How to Build a SOLAR BOTTLE BULB

Light up dark areas in your home during daytime using this green and sustainable concept. Recycle used clear plastic soda bottles, add water+bleach, then install. After installation this solar light bulb can provide approximately 55 watts of light from the sun! 

The comments below have noted that this is like a solar tube or deck prism. 

The communities who benefit from this idea live in areas where the houses hardly have windows and live in darkness even during daytime. Their solution up until this innovation was to turn on the light bulb and use electricity.



Source: www.isanglitrongliwanag.org

Materials:
*PET soda bottle
*Galvanized Iron (GI) sheet
*Rubber sealant
*Bleach
*Filtered Water

Step 1: Cut Approximately 9 X 10 Inches of GI Sheet (corrugated or Flat)

(Filipino: Gumupit ng yero na may sukat na 9 x 10 inches.)


*Here is a how-to video

Step 2: At the Center of the GI Sheet, Draw 2 Circles

(Filipino: Sa gitna ng yero, gumuhit ng 2 bilog (labas: pareho sa sukat ng bote; loob: mas maliit ng 1 cm). Gupitin ang mas maliit na bilog.)

Step 3: Cut the 1 Cm Difference Radially, Making Strips and Bend Upwards, Perpendicular to the GI Sheet

(Filipino: Gupitin paikot ang natira na 1 cm sa maliliit na bahagi at itupi pataas, salungat sa yero.)

Step 4: Using Sandpaper, Scratch the Surface Around the Upper Third Portion of the Soda Bottle Where the GI Sheet Will Be Placed, to Allow the Rubber Sealant to Stick Better

(Filipino: Gamit ang sandpaper, kuskusin ang ibabaw sa may ikatlong bahagi ng bote kung saan ilalagay ang GI sheet para mas dumikit ang rubber sealant.)

Step 5: Insert the Bottle Into the GI Sheet Until the Upper Third. Apply Rubber Sealant on the Strips Above and Around the Area Below. Wait to Dry

(Filipino: Ipasok ang bote sa gitnang butas ng yero hanggang sa itaas na ikatlong bahagi. Lagyan ng rubber sealant ang itaas at ibaba ng pinagkabitan.)

Step 6: Fill the Soda Bottle With Filtered Water and ~10 ML (2 Capfuls) of Bleach. Cover With Its Original Cap

(Filipino: Punuin ang bote ng filtered na tubig at ~10 mL na bleach (2 sukat gamit ang takip). Ilagay ang takip.)

Step 7: The Solar Bottle Bulb Is Now Ready for Installation!

(Filipino: Ang solar bottle bulb ay handa nang ikabit!)

(Proceed to next step for the installation.)

Step 8: Cut a Hole on the Roof, Similar to the Bottle Circumference

(Filipino: Gumawa ng butas sa bubong, pareho sa sukat ng bote.)

Step 9: -Place the Solar Bottle Bulb Into the Hole. Make Sure It Is Firmly in Place

(Filipino: Ilagay ang solar bottle bulb sa butas. Siguraduhin na maayos ang pagkalagay.)

Step 10: Drill 4 Holes on Each Side of the Solar Bottle Bulb Using Bosch Lithium-ion Cordless Drill and Put in the Rivets

(Filipino: Magbutas ng apat sa magkabilang gilid ng solar bottle bulb gamit ang Bosch lithium-ion cordless drill at lagyan ng rivets.)

Step 11: Apply Rubber Sealant Around All Edges of the GI Sheet of the Solar Bottle Bulb to Avoid Leakage. Make Sure to Cover the Rivets

(Filipino: Maglagay ng rubber sealant sa lahat na gilid ng GI sheet ng solar bottle bulb upang maiwasan ang pagtulo.)

Step 12: Place a Protective Plastic Tube on the Bottle Cap and Apply Rubber Sealant

(Filipino: Lagyan ng plastic tube at rubber sealant ang takip ng bote.)

Comments

[Janriley61]

How long does it stay lit after the sun goes down? Does a bigger bottle mean