Apocalypse solar lighting system.
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- čas přidán 23. 08. 2024
- Something worth adding to this. During the current war against Ukraine the cost of power banks has been price gouged and strings of low voltage LEDs sold out fast. the Ukrainians have indeed been using LED strings like these for comfort illumination.
I get the feeling that the primary survivors of an apocalypse will be technically inclined people who can scavenge technical stuff to provide basic comforts like food, light and heat. Heat is trickier, but light is surprisingly easy.
This is a very relaxed project where you can scavenge things like solar panels and batteries from other products to cobble together a light that can harvest whatever solar energy is available for decorative or practical use. You can also buy the 5/6V solar panels from eBay very cheaply if you have nothing suitable laying about.
This design will work perfectly with two solar panels from standard single NiMH cell garden lights wired in series, or a bigger 5V/6V solar panel. The NiMH cells can literally be anything you can find, as can the LEDs. The only thing to watch out for with the LEDs is duff ones that have developed a leakage resistance and will drain the batteries without providing light.
Ideally the solar panel will be aimed at an area of the sky that the sun traverses across during the day for maximum efficiency. The amount of charge the solar cell can put into the batteries is dependent on location and cloud cover. Some days it may be a lot and some it may be low, but either way the LEDs will continue to glow at low level even after several very dark overcast days.
This simple arrangement would be perfect for an ambient light in a remote log cabin. It could also be a source of visual comfort during power outages in areas subject to regular storm damage.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:- www.bigclive.co...
This also keeps the channel independent of CZcams's algorithm quirks, allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
#ElectronicsCreators
If you find you have survived the apocalypse, grab all the electronics and alcohol you can and make your way to the Isle of Man. Big Clive will have the decorative lights up and be ready to carbonate whatever alcohol you bring! The party will be epic!
Next project: how to generate/collect/pressurise CO2 in an apocalypse? :D
@@Kage-Yami
Fermentation, (uh.. like beer or wine). Next project - what to do with all the beer and/or wine that left over from making CO2. I have some vague idea about using boiler, copper tubing and cold water ...
:)
@@Kage-Yami I watched a video on that already. The guy used baking soda and acid to make CO2 then pressurized it with a fridge compressor. Finally he sprayed it into a mold to make dry ice.
@@matikaevur6299 I have thought about collecting the CO2 from wine making. Never got around to it because it would be a pain to refine it. It isn't exactly pure CO2.
@@jmr Who cares, the sodastream stuff is not pure either, more than 60% nitrogen in the cylinder, to save on the cost of that expensive CO2 gas.
Presumably a pre-apocalypse project. I'd like to see you do a post-apocalypse version using a nail heated in a fire as a soldering iron !
Soldering irons can be USB-powered, in that case you only need a power bank. There are also gas powered soldering irons. But it's not a bad pre-apocalypse project, something to do when you wait for your new soldering irons to arrive.
@@fishyerik And there is also the vape battery soldering iron that Bigclive featured a few years ago
@@fishyerik post apocalypse is likely to be post EMP, almost everything with silicon electronics will be destroyed unless it has been stored in a suitably shielded enclosure.
@@MartinE63 artificial EMP is not as bad as thunder strikes so not all silicium or semi conductor components will be equally affected. Though a shielded enclosure is just a metal case like an Altoid box so a lot of devices and instruments might survive, especially if connected to ground.
@@fishyerik "Soldering irons can be USB-powered"
Or butane gas powered. 🙂
Please make more videos like this one! I love the simple nature of it.
In the USA they build bomb shelters and stock them with food and an arsenal of weapons, in the UK we make solar powered fairy lights.
Nah. Here in the US we built bomb shelters during the cold war years up to the collapse of the Soviet union. Then we forgot about them for the past thirty some years. People sold their properties and never told anyone, so now what few of those those bomb shelters that were built are still in a few back yards, completely hidden by overgrown grass. 🤷🤷
UK didn't have Vault-Tec, haha!
@@acmefixer1 Atlas survival shelters in Texas makes some really nice ones.
@@acmefixer1 not true my friend. Pay attention.
I’m not convinced bomb shelters and food hoarding is much of an option - when the outside world is gone - polluted with radiation etc - can you really believe that eating canned food and shitting in a bucket is a ‘life worth living’ ???? ….. I just think a large supply of Valium is a better option - drift away blissfully to oblivion.
