Lately I have had much interest in working with solar cells, because of this I initiated a project, and to be able to test it, I decided to create this lantern with a pumpkin.

Solar energy always fascinated me and what we have eh here are a step by step of as if to construct one jack-o-lantern using rechargables batteries and one solar cell.

The ideia for this project this in the fact of that it would like to have a "lantern" in my garden but I dont want to have that to install any eletric wire in the garden. In the next steps you will be able to see the result of this ideia.

Enjoy

Step 1: Finding the Right Pumpkin !

The first step was to find one pumpkin. Due to lack of luck I couldn't found the ideial, but, fortunately, I found one with that I could work. This pumpkin was bought in target and cost only 0,99 cents. Next step was to cut the bottom of it to be able to work in installation of thesolar cell and the batteries.

Step 2: Preparing the Pumpkin

With a knife I cut I the pumpkin's bottom. With this I obtained space to be able to insert the solar cell and the batteries.

Step 3: The Solar Cell and Battery

The next step was to develop the circuit. The ideia was to mount a circuit that could turn the light on only during the night. Therefore I imagined that it could use a photo-cell. The light would be generated using one high intensity LED, thus, two 1.2 batteries of volts, rechargable, could be used.

The ideia was perfect until I to discover how much the components would cost. When I was ready to giving up I found a product that I could adapt for my project.

The product is a tiered path, a hamilton bay's product. This product wasn't nothing more that a lighting path, and to be honest i never saw one working as they should be. By the other hand, it's perfect to my project.

Step 4: Assembly

No big deal. Assemble the pumpkin and the Hampton bay product, glues with how glue, finish with eletric tape and its done. : )

Step 5: Final Pictures and Material List

Material list

- 4 pumpkins (0.99 cent) Target
- 1 Hampton bay with 4 lights (19.00) home depot
- hot glue pistol
- eletric tape
- lot of work : )

Step 6: Conclusion

Before having this ideia, I try to look for some product like this. Unfortunately I cound't find it,as a matter of fact i think it was my luck because I decided to create my own.

Today, my friends are asking for to have a lantern like this. Now its time to prepare some of it to celebrate hallowen and prepare for the xmas version (xmas balls) LOL.

Thanks you for having read mine instructables. It's my first instructables.

PC