna work yet as the lights are in a box and not mounted,, Ill let ya know how well it works though,,

just another way to bring some light to the end of the tunnel,,,

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Postby billnut » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:30 pm

:D Dean you might try this Web. site
http://autolumination.com/fixtures.htm
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Postby Guest » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:59 pm

Chip,
Wouldn't wanna spill any pickle juice... :lol:

Bill,
That fog light looks real good, just what I need for those foggy nights here in the redwoods! 8)
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Postby PaulC » Mon Mar 06, 2006 5:21 pm

Dean, I used the Hella Marine courtesy light alongside each door on mine. In the dead of night the light is great and is not intrusive. No good to read by but good enough to see what you are doing. 4 led's in each one.
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Postby Rob » Mon Mar 06, 2006 6:17 pm

Dean--

Sounds like ya gotta ask yourself, "What do you want from the light?" Are you going to read, cook, security when someone knocks, use the porta-potty, find your way back from a late night walk to the trees... :lol: Is the light more for you or TDN?
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Postby Denny Unfried » Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:28 pm

All colors of lights attract bugs and especially fluorescent tubes. So, I have a small one with a long cord that is put a good distance from the tear and when all the bugs are on it I can safely enter a bug free bed, close the door and turn it off.

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Re: Thoughts About Porch Lights...

Postby Steve_Cox » Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:36 pm

Dean in Eureka, CA wrote:With the advent of LED lighting, I'd like to get others thoughts about porch lights.
All I've seen in LED, are a few back up lights and the boating world has what are called courtesy lights and they seem like they might be a bit on the dim side...
I've asked a couple of members and got a varrying degree of opinions about even using a porch light in the first place.
I plan on having one at each door and would like something that puts out a decent amount of light.
One side will eventually have an attached canvas type privacy room, so I'll need some pretty good lighting there.
I dunno, should I consider an incandecsant light for this instead of LED?


Dean,
I wanted to be able to see when the porch light is on too. So I went with incandecsant. Got two of them on Ebay for $6.00 each plus $4.00 shipping. I like 'em.

[ebay porch light link]
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Postby Kurt (Indiana) » Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:03 pm

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I installed an outlet near the door and use 7 watt night lights for the porch lights. These come on at night and go off in the morning. I can also use the outlet for other power.
The outlet has a hinged cover to keep out the weather.. Works pretty well plus they are cheap to replace. :thumbsup:
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Postby Nitetimes » Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:18 pm

Porch light...hmmmm.... I have a Coleman lantern (white gas) with a bug lens in it. I made a hanging pole that keeps it about 5' off the ground. I let it burn all night...usually get 2 nites out of it before refilling.
Easy on the battery and I don't have to look for the switch in the middle of the nite.
K.I.S.S. 8) 8) 8)

Oh yeah....no bugs either :lol: :lol:
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Postby bdosborn » Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:54 pm

Dean,

That's the one light that I kept as an incandescent. I wanted a bunch of light and LEDs just wouldn't do it for me. I'd go with a yellow light as it does cut down on the bugs. We've lit up critters nosing around our trailer several times at night (Hey! What was that?) and its nice to be able to throw a lot of light around the sides. I got ours at TJ Trailers. It might be possible to use a incandescent porch light and replace the lamp with LEDs from Here
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