More projects like this, please - teaching my son to solder :D
@@Okurka. why? Is it better?
@Supernova i think early lead-free would dry up in the joints... most repairs would involve a person looking for holes in circuit boards and re-soldering the gaps. Not sure if that still goes on today
An ideal project for those 'street find' batteries.
With suitable charge limiting it would be a good use for them. That could actually be done with the control chips in many of them.
They are more efficient in terms of charge and discharge as well (energy out vs energy in) so in a low light level area it could be extra good. But yes as Clive said at a minimum use cells with protection circuits.
Its a Pity I find more empty packets than the actual devices they once contained
It's always important to have a small tree with decorative lights during an apocalypse! 💪
It's like a street sign that says, "hey, I'm over here, come take all my food, water, and survival electronics!"
@@Quickened1 but that's where you are mistaken:
Clive has more electronics hooked up to big battery and uses the little tree to lure others so that he can death-secute them and take THEIR electronics, tools, food and/or Scotch!! 🤣
@@gertbenade3082 yes, there are two ways of looking at it isn't there! And I think Clive is one of the last people you'd want to mess with in the apocalypse, I'm sure he could come up with a thousand ways to electrocute you from a distance!
You know you found your tribe when you find those that are so good at survival they are concerning themselves with decorative lighting. Bravo 😁
Apocalypses aren't all doom and gloom for technical people. It's like a purge of Karens and Kens.
@@bigclivedotcom what! a world without administrators, how on earth would we cope?
YESSSSS!!!!!! I have been waiting... MORE MORE MORE!!! What to get, from where, how to build stuff..
Thank you! Clive I have always said.. you are the guy to have in an Apocalypse Recovery.
What a beautifully simple, yet elegant example. Thank you Mr. Clive.
More of these videos would be great! I want to build little electronics and I love easy projects like this
I'm so overjoyed to see a build-it project from Clive. Just what we need for night lights!
I bought a string of several dozen warm white LED blobs along a 25 ft or 7.6m length pair of wires, which came with the plastic case which holds 3 AA cells. It has a USB A connector and so does the string of lights. So this should work great with my 5V, 360 mA solar cell. I'll be using three AA NiMH rechargeable batteries. They should give 1.42V times 3 or 4.26 VDC fully charged, down to 3.6 V discharged. This range of voltage should be adequate for brightly lighting the blue or white LEDs.
What I'm wondering is with only two AA rechargeable batteries in series, that's only 2.84V fully charged and 2.4V discharged. How is that low a voltage going to light up blue or white LEDs which need 3V?? They're going to be very dim.
Thanks so much, Clive for giving us the inspiration to build a useful project. Please, inspire us with many more like this!
The lights will be dimmer on 2 cells, but the lower current as the voltage falls means they stay lit for an extremely long time.
Ebers-Moll says so...
the more "modern" white LEDs have lower Vf, so will be ok... you could also use red/yellow LEDs, which have Vf from 1.6 - 2.2(appropriately, without looking at a data sheet) in an apocalypse, you'd probably be happy with light of any color, and red helps to maintain your night vision...
Please do more projects like this one - 3/5/12v doofers built from salvaged stuffs (apologies for the technical jargon). I live in a studenty area, so every year there’s a season where the students migrate, shedding a mind boggling amount of tech and electricals - from novelty tat to consoles, lights and computers - which is followed by the renovations season, where you can find yer more domestic build cast offs and trimmings; eg. the last of an LED strip reel, not enough that it’s worth them keeping, but enough for a small project.
While sharing your expertise with complex circuits is greatly appreciated, the occasional project we can put together with our kids (or grandkids in my case) are a treat.
Thank you, Clive.
I am writing to you from the future. I saw this video before the event and it has been very useful. Even though most electronics are fried, you can sometimes find bits and pieces that work.
We were fools to trust the visitors.
I know it's simply coincidence but it's spooky that you'd choose such an awesome and simple project! Easy schematic...convenient solar panel w/string lights...😅
I know how my Saturday will be now! Thanks Clive!
Would like to see more of these! Would love to see a much more scaled up version for larger string of outdoor lights with a larger panel, 18650’s and the controls for that or rechargeable 12 volt or motorcycle battery.
