lead acid or Ni-Mh powered light

retiredalso

Since the dark nights are coming I need a light to see the keyhole to put the key in and was thinking of getting a solar powered pir security light.

The only place to put it is on an east facing wall which never gets sunlight after about noon so would I be better getting one with a 6V 4Ah lead acid battery powering a 10 watt halogen bulb or 3 AA Ni-Mh rechargeable batteries powering LED lights?

fwor

Halogen bulbs are horribly inefficient, and lead acid batteries hate being deeply discharged.

Even with LED lighting you will probably find that the solar panel on purpose-built solar lighting won't cope in those conditions, and that you would need a large, separate panel.

I solve the same problem with a Cyba-lite keyring torch. With one AAA NiMH battery it lasts at least 6 months on a single charge, or perhaps 2 years on a single alkaline cell...

Chartered_Eng

fwor wrote: »

I solve the same problem with a Cyba-lite keyring torch. With one AAA NiMH battery it lasts at least 6 months on a single charge, or perhaps 2 years on a single alkaline cell...

There are a few cheap options from Maplins:

£3 = http://www.maplin.co.uk/aluminium-led-keyring-torch-350666?ordercode=A19JQ

£1.99 = http://www.maplin.co.uk/rac-credit-card-torch-504401
Small enough to put in a wallet or purse.

£3 = http://www.maplin.co.uk/wind-up-micro-keyring-torch-353499
A keyring torch to wind up - no batteries to change

£6.99 = http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-led-torch-227269

I have the last one I use in the car and leave it on the dash board to charge up so I always have a torch fully charged to hand. It's not some thing you want to carry around all the time although it is small enough to put into a pocket.