How to Make a Solar Powered Walkway

I sure loves me some sun jars!  They incorporate several of my favorite things to mess around with:  LEDs, Solar panels, hot glue, man it's all there and they look great to boot!

However, there is one big fat problem:  the sun!  When it's dark out, oftentimes the places I'd really like to have a little extra light are just the spots you can't leave a sun jar due to lack of direct exposure to sunlight. 

The obvious solution to this dilemma is to separate the solar panel from the sun jar.  I extrapolated this a bit further and realized that the only thing you actually need in the jar is the LED, and since you don't have to cram all the other electronics in there, you don't have to stay with the classic sun jar shape.

With this in mind, I combed craigslist for some suitably shaped glass blocks, went to Home Depot for the appropriate solar light, stocked up on speaker wire and came up with the Solar Powered Walkway!

***UPDATE 5/5/10:  If you build this project yourself, or something similar, post some pictures and I'll send you a patch!***


****UPDATE 1-1-11
If you are the first person to post a picture of your completed light-up walkway to the comments, I've got a 3 month pro membership to instructables that's all yours!

Step 1: The Walkway

Here is the little path that goes from my driveway to the front door.  I decided this was the best place to put the lights, mostly because I wouldn't have to move a bunch of concrete, but also because I'd get to walk the path each night when I came home from work.

I figured I'd put one of the glass blocks in the path first just to see how it would look during the day.  I dug a little hole, just a bit deeper than the end result would be.  I poured a little fine gravel into the bottom of the hole, so you wouldn't just be looking at dirt through the glass.  I filled it back in around the block, and left the top just a bit higher than the surrounding gravel, as I figured it would settle out a bit.  Everyone who saw it thought it looked nice, so it was off to the next step.

Step 2: Solar Power!

I found these awesome solar lights designed to clip on to a patio umbrella at Home Depot for about 8 bucks.  I decided to go with these because the solar panel was separable and the batteries drove six separate LEDs.  If I'd used the standard solar lights it would have meant six little solar panels and a lot more wires running around.

I separated the solar panel from the battery/circuit board case and extended the wires that connected them.  The panel went on my roof just over the front door (see picture) and the battery case went under my newspaper box, with wires running discreetly along the corners and the edge of the window.

****Edit 1/30/10:  It has been brought to my attention that this type of light is no longer available, at least for less than $60 each anyway!  Here are a couple of possible alternatives I'm thinking about trying out for the path I'm going to build for my brother:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5501

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7491

http://www.amazon.com/Designers-Edge-L-949-Rechargeable-Solar/dp/B0013HPNRY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1264605147&sr=8-1-fkmr0

***Update 4/26/10  --  User Candor has pointed out this alternative to the lights I used, looks like it might be a good one:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70177439

***Update 3/2/11  --  IMPORTANT  --  Looks like the IKEA link above is dead, here's a new option from their website:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70200939

Also, I did a quick amazon search that revealed some possible good options for this project.

I just want to say that I don't recommend the dealextreme lights for the walkway project, they were a bit dimmer than I would like for this.  They worked out well for the bottle lights instructable I did, but I don't think they'd be so good for this one.

7/30/12 -- IMPORTANT UPDATE 
I don't recommend ANY of the christmas light options for this, they are all too dim. All of the other links above are dead or useless . . . 

*** Update 5/8/13  --  Thanks to Liv Laster and wickedq for some more suggestions for solar lights!

http://www.reusablerevolution.com/
http://www.rakuten.com/prod/solar-powered-outdoor-beach-pool-and-patio-umbrella-led-light/246976804.html?listingId=264737107
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200514205_200514205  <--- I particularly like this one
http://www.kmart.com/smart-solar-san-rafael-solar-string-light-20/p-07129475000P?prdNo=43&blockNo=43&blockType=G43
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Smart-Solar-Solar-30-Piece-Crystal-Ball-Light-String/21397504?findingMethod=rr

Step 3: Get to work!

Crack open the solar lights and separate the panel from the body.  There are three wires that connect them, so measure the distance from where you'll be mounting the panel to where the body will be mounted, and then add several inches.  Extend the three wires by that amount.

