Garage Lighting: Battery Powered

[Don W.]

I'm moving into an apartment with 2 one-car garages with zero power. One for my Honda Pilot, the other for my '69 Vette. Any suggestions or experience with any battery powered lights to use as work lights, etc? Thanks....Don

[Peter J.]

Re: Garage Lighting: Battery Powered

Don,
Try this web site: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/ . These guys can be helpful and there is a section on lighting a garage.
Pete

[Joe R.]

Re: Garage Lighting: Battery Powered

Don,

Maybe not what you want to hear, but is there any way you can get AC power to the garage? I have a very poor opinion of batteries. Sure they're necessary sometimes, but preferably not to light up a garage!

Joe

[Terry D.]

Re: Garage Lighting: Battery Powered

Don
You don't say how far away the garage is. Is it detached and across a driveway? If not too far you can always run a extension cord to power a light or two. You also don't mention what you are wanting the light for. More details would help with suggestions.
Terry

[Chuck S.]

Re: Garage Lighting: Battery Powered

...You also don't mention what you are wanting the light for. More details would help with suggestions...

"...suggestions or experience with any battery powered lights to use as work lights, etc?..."

I suspect Don is wanting to WORK on his cars in the garages with battery powered lighting.

My first impression is that working on cars using battery powered lighting will be impractical for anything beyond a quick oil change, and even that will be very inconvenient given the need to insure the batteries last through the task, recharging the batteries, foreshortened battery life from constant discharging, etc. Restoration or extensive mechanical work under such conditions would soon become too much to bear.

A small portable generator used for RV camping might work for frequent, extended work sessions, but it will be expensive and the noise could create problems with neighbors.

[Terry M.]

Re: Garage Lighting: Battery Powered

I winder if this is what Don is asking about:

I have several LED hand held battery powered task lights that I use around the garage and driveway. I received them a gifts and they have turned out to be useful even though I have full power available. Mine came from Sears, but there are other brands. The only negative I have found is the battery charge doesn't last very long in cold weather.

One has a switch for two different stages of light, and that has proved handy. Full bright for detail work, and less bright for conserving power for longer-tern work.

[Paul J.]

Re: Garage Lighting: Battery Powered

Don, I agree with Chuck, but I've also had some good experience similar to Terry M's comments. If you were to look carefully around my shop, you will see many small cheap magnifying glasses as well as the small aluminum LED flashlights that are sold in Harbor Freight. They are everywhere in my shop, very close at hand. The flashlights have a cluster of I believe 7 LEDs and operate on three AAA batteries which are included. They come in packs of two and are almost always on sale for around $3. These provide a lot of concentrated light for a small area. I've used them to light hard to see places for up to 15 or 20 minutes at a time. The batteries seem to last forever.

However, these are only good for small jobs and cannot provide enough light for any significant project. You won't find a substitute for the lumens the kw's produce.

Paul

[Don W.]

Re: Garage Lighting: Battery Powered

My garage is a separate building on the 1st floor with no power. I'm on the second floor about 200 feet away. running extension cords accross the walkway and solar are nor options. I'm looking for light for parking and when I enter and exit. I can open the door for more light to work on the car. thank you for your input...Don

[Paul J.]

Re: Garage Lighting: Battery Powered

I'm looking for light for parking and when I enter and exit. I can open the door for more light to work on the car. thank you for your input...Don

Don, have you researched battery powered motion detector lights? I haven't seen these but I bet they exist. Years ago my father-in-law was crazy for these motion detector distance sensor lights that light up when you drive into a garage. They were multicolor and changed colors as you got closer to your "spot". I'd be surprised if they don't have clear lights that function in a similar way.

Paul

[Don W.]

Re: Garage Lighting: Battery Powered

Yes, I ordered a variety of battery operated motion sensing lights from Amazaon.com and I'm waiting for the delivery to see how they will work out...Don