Can I put a solar motion detector light in my barn and run the solar panel outside?

[sixdogs]

My machinery storage barn does not have electricity for lights and I never seem to remember the flashlight when I open or close it up. The problem is that it's bumper to bumper and I'm tired of barking my shins.

Why can't I get a solar motion detector light ($30) for the inside and run the solar panel outside? Has anyone done this? I imagine I would have to point it up so it would take a wave of my hand to set it off and not a mouse but is this a workable thought? Note here is that electricity scares me so this needs to be easy. What does anyone think?

 

[KennyG]

Re: Can I put a solar motion detector ligyt in my barn and run the solar panel outsid

Should be very simple. The wire between the solar panel and the light is pretty long and the light and panel are light and easy to mount.

 

[oosik]

Re: Can I put a solar motion detector ligyt in my barn and run the solar panel outsid

I guess as long as you are moving around inside your barn the motion detector light will stay on??? What about when you are squeezed under some piece of equipment doing whatever and the motion detector can't detect you. I guess you need to keep a pocket full of small rocks and when the light goes out - pitch a rock at the nearby wall.

 

[sixdogs]

Re: Can I put a solar motion detector ligyt in my barn and run the solar panel outsid

I guess as long as you are moving around inside your barn the motion detector light will stay on??? What about when you are squeezed under some piece of equipment doing whatever and the motion detector can't detect you. I guess you need to keep a pocket full of small rocks and when the light goes out - pitch a rock at the nearby wall.

The pocket full of rocks is a good idea but this is mostly a storage barn with a gravel floor. Sometimes I do something minor there but that would be in the daylight. You can set these timers for 4 minutes so that gives me enough time to close the doors and get back outside.

The greater issue would be what if a motion detector light went on at night in the middle of a locked and dark barn with no one inside? Ghost?

 

[bunyip]

Re: Can I put a solar motion detector ligyt in my barn and run the solar panel outsid

We have done exactly that in our carport, set the controls for medium sensitivity and maximum light on time, gives us time to park and unload the boot and get inside with time to spare.
There is about 15' of wire between the panel and light and the controls are part of the light.

 

[jeff9366]

Re: Can I put a solar motion detector ligyt in my barn and run the solar panel outsid

I have one of these small battery powered/solar recharge units at my front door. It has worked perfectly for four years.

The unit I have has a motion detector. Period of light from last motion is adjustable.

No reason the light panel cannot be outside while the sensor/light is within.

 

[oosik]

Re: Can I put a solar motion detector ligyt in my barn and run the solar panel outsid

The greater issue would be what if a motion detector light went on at night in the middle of a locked and dark barn with no one inside? Ghost?

Well - I guess a guy would want to know how big an animal would activate the light - mouse, rat, cat, skunk, raccoon, etc. If had to be the size of a person - then I think you would have a decision to make...................

 

[joecoin]

Why does it need to be motion detection?

 

[Fuddy1952]

I have one of those solar motion lights on my garage, panel on second story then wire down over inside overhang. Like everyone says, easy to do and adjustable.
Then I have about six of those small solar ones about size two cigarette packs. They're on dim at night then bright when you're within a few feet. They just stick on.

 

[sixdogs]

Why does it need to be motion detection?

It doesn't have to be. I know nothing about small solar powered lights and happened to see one at Costco for $30 and got to thinking. Flipping a switch to turn one on would work just as well but all this is new to me.

 

[jeff9366]

Why does it need to be motion detection?

In my case, I want the porch light ON before I reach the one small step from the landing to the porch. As I approach, I am fumbling for front door keys in my pockets.

In the case of a shop, you will frequently enter/exit with "stuff" in your hands.

 

[Jstpssng]

My parents have one in a shed that's set up that way. It also has a built in switch so that once you're inside you can reach up and turn it to full on.

 

[TractorGuy]

I expect rodents will set it off if you have any. My security cameras trigger the recording every time a bug flies by no matter how low I set the sensitivity. If I get it too low it will miss the deer activity I aim to capture but close proximity movement will never go unnoticed.

Here are a couple of HF coupons that are good through today if you have a store near you.

I recently stuck a couple of the flip switch lights in my pantry and they give out enough light you can't look directly at them. Not sure how long the 2 AA batteries will last. They mount to the wall with included vlecro. You could stick a couple on the door jam and pull one off to carry with you as you go through and use the other to find your way back out. Can't beat em for $1.99 but you have to add the batteries.