Within the body of the light, unsolder the LEDs and replace them with about 6-10 inches of speaker wire.  Make sure to seal everything up well with epoxy or silicone!  Mount this whole assembly on your house first, make sure it works, then prepare your glass blocks.  I used epoxy (because I'm an idiot) to mount the panel to the roof and the body under the paper box, and then stapled the wires in place.

At the corner of each of your blocks, mount an LED of your chosen color, tack it in place with hot glue, then cover the whole shebang in epoxy or silicone.  Make sure you leave the leads exposed!

Step 4: Get to more work!

I marked the spots on my path where I wanted the bricks, and measured the distance from there to the case of the solar light, and added about a foot.  I found out the hard way that I probably should have added more like three feet just to be safe! 

Cut speaker wire to these lengths.  Make sure you label them for easy installation later.  Strip the ends of the wires and solder up one end to each of the bricks.  After these are attached, epoxy or silicone any exposed wire or solder. 

As described in step one, dig the holes in the path, fill the bottom with gravel, and install your blocks.  In addition, you'll need to dig out a little trench between each block, to run your wires through.  For this reason, I started with the one that was farthest from the solar light, accumulating more wires in the trench with each brick I added.

Eventually I ended up at the solar light and soldered each of the block wires to one of the loose wires installed where the LEDs used to be in the solar light.  Let me tell you, soldering outdoors in the dark is a little bit trickier than doing it at the workbench!  Make sure you coat all your exposed wires in epoxy or silicone to keep the rain out.

When you're done, bury all the wires, flip the switch, and enjoy your Solar Powered Walkway!

Step 5: Final Thoughts

I guess the one downside (if you see it as a downside) to having a glowing path in front of your house and visible from the street is that it seems to draw in weirdos like moths to a flame.  I have on two separate occasions gone out of my garage for a smoke and caught someone on the path--one guy was just standing there staring, and one lady (who was in her forties and clearly on LSD or maybe extasy) was hopping from brick to brick.  On the other hand, everyone oohs and aahs over it when they come to visit and I like walking on it, so on the whole it's a good thing.

This was one of the first electronics projects I did after we bought our new house last spring.  I'd been moving and unpacking and fixing up little things for a month and a half and was just sick of neglecting my more eccentric hobbies, so this was a nice entry back into doing strange things with multicolored lights. I haven't posted it until now because I had other projects going, and then somewhere during the month of October while I was busy making my proton pack extra awesome, a big wind storm came through and knocked the solar light out from under the newspaper box, banging it up a bit.  It's still attached, but the lights don't work all the time.  I finally rigged up some battery power for the lights so I could take some decent pictures of the path.  My plan is to either repair it or replace it with one of the other ones I picked up.  I hope I can repair it, as I'd like to add more lights around the yard once I've done more with the landscaping.

As always, thank you for looking!  Please take the time to leave a rating and a comment, they are always appreciated.  I would also love to see pictures if you decide to make something like this yourself.  If you post your pictures in the comments section, I'll send you a DIY patch!

****UPDATE 1-1-11
If you are the first person to post a picture of your completed light-up walkway to the comments, I've got a 3 month pro membership to instructables that's all yours!

Comments

[ladyminister]

DEpotdevoid,
instead of adding more wires as you got closer to the house could you run them in series or parallel. Sorry if am not using the right terms, it has been a long time since I tackled anything like this. But it seems two wires run one on either side of the walkway from block to block would connect them without having a pile of wires where they would be so vulnerable. BY having just the two wires you reduce the chances of a critter interfering with it. Also it would be easier to find the break and fix it. How deep do you bury the wires? Just my opinion and if it would not work I would like to understand why before I start building mine. thanks for doing the amazing things you do. RuthAnne

[harley1]

Pease be very careful ....glass blocks are not desinged to be walked on!
the side walls are not thick enough for body weight,or point loading of a ladies high heels!
if walked upon when wet very slippery!

[wickedq]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200514205_200514205
http://www.kmart.com/smart-solar-san-rafael-solar-string-light-20/p-07129475000P?prdNo=43&blockNo=43&blockType=G43
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Smart-Solar-Solar-30-Piece-Crystal-Ball-Light-String/21397504?findingMethod=rr
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Smart-Solar-Smart-Solar-San-Rafael-20-Piece-String-Light-Lantern-with-Stake-and-Umbrella-Clips/21886773

Here are a couple links I found, not sure if any of them are right...still looking because I think my mom is going to try this at my sisters house.