I Did like lasersaber SOLN1 - Portable Solar Power
However i would more Go For Higher voltage Setup's That don't use battery's (MPPT VFD, BPC ) and just outputs 120V ~ 240V AC (3 phase 415V) From 100V ~ 500V Solar DC (Rolling day to day Daytime only setup)
Battery's come later on the AC side Tool battery packs with Fast charger 1 ~ 2 hours
I love how easy you make this seem.
Thanks to you i have leds lighting up my summer house and decking yano so my visitors dont fall over after drinking my 'soda stream vodka'.
I love you Big Clive x
I am *Very* impressed at the way you solder, it is an acquired talent. I thought I was the best 😂
The trick is being able to hold as many things as you can in two hands:
Soldering iron
Solder
Wire
Circuit board
And hand in contact with the work top, a couple of fingers holding the circuit board other object to keep it still...
Pressure applied to the circuit board to stop the components on the underside falling out when you are soldering them...
You don't need tools to hold the board..!
So ..... *Just 150 of those, and we can POWER our whole HOUSE ?* 🙏 CAN'T WAIT for the APOCALYPSE !!!
Thank you Clive, you are an lifesaver ! 🤝👌👍 Who needs an electric company now ??? 🤣
Love your videos Clive! I am a cabinetmaker, so the dancing pixies are way over my head, but I do enjoy how you explain various electric projects/teardowns inner workings.
I live in Hungary, and since the war is looming over our head it would be great to see more of these videos that would be very useful in the event of ww3.
How would BigClive generate electricity to keep his kettle going?
I'd use a solid fuel Kelly kettle.
Anything that makes heat uses lots and lots of electricity. (Reverse cycle air conditioning still uses lots of electricity, it just produces lots and lots and lots of heat)
Save the electricity for literally anything else. Like some nice lights :-)
(Roughly speaking Clive's kettle will use about 6000 times more power than those lights. Could be double that depending on how he's done his lights)
Clive, my daughters and I are real fun times time doing these projects! They bring us such joy, especially these LEDs as festooned they'll stay lit for ages and ages! Thank you very much! Have a great weekend! 🌻
It's apocalyptic visions like this that make me buy old hand irons (lump of copper on a stick) at flea markets ("car boot sales" for across the pond😊) I use them quite often, very portable, work great for heavier gauge wires, soldered my trailer harness on my truck
I was honestly thinking about a project like this, THANK YOU SO MUCH
Always admiring your helping-handless soldering skills, what a cool project!
I’m one step ahead of you Clive. I have several panels keeping deep cell batteries always charged that run turn in LED strips around whenever power goes out. I also have two generators (one petro and one diesel) that power the house.
Simply brilliantly bright here Clive please do more like this
Going back to an earlier video, I’d love to see a version of this with some of the batteries you yanked from those disposable vapor devices, I don’t have NiMH batteries lying around but I have a ton of those
Anyone care to help? I want to order a small reel of wire for various little jobs but I have no idea what wire size I need. The red / black wires used in this project would be perfect. Any idea on size please?
You know its gonna be a good video from Clive Mitchell when the words Apocalypse is in the title.
Excellent easy build thanks Clive, like the idea they’re on all the time
I put several dollar garden lights around the house by the lamps and if the power goes out, they well, they light up =) Neat episode, looking forward to the next!
These are the kind of projects I want to try. Thank you for sharing
Very nice project, be good as a "night light" for a child's bedroom. On that note i'm almost tempted to buy the bits to make one for my child.
This one gave me so many ideas! Thank you 😊
I'm sure glad I've held onto those wee solar panels over the years. I have at least three I could use for such a project. One puts out roughly 3-4 volts. Another one puts out 5-6 volts. And the third puts out 10-12 ish volts.
Electronic crafts with Big Clive! Cool video!
I’d better buy a butane gas powered soldering iron, in case apocalyps strikes.😂
Nah, just do as in the old days, build a fire and keep your "irons in the fire"... :)
I use little alligator clips that come attached to both ends of two foot wires.
You'd be far better off with a 12V soldering iron. Where are you going to buy butane ??
And a metal paint/ammo can to keep the semiconductors you'll be needing in so they survive, should the apocalypse mode be emp-generating.
