Upgraded Garden-Variety Solar Night Light

Here's something quick and easy that you can whip up in less than an hour, using parts that you may already have lying around. It makes a neat gift for friends and family!

Yes, I'm sure you've seen a zillion solar garden lights stuffed in a mason jar before, and this one is certainly similar. I've changed a few things this time around though, that boost performance and change the look a little. The performance-altering steps are not necessary of course, but they will help the LED stay lit for much longer.

Here's what you'll need:

A dirt-cheap solar garden light - I bought the one I used for a dollar.
A mason jar or some other container with a transparent lid.
A decent solar cell - it should fit inside the lid of the jar. 4V at 80mA is perfect.
One 2xAAA battery holder with leads
Two AAA NiMH batteries
A few bags of small, clear marbles - Cateyes or spiders look best.

And just a few basic tools:

A soldering iron
A glue gun

Step 1 Disassemble the Garden Light

If you're not planning to upgrade your garden light, then you can skip ahead to the assembly steps. Just take apart the garden light until you're left with a solar cell, the LED and the circuitry, which should all still be functioning.

If you're going to be upgrading, then read on! Continue taking apart your solar light until you're left with nothing but the bare circuit board. In my case, it was a tiny sliver of PCB with some battery terminals and an LED sticking out. Pretty basic, eh? This little board basically contains a Joule Thief, all neatly mounted and ready to use. Not bad for a dollar - and in many cases cheaper than making your own.

But we're not done yet! Oh no! Get out your soldering iron and remove the battery tabs from the board, they will not be needed. If you want to change the colour of the LED (which I do not recommend in this case, because white looks best), then go ahead and do it now. Be sure to observe polarity.

Comments

[deckchair]

(removed by author or community request)

[jeff-o]

Whoops! Yeah, the version I used is a little trickier; the solar panel itself is used as a light detector so that when the voltage being produced by the panel drops below a certain threshold, the battery is switched from "charge" to "discharge."

[deckchair]

yep thanks got a better light and all is good

[canida]

Looks good, but the marbles might be a little dark. Maybe use half colored/swirly marbles and half clears?

[freelunch]

I loved the marbles too, but also wanted to let a little more light through. I cut the bottom off a plastic water bottle so that it was as tall as the inside of my jar. This left just enough room between the outside of the water bottle bottom and the inside of the jar for a single layer of marbles--the tiniest marbles I could find at my dollar store. Then I made a little cone out of reflective Mylar (aluminum foil would probably work) and placed it in the bottom of the water bottle part. The LED shines down onto the cone which bounces it out through all the marbles. Trying it this way would definitely be too bright for a bedroom night light. But it's still dim enough to be a pleasant ambient light for just about anywhere else.

[jeff-o]

Very cool mod! If I make another one, I'll do it your way. ;)

[freelunch]

Thanks! The mod was mostly necessary because I was using an ultra cheap, ultra weak garden light for mine. I have a little terrace garden (crates strapped to the rail). I already had a couple of jars filled with marbels amongst my potted plants--I thought they made pretty sun catchers. Now, thanks to your Instructable, it looks just as pretty at night.

[jeff-o]

Very cool. I'd love to see a picture sometime!

[jeff-o]

Heh, it's more the picture than the marbles. That is pretty much how it looks right when you walk into a dark room from a light one, before your eyes have a chance to adjust. I wouldn't want it any brighter in a bedroom or it would be distracting.

[ChrysN]

It's so pretty, great idea!

[jeff-o]

Thanks!