[depotdevoid]

Thanks wickedq, patch and membership are on the way!

[Krismiha]

Is the incentive still on as of Dec. 2012.

[depotdevoid]

Absolutely! Almost 100000 views, and not one person has posted a picture of a solar walkway. Hell, I'll give a full year pro membership to the first, and a 3 month to anyone that posts a picture of their completed project after that!

[boaslad]

I just bought a new house and one of the things we are contemplating on is a patio in the back yard. When we get around to this, I am seriously going to consider adding some of your "Sun Stones" to the project. Very awesome idea. Patent this and sell them. No. Seriously. Do it!

[depotdevoid]

I've thought about selling these, but I think a patent is out of the question. Still, thanks! If you make these I'd really love to see some pictures!

Oh, and congrats on buying a house, it's a great feeling to be a home owner!

[3tbones]

love, love this project...I seen your updated comments about this project, informing that you would not recommend the dealextreme LEDs for this project (not bright enough), what would you now rcommend and where would you suggest I get some of them, cause I really want to make some of these this summer. If possible could you post a image of what I should be looking for when getting the LED lights Thanks for sharing this project, I really love them.

[depotdevoid]

Hey, I'm so sorry for never responding to your comment, I try really hard to answer everyone's questions, but I guess I missed this one!

I don't know about a good alternatives to the light I used, I haven't been able to find one. See my newly edited step 2 above, if you've got any ideas, I'd love to hear them!

[love2die100]

wow what an idea,thx4sharing.

[Tabbytha]

Hey, I'm 37 and I would probably hop the bricks too... and I wouldn't be on anything... just let people have their fun and enjoy life!! you've created something cool and not often seen so live it up and let others do the same, long as they don't break anything or hurt anyone :)

Keep building and being awesome!!!

[depotdevoid]

Thanks Tabbytha! It's not so much a comment on the act of hopping the bricks (which I do myself), so much as on the specific people I've discovered in my front yard--they usually have googly eyes and give me a distinctly creepy vibe!

On the other hand, I had one lady who was out walking her dogs compliment all the lights in my yard, and later on that summer asked me to come visit a science museum summer camp and teach kids about being a maker. So like I say, some good, some bad, but mostly good!

[paverlight]

Nice to see the site it is really very awesome the sun jar is very good product of the solar lights if you want any more about the solar lights feel free to visit us at the solar paver lights

[solarstudent]

did you need to edit the battery holder to have all of the batteries in parallel? I find it common with LED projects that batteries are in parallel to help increase the brightness. Your LEDs look pretty bright tho, so if you left the battery holder as is I guess it works out pretty well too.

[solarstudent]

For the in-ground lights: isn't the circuitry on those limited to 1.2V usually (enough to charge the one battery it needs)? If so, could we just wire three of those in series to get the 3.6V we need? I'd prefer to not spend $25 for a solar light that has the circuitry to charge three lights if I am just going to be tearing it apart. Wouldn't mind spend like $6 on a few of those garden solar lights though.

[depotdevoid]

Really the main reason to use the single light is to have one source driving multiple lights. It's perfectly feasible to use one garden lamp for each in ground light, but then you have one battery, one circuit board, and one solar panel for each of those lights. If you're only doing two or three that should be fine, but I was going for six and that would have been a mess!

[surf_frog34]

Great project. I couldn't find if this was covered, but how long do the lights stay lit with that setup?

[depotdevoid]

Thanks surf frog! Depending on the time of year, they're good for 3-6 hours. I suspect dropping in some better rechargeables would extend that significantly.

[lschwartz]

Around the 4th of July in the US, many stores, e.g., Walmart, Home Deport, Lowes, sell single stick-in-the-ground lights, decorated for the holiday, for as low as $1 each. The ones I found have everything contained in the cap that just snaps off. Next year, I'll get some and disassemble them to use as you suggest! Thanks for sharing.

[depotdevoid]

Awesome, I hope you share the results!

If you're going for the one light per block method, you might check Dollar Tree, every couple of months they'll get in a shipment of solar lights.