@BreatheScotland That's not so great for soldering components. Better for gutters & lead light windows....
Thanks for making this video. As someone who wants to dip my toes into solar, this video explains the principles so well. You have a talent for explaining things clearly with a bit of humor, always a pleasure to watch what you are doing. The hunt now begins to find appropriate components.
I got into messing with solar lights recently found some neat ones. Modifying them to last longer because they don't get full sun all day so added more solar to it and slightly bigger battery from 800mah to 1200mah
They always put pitifully small PV cells on to them.
I got some really nice flickering lights which have a small panel on top but also have a USB charger input so just purchased a much bigger panel
Thank you for this interesting and helpful, to a novice like me, video. It's inspired me to emulate this circuit as soon as I can gather all the components
Superb left handed soldering skills.
Great video Clive. I love the build it videos more than any other kind. They always bring me inspiration and encourage me to get off my ass and do something!! Many thanks and please have more build it videos??
Joe
A perfect beacon to help me find supplies to steal during the Apocalypse. :-))))
Clive. I really enjoy all your videos, but I think a series of videos for when the S.H.T.F. would be really interesting.
I love the idea of making simple things out of scavenged "trash." Even in a pre-apocolyptic environment, it could be considered recycling.
I actually just recently did this. I used 4 panels scavenged out of solar lights tied together with the day
ight controller and a small lithium cell out of a discarded "street source." Works great, plenty of light and absolutely free.
In the '70s, I built something similar...20 surplus selenium solar cells and diode, to keep a nicad 9 volt battery charged. The battery powered a Western Auto transistor radio. It was mounted on an old cafeteria tray...looked weird, but it kept the battery charged ( took all day).
There were solar panels in the 70s?
@@radry100 selenium solar cells have been around forever....silicon ones since the '50s. Generally, you bought individual cells and assembled your own. Older solar cells were .5 volts at a few milliamperes. You wired them in series to get to the voltage you wanted.
Selenium solar cells were very inefficient...and were common surplus in the '70s....silicon had replaced them.
Another awesome video from Clive. I'll add to my CZcams apocalypse playlist so I can watch it later.
Copy the schematics on paper. When the shtf, there very likely may be no CZcams.
Really enjoyed that project, thank you! Good one to do with the kids, and honestly one I can kind of understand myself... I guess its stating the obvious but the fewer components there are, the better I understand the role of each, its educational... plus it will be nice to have fairy lights in the post apocalyptic cave!
Thank you so very kindly! This is exactly the project I've been looking for, for my Grandchildren! Perfectly safe, and fun! Those magical electronical pixies!!!
Oh now look at what you've done. They're all giggly and dizzy about pretty lights 😂
;)
During blackouts we had to make similar lights here in Ukraine.😄 Because light day is short at winter and not much sun, we didn't use solar panels and rechargable cells. All diode garlands and even single light diodes were sold out fast. Power banks prices rocketed sky up. So you want to buy all components beforehand if you want to be prepared. What people used most back then is simple non-rechargabe alkaline cells(which were still on sale), electric instrument cells, car batteries etc. Simply what they had at hand at moment. Alkaline cell and light diode was simpleist and what were made most to place it all over your home and bathroom more frequently😄
I pressed The like button extra hard on this video!
Please make more like this!
Next up, Big Clive makes a version of CZcams out of an old CRT TV, some sticky backed plastic, some random components, and a bunch of discarded Vape batteries. Now we can continue to listen to Clive's soothing voice as we survive the end of the world.
Awesome video. Thanks for posting this BigClive. Would love to see a whole series of "survival electronics" videos!
Maybe make a mini wind turbine from a hobby motor? Or a diy (ie: potato) battery? Just tossing ideas.
Either way, keep up the great work. LOVE your videos!
You could replace the battery with about 15-20 1 Farad Capacitors with 4,7 Volt each. Connect them in parallel so that it won't affect the overall performance much if one fails or 2 at some point after a few years. I built something similar but powered with a hand-cranked generator. It takes about 2-3 minutes to charge the capacitors with the hand generator and isn't very exhausting. Can be charged with any other electricity source like a solar panel too. I did a video about this on my channel. You have to be careful with capacitors however because they can discharge energy very rapidly. Don't touch your tong with it for a test ... ;)
I really like your project videos. They are probably my favorite. I enjoy the reverse engineering videos for learning about this stuff. I can't believe how much I have learned from watching your videos. I can identify parts just by looking at them now. It really is a good feeling.
