Loft Lights - Ideas?

anotheruser

We have a part boarded loft but I'm getting tired of using a battery powered lantern all the time as the coverage isn't that great.

I don't have much of a budget for this but are there any other lights I could consider? I don't really want to look at putting in a light using main electric as that will involve a lot of work. We're looking at taking out the water tank and boarding it properly so would rather do it then.

But I didn't know if there were any temporary solutions that actually work, rather than give a small beam of light. I know I'll be limited on battery power but with modern LEDs, hoping there would be a brighter solution.

Thanks

Norman_Castle

Bulb holder on two core cable. Cup hooks into roof timbers. Cable clips if needed. Have the cable long enough to drop down from the hatch to a plug socket or use an extension lead. Having it dropped through the loft hatch prevents it being left on when you close the hatch.

missile

I have both battery and mains LEDs. I did not wish to spend much and bought from screwfix >

The fixed mains LED was not difficult to install. I took a spur off the light in my airing cupboard.

I have a large loft and use the battery LED for area not illuminated by fixed light.

Carrot007

anotheruser wrote: »

don't really want to look at putting in a light using main electric as that will involve a lot of work.

A lot of work? There should be cables for the lighting below the loft. Took me around 30 mins to put in two sockets in the middle and a switch. 15W LED bayonets each way. Brighter than the old 150W's I had in the previous place.

getmore4less

If not spending a lot of time up there a solar security light would work, should have long enough cable to run in through the eves.

WestonDave

Agree with the comment that putting in another light on the end of the current lighting circuit wouldn't be a big job but I guess that is coming from someone that rewired a house back along. If you didn't feel confident then fair enough.


For what you need, some form of LED would certainly do the job on battery power because they use so little energy. It depends a bit on what you want to do up there. One option would be the rechargeable LED worklight type things - http://diy.com/departments/diall-rechargeable-work-light-23w-220-240-v/1297144_BQ.prd would give you a lot of light - but it is pretty directional. You'd need to bring it down and charge it periodically. Another alternative would be to spread some of these - http://diy.com/departments/masterlite-battery-powered-led-cabinet-light-l230mm/841827_BQ.prd?icamp=recs&rrec=true around to give a more dispersed light. Personally I'd go on Ebay at grab some LED strip (if you go for the waterproof stuff it has a rubber type layer over the actual LED's for protection) that work on say 6 volts, and rig them up with a battery box and a switch.

Jackmydad

Probably worth adding that if you do go for mains lighting, it's worth picking up the power from the switched side of the landing light or similar.
That way the loft lights will only come on when the landing light is on. Meaning if left on they are not on all the time.