Lights inside coop without power

[Chickenaddict]

Quote:
I totally agree with you on that. I bought one to keep in the coop intending to leave it on only for a few minutes until the chickens got settled in for the night. I barely got 5 minutes out of it and it had fresh duracell batteries in it. They are a joke!

 

[Ladysonja]

I guess I'm lucky regarding lights in my coop...???

Some years ago, DH and I installed an above ground pool. We ran a line from the electric panel in the garage to the pool area to run the pump.

When we built our coop, we took the same electrical source and ran it from the pool area directly to the coop. We have a switch outside the coop for the internal lights and a switch inside the coop to turn the plugs.

From looking at the pictures, it appears your coop is some ways from the house. If you have an outside electrical source away from the house, you may be able to tie into it to light the coop.

I received one of those touch lights as a gift and used it for a dark closet, I threw it away... The battery useage was more than the darn thing was worth.

Good Luck with your lighting source.

 

[Sylvie]

Do the solar lights have an off/on switch?
I have 2 solar lights that come on at dark and stay on most of the night. They won't work out for the coop.

 

[needmorechickens!]

I have a little solar light in my coop. It has a seperate panel that you place on the roof then run a cord to the inside for your light. The light has an on/off switch. It puts out about as much light as a night light. Just enough to keep you from tripping over something. I think the best idea is to just keep a rechargable flashlight plugged up by the door and take it out with you when you go at night. No wasted batteries and really good light!
~Rebecca

 

[chickflick]

We actually leave our extension cord out and mow right over it. But, the coop is near our garage, so it's not that long.

 

[backwoods]

If running 120 power is not an option I woud do the same thing (with 12 volt bulbs, no inverter) the off the grid guys do. I would wire it with 120V wire and switches but install 12 volt bulbs and use a deep cycle battery with a solar charger. It would be aliltle pricey but it will work and be easy to change over to 120 when you're able. If you need long life light LEDs would be an option. If you're intrested I'll be glad to help.

 

[grullablue]

I had some shopping to do anyway, and I happened to run into these lights while I was at Target. http://tvtopten.com/power-pod.html

They were on clearance for $6. I only bought one because I wasn't sure how bright it would be or how it would work out....but I'm going to go back and get one more tomorrow.

It lit up my laundry room well! The individual lights swivel, so you can point them in a certain direction, and you can turn the lights on or off with a button, or a pull chain. Runs on batteries. There's a plate on the back that you screw into the wall, then the whole unit slides over the plate.

For the size of these lights, I was impressed with how much they lit up that one room.... and for the clearance price, I think it was worth it! So I will go in and get another one....have one for the storage area right inside the door, and the other one for inside the chicken area....

Thanks for all the input! I am hoping these lights work well for me.... if not, they weren't that expensive......

Angie

 

[Lobzi]

Quote:
That is what I got....it turns on by motion. I really like it. I have it positioned so that anything approaching the pen will trip it. I heard that nocturnal predators will be discouraged by lights turning on. It also lights the way for me if I want to go to the pen when it is dark.

 

[geckomama]

We use a headlamp (or miner) type of light. Wear it out there and wear it back in..............

 

[Neophyte]

Yesterday I went to the hardware store and bought a pair of those outdoor solar powered lights that you are supposed to stick in your lawn (they come with a stake). During the day they charge two double-a batteries, then two small (but bright) LEDs automatically come on at night, and they also have an on/off switch.

I took one apart, and am doing the following:

Taking the top, circular disc that has the solar panel + light detector (to know when it's dark) and placing it on the roof of the coop.

Extending the wiring so that it wraps under the eve of the coop roof and through a ventilation hole, into the coop.

I removed most of the plastic from the internal apparatus so the only thing that goes inside the coop (to be screwed into a beam on the ceiling) is the LED lights/battery pack.

I also removed the switch on the back, and wired it so it's just outside the coop.

My hope is that this will be enough lighting for the chickens to find their way into the coop at night, and the only thing I'll have to do is come out and shut the coop door and flip the lights off. Right now I have to come out and physically put them into the coop, so it will be an improvement (if it works).