Ukranian viewer here, sr. EE, survived blackouts with my team with almost no effect to our regular workloads. AMA
Excellent! Just what I've been looking for Clive, and I have all the scrap parts ready so will make this later today. Thank you!!!
I had lot of fun making mini solar power systems using LEDs in series and parallel as make shift mini solar panels and capacitors as rechargeable batteries. It only provides enough power to make an LED flash briefly or let you watch the multimeter discharge the capacitor faster than the LEDs can charge it while you are measuring the voltage. But, it demonstrated the basic principles of gathering, storing, and using solar power without having to make any extra investment beyond a basic electronics component kit.
Great IDEA!! And you're absolutely right!!
Brilliant video, I actually end up buying loads of kodak batteries from the poundshop for the numerous string lights around the house, now I'm going to buy some small solar panels instead happy days.
For the apocalypse I've made a solar dish using an old directv parabolic dish and aluminium tape. I can boil water with the thing using about half a square meter of solar area
@BreatheScotland some people managed to do it in the UK. Idk if they were in England tho. Maybe they were lucky with the 15 days of sun lol. Search for the video "Baking sourdough bread in a solar cooker - UK". There is a also a dude that cooked a whole chicken in a box solar oven in the UK.
Something you showed but didn't really mention: If at all possible, especially in a post-apocalypse scenario, use connectors. It prevents having to completely rebuild the light every time something fails, and makes simpler-to-troubleshoot modules for people that might be less savvy. (This is post-apocalypse, so you're trading these with other survivors for supplies, right?) It does add considerations for accidental disconnects and waterproofing, but I still think the difference is worth it. 👍
Dollar store solar panels and rechargeable batteries are my jam
I've had to recycle/scavenge solder from circuit boards before now for running repairs, I did a good enough job for a temporary fix. This video did make me wonder how one could make solder and flux from scratch or at least recover it from the smouldering ruins of civilisation.
Rite Big Dude, more of these please! Me thinks me will try this with my doorbell see if it works! Someone suggested a party on the Island after the apocalypse, I'm in assuming I survive🥃TFS, GB :)
*_Simply_** Brilliant*
A small hand-crank generator would also be quite handy for the apocalypse. It could be as simple as a DC gearmotor from a scavenged child's toy connected to one of those 12v to 5v USB car adapters. A diode could be added to prevent the dc motor from destroying the device if it is cranked the wrong way.
Suppose I survive the apocalypse and run out of Big Clive videos... Ok? Why am I supposed to keep on surviving? Oh shit, I hope he's alright.
I've loved all your content since ashens shoveled me over here almost a decade ago, but I love these simple how to building videos
Yes! Love this sort of project. Please do more of these :) what sorts of things would you look for and scavenge regularly? What sorts of devices could be easily improvised?
Nice, I didn't realise those little solar panels output a decent amount (for their size) - I'll have to have a play with the collection of dead garden lights!
I found a little solar light while cleaning up today that I built a while back, I think inspired by one of your designs. 1 diode, 1 resistor, 1 2N3904, and a self-protected Li-Ion (aftermarket Gameboy battery I found in a clearance bin) strapped to the back of a 12 cell solar panel. Still charged up and worked fine despite being under furniture and covered with dust and dog hair for a couple years!
This is why I adore simple technology. That little project would probably keep going for MANY years. The LEDs being run at such low current would ensure a long and prosperous life of spewing photons. The only thing I see is the batteries would need to be replaced every once in a while.
Easy fix is to grab old car batteries and make a 2 cell battery out of them, so you can run the lights for decades, simply keeping the paste wet.
@@SeanBZAAn interesting idea. Small charging amp would not work on lead acid, though. Needs more to tickle the chemistry. Lots of small panels or pieces of broken, bigger panels could work if buck converters are not around.
@@Teknopottu You can downsize the cells you make to match the capacity of the cells, as in most cases you would be remaking the plates entirely on old well dead batteries, so simple flat lead plates, with the lead oxide pasted on, and in the separator pouch, will work. Not going to be a 55Ah battery, more like 15Ah, but will last a long time.
