Camp Lighting ...

[fallsrider]

...I don't tote a deep cell battery around on the camper tongue, instead I use the TV's battery. What I have is the center pin of the TV connector connected to the battery (with a fuse) and this allows me to use that battery for the overhead lights plus I also connect a 12V fan into the lighting fixture if needed...

This brings up an interesting thought. My uncle has quite a bit of land adjacent to my parents. He has a lovely little creek that runs through his property, and there are logging-type roads that take you pretty far back off the road along this creek. I would love to pull our pup back in there with my Dad's tractor and camp for a long weekend. We haven't done any dry camping since we bought our pup.

Thinking about electrical needs, we could get by on our Coleman propane lantern, an LED lantern and some flashlights. But having the overhead lights inside would be nice. I have a spare 7-pin Bargman male plug (TV side). I could get a Group 24 battery and rig the spare 7-pin to connect the two appropriate wires to the battery, and then plug my pup 7-pin into it. Like you, Fly, I have my center pin wired to the 12-volt wiring on our pup. So I could power up our pup this way for the very infrequent dry camping that we might do. I would think that a Group 24 would be plenty enough just for lighting. But maybe this is too much trouble just for lighting. Maybe I should stick to lanterns/flashlights!

It's fun to think about it.

[flyfisherman]

Like you, Fly, I have my center pin wired to the 12-volt wiring on our pup. So I could power up our pup this way for the very infrequent dry camping that we might do. I would think that a Group 24 would be plenty enough just for lighting. But maybe this is too much trouble just for lighting. Maybe I should stick to lanterns/flashlights!

It's fun to think about it.

I hear ya ...!

My present Starcraft does not have the optional furnance and have been using the Mr.Buddy Heater for some time now, since about the time the camper was  new. The overhead lights, plus a 12V fan, are about the extent of the need for a battery. In my case the tow vehicle battery has worked just fine, but I do take care not to use that battery power willy-nilly. In fact, my previous popup had a furnance and I could get about five days use from the PU's deep cycle marine battery. With conservative use I could get about five days use out of it on a single, full charge. But on a few occasions we'd stay longer and I'd have to disconnect the marine battery and use the TV's battery for a little extra time, which worked out just fine.

Like I've already posted, I can't see the extra expense, plus having to tote around the extra weight, for the minimal use (or need) for battery power, when the TV's battery will fill the bill.



Fly

[fallsrider]

Like I've already posted, I can't see the extra expense, plus having to tote around the extra weight, for the minimal use (or need) for battery power, when the TV's battery will fill the bill.

In your case, I see how that could be the best option. But for 2 reasons, that might not be the best for me. #1, we have a king bed on the front, so we can't get the TV close enough to connect the 7-pin directly. I would have to rig up the extra connector I've got with some extra 12-ga. wire with alligator clips and connect them directly to the battery. And, #2, the one place I could think of dry camping, our TV won't even be there. I would use my Dad's tractor to pull the pup back in there.

But your idea works real well, I'm sure, if your TV is there and you can plug it in directly.

[OC Campers]

I agree with Clarabelle.  Inside, we have discovered LED puck lights.  They use velcro to stick to the ceiling.  I have one over the sink, one over the toilet and one over the dinette.  They don't give off a lot of light but do give off enough to move around without stubbing your toe.
 
Jacqui

[ScouterMom]

Sounds like i need to get me some of those 'puck' lights!

But for the most part - we use a propane lantern if we need bright light (seldom - maybe washing dishes at night, if we eat late?) But for most things, headlamps make good task lighting - you can aim them at whatever you are working on, and keep your hands free for cooking, dishes, etc.

campfire is our main source of night light, if we don't have electricity.

Citronella or bug-candles on the picnic tables (just enough light to get the twist-tie off the marshmallows and figure out whether you're pouring juice, milk or tea)

headlamps for spot lighting, if needed (like inside a dark latrine) and they leave your hands free, too.

and a few small hand flashlights by each bed, if needed

I put glow-in-the dark tape on the edges of the steps and door, & corners of some cabinets inside that we bump easily - doesn't make 'light' but DOES make it so you can see where to put your feet in the dark, and not trip.

for trips to the bathroom at night, we carry a flashlight or headlamp, but seldom use it, unless it's a cloudy or rainy night.  Your eyes really do adjust to the dark pretty quickly, and you can usually see the road well enough without lights, even under trees.  We can find our way back to the campsite by the campfire - or if it's a rainy night, will leave a light on inside the camper so the tenting 'glows'.

If we have a campsite with electric hookups, we do carry a single bulb 'clamp lamp' we can use in or out of the camper. I also have a string of red, white & blue christmas lights that we hang to give soft light .

[Funrover]

Well I only dry camp and here is my set up:

1. Campfire - this is the biggest source
2. Head mounted L.E.D. lights - if you have to go into the forest for personal needs

3. I have battieries hooked up in my camper for lights in cse of emergency
4. Battery powered laterns/lights- have extra batteries also

When is comes down to it the campfire provides most of the light needed, the head mounted L.E.D. does the rest, havn't pulled out the others except on rare occasions when it was raining and we played games in the camper!

[zillaq]

I hear ya ...!

Like I've already posted, I can't see the extra expense, plus having to tote around the extra weight, for the minimal use (or need) for battery power, when the TV's battery will fill the bill.

Fly

Back in my foolish youth I owned a Ford E150 van.  I had an ancient 300 Watt inverter.  Weighed about 35 pounds.  I would load up the van with my 100W stereo receiver, speakers, TURNTABLE, camping stuff and head up the canyon to party with college friends.  It usually lasted through the night.  I connected the inverter directly to the van battery but I was careful to park on a slight downhill in case I needed to

[3ontheGo]

Speaking of headlamps, check out these. Solar rechargeable LED headlamps. This company has lots of cool gear.  http://www.newlite.com/

[BuddyBear]

...

We use a couple of Solar LED Lamps. Nice soft light for the pick-a-nick table or in the PUP for the nightly game of Yatzee.
In the camp site a nice fire is all the light we need.
I also wear a Panther Vision Hat with the LEDs built into the brim.
BB

[cjpoppin]

I just got a new set of rope lighting for the awning and it is solar powered have only tried it in our yard to date but looking forward to trying it out on our next camping trip this coming June 12 th at the beach.......Gives out a really pretty soft glow.......Really cool.....carol