[shilicious]

Right now I am living in an apartment complex, and am trying to find any excuse to make these! They are so whimsical looking, and the possibilities are almost limitless. Thank you for such a great instructable. I can't wait to make these. C:

[depotdevoid]

Thanks Shilicious, I'd love to see the results if you do!

[eamc317]

This is a great project and will try to make it soon! Do you know how much weight these can hold, like could these break if stepped on over a long period of time, or are they pretty sturdy. Thanks again!

[depotdevoid]

They are crazy sturdy actually, you're in more danger of slipping on them when they're wet. I recommend getting some clear griptape if you make this, but you don't need to worry about breaking them!

If you do make something like this, please post some pictures, no one has yet!  If you do, I'll not only send you a digital patch, I'll send a 3 month pro membership your way!

[eamc317]

Cool, thanks! Will try to make them soon. Thanks again!

[porcupinemamma]

Briliant. awe- "sun" . way to go!

[depotdevoid]

Thanks!

[Galonii]

do you think you could set the glass blocks in concrete I was thinking of doing my drive way in Feb. and think this would be really cool.

[DetoxinatorSmith]

My Dad and I put some blocks (without LEDs unfortunately) in his backyard patio about 10 years ago, we ended up using 3/4" cedar boards to make a form to set the blocks in so they were not sealed in place by the concrete, nice thing about cedar is you dont have to take them out, we left ours in and they give the blocks a nice little 'picture frame' look to this day.

[porcupinemamma]

Pictures? Sounds so hot!! (sun/hot) tee hee hee

[depotdevoid]

I don't see why you couldn't set them in concrete. The only thing I would do differently would be to seal everything about ten times as thoroughly as I did, and test it all fifteen times before installation. Once that concrete hardens, if it turns out something is wrong with your setup, that's it!

If you do end up doing something like this, please post some pictures! A lot of people have talked about making their own version, but not one person has posted a picture of the final result. I'm dying to see someone else's take on my idea!

I'm going to up the ante a bit here . . . I've got a 3 month pro membership to instructables that I'll give to the first person who posts a picture of their completed light up walkway.

[mrdudej]

Do you think this would survive a canadian winter?

[depotdevoid]

I dunno, Canadian winters are pretty harsh, but do you have problems with regular solar garden stake lights? If not, there should be no problem with this.

[Dr. Newell]

I just found this instructable and I'm considering a version for my ongoing backyard remodel. I plan to pour two concrete walkways in the upcoming weeks, and thought about incorporating about 20 of these lighted blocks into the surface. Here's my plan:

1. Power everything from a 12 volt automotive battery in my shop, charged with a 18. 8v, 170 mA solar panel from a Volswagen New Beetle battery charger placed on the roof of the shop.

2. When I form up the walks, I plan to build forms for each block and connect them all with pvc conduit for the wiring. Add a little slack to the wiring and I should be able to make all my connections, then drop the blocks into place. This system should allow me to remove blocks as needed for maintenance, and the conduit will let me run additional cabling to the blocks later if I decide to get really crazy.

[depotdevoid]

Awesome, sounds like quite the project!

I like that you're planning on making the bricks removable, I'd hate to see something go wrong with one and then have to pull up the whole walkway to fix it.

I've been thinking of doing something similar in my back yard, I've got a brick patio and was thinking of replacing 20 or 30 of the bricks with some of these tiles.

If you do this, please post some pictures, or even a full instructable! If you do, make sure to let me know, I'd really like to see how this turns out!

[mrtsunami92]

where do i get thoose glass blocks ?
from ebay?
can anyone send me a link please ;)

greets

[depotdevoid]

You might try Home Depot:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?keyword=glass+blocks&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

I just kept looking on craigslist until I found someone selling them.

Post a picture if you make this!

[moogeez91]

hey the link candor posted isn't working. is this product gone too?

[depotdevoid]

Hmmm, good point . . . I can't even remember what exactly the lights Candor mentioned looked like now! Here's one option, searching IKEA for solar lights:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70200939

A quick search on Amazon gives some decent looking results as well.

Thanks for pointing this out, I rarely go back and revisit my old ibles, this has also reminded me to mention that the dealextreme lights aren't very good.