@@SeanBZA True. My input was about how to charge them.
Solar panels will degrade eventually too. But that is likely to be a lot longer than the battery replacement time.
Nice to see you have a more simplistic Survival Aid vids, you know Mr Cliveypoo you should do some more of these Vids, practicallity in the face of adverse situations is of particular necessity in these most uncertain of Ages. My thanks- Bubby".
DIY Big clive project! This is great!
I'd definitely recommend the switched version - you never know when you need to quickly turn off the lights when the zombies/cannibals/aliens come knocking! Anyway I'm off to find a bunch of solar panels to use with my scavenged lithium vape cells.
So you stumble across a solar panel, 2 batteries, a diode, resistor and some LEDs in an apocalyptic scenario, and to assemble everything you fire up your soldering iron :D :D good one
Your apocalyptic dystopian scenario strangely mirror my reality...🤣
I make this kind of stuff all the time, so neat to see other ideas!
Excellent project! I am considering making something like this for my garden shed so I always have illumination in there.
And I will be kind and not point out that in a post-apocalyptic world without electricity most people would struggle to get a soldering iron going...😉
Neat little project I should have a couple of string LEDs somewhere 😀
We have several strings of solar lights indoors, with the little panels stuck onto the windows with blu-tack. They work alright, but the panels are realistically undersized so they tend to run out fast unless it's the middle of summer. I recently picked up some larger ~2ft square 30W caravan/canal boat type panels, and I'm planning on making one larger battery pack using LiFePo4, with several plugs like the ones you add to your strings to be able to have maybe 6 or 7 off one longer lasting pack.
I love it when you say nickel-metal hydrite
I really love these "apocalypse" style projects, good bit of fun. Rechargeable Lithium cells with the TP4056 module would also be quite effective, considering the amount I find on the streets.
Great littler project, with the current dismal spring weather in the UK I might as well put a 1Mohm resistor in mine. 😁
Even in UK weather the output just regulates down to match the light received.
The message I'm picking up from this is that Clive thinks there is going to be an apocalypse soon !
I love little projects like this as my level of electronics didn't get much past playing with veroboard.
Nice. For your next apocalypse project, could we have a soldering iron that works after the apocalypse?
I do watch a couple of "prepping" channels, but I've always thought the best way to deal with an apocalypse is not to have one.
Even without an apocalypse this is a good project for re-purposing some of the technical "junk" that tends to accumulate in my house.
Don't think technically minded people would do any better post-apocalyptically either. While we are making decorative lighting for our shacks, the more religiously minded people will be busy trying to get us burned for being witches.
Please do a video of what 'Clive' would want in his Faraday Cage - EMP 911 components kit. Please do more of these Apocalypse videos. Love it !
I can answer that question for you: definitely something bright pink and vibrating. Something weird and Japanese...🤪
Thanks Clive 👍🇮🇪🙏
I used to like these sorts of projects - I still do - but they always get me thinking. That I can rig a generator to run on woodgas or make little solar powered things is fine and dandy, but every useful thing I can do relies on salvaged parts that will degrade. I don't know how to make a transistor. And the person who does, presuming they survived, probably lacks to the raw material. And the person who can process silicon to make the transistor probably can't extract it. And the person who can, probably can't transport it... human technology relies so much on society, on all of us working together and sharing our labour and knowledge, the only really useful tool we can hope for in an apocalypse is the company of others, teaching and helping each other to survive and build and grow.
In an Apocalyptic World we all rely on 'Mad Clive" aka ' The Electronic Warrior'
i have an old powerbank case with solar panels, they open like a book, it also has adjustable output voltage, should get it into operation as i removed its battery as it was bad. This is a fun adn simple project, i like it
As we is going down the survivalist route. My main problem with the apocalypse won't be charging batteries, it will be no longer getting my daily beaker of coffee from Greggs 😜
You would always know who was a big Clive viewer, in an apocalypse. We would all be looting Poundland.😂
"I like the idea of surviving an apocalypse"
Me too, beats dying in an apocalypse.
Sounds like a mini series to me.
Surviving the Apocalypse in style with BigClive - Starting from zero, create a luxury pad to live out your lonesome days in comfort.