 

[EddieWalker]

My machinery storage barn does not have electricity for lights and I never seem to remember the flashlight when I open or close it up. The problem is that it's bumper to bumper and I'm tired of barking my shins.

Why can't I get a solar motion detector light ($30) for the inside and run the solar panel outside? Has anyone done this? I imagine I would have to point it up so it would take a wave of my hand to set it off and not a mouse but is this a workable thought? Note here is that electricity scares me so this needs to be easy. What does anyone think?

Yes, it would work and be simple to do. But if you are going to go through the time, money and effort of converting a solar motion sensor to use as interior lighting, why not just by a solar cell, a battery, a low voltage LED light and a switch and make it yourself?

The big negatives to converting a solar light is the lack of a switch, so you are relying on the motion to turn it on, and the timer to stay on long enough to do what you want to do. Then their is the built in battery that they come with will only last for a short period of time. In my experience, solar "kits" all come with lousy batteries that make the entire thing a throw away purchase when it stops working in about a year.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I have a question. How far is the shed to the nearest power source?

 

[sixdogs]

Yes, it would work and be simple to do. But if you are going to go through the time, money and effort of converting a solar motion sensor to use as interior lighting, why not just by a solar cell, a battery, a low voltage LED light and a switch and make it yourself?

The big negatives to converting a solar light is the lack of a switch, so you are relying on the motion to turn it on, and the timer to stay on long enough to do what you want to do. Then their is the built in battery that they come with will only last for a short period of time. In my experience, solar "kits" all come with lousy batteries that make the entire thing a throw away purchase when it stops working in about a year.

I looked at some at the big box stores today and they looked cheap. Am looking into building it myself but this is all new to me so there's a learning curve. I only need couple of minutes to lock up and get out. The machinery just sits there to be out of the weather.

I have a question. How far is the shed to the nearest power source?

There's a wired barn about 50 ft away so I could run an extension cord but that's not the answer. I'm trying to make this easy for a limited use situation. All I need is a couple minutes to slide the doors shut, lock them and get out. Barn is just for storage and it is 100% jammed full of stuff I can fall over.

 

[KennyG]

Given the limited use, you might want to just go with a battery powered LED. I have one of the Harbor Freight $1.99 powered light switches and it puts out a good bit of light. There are also a lot of battery powered closet lights available.

 

[Fuddy1952]

If it's 50 feet away and you have future plans I would bury a wire. But pictured are the solar lights I mentioned. 12 LEDs that come on dim at night, they have a motion detector so they go bright as you approach. They're bright enough to put a key in door lock, about like a 25W bulb.
They're about $8. The other one is a motion detector flood light, about 50 LEDs which I have up about 15 feet, long wire goes above on roof. It also has a motion detector. Harbor Freight shed light, I'm guessing it was $15 to $25.
The small round ones you get from Wal-Mart about 95 cents. I just use the top part for light. They just come on at night, single LED.

 

[sixdogs]

If it's 50 feet away and you have future plans I would bury a wire. But pictured are the solar lights I mentioned. 12 LEDs that come on dim at night, they have a motion detector so they go bright as you approach. They're bright enough to put a key in door lock, about like a 25W bulb.
They're about $8. The other one is a motion detector flood light, about 50 LEDs which I have up about 15 feet, long wire goes above on roof. It also has a motion detector. Harbor Freight shed light, I'm guessing it was $15 to $25.
The small round ones you get from Wal-Mart about 95 cents. I just use the top part for light. They just come on at night, single LED.View attachment 554131View attachment 554132View attachment 554133View attachment 554134View attachment 554135View attachment 554136

Good setup. Thank you.

I have no long term plans for anything but a storage barn. I'm only in it during daylight except to sometimes lock up at night. It's packed tight and the arrangement changes and that's how I bang into things. I've got a bump on my leg right now the size of an egg. Don't want to bury and wires and just want it easy. My plan is to look into building my own light and if I can't figure that out to go with motion detector light.

 

[MossRoad]

I'd try this one from Harbor Freight...
60 LED Solar Security Light

The manual for it specifically says it comes with 16' of wire so you can mount the solar panel up to 16' away from the motion sensing light. It'll stay on up to 120 seconds after the last motion is detected.
https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/69000-69999/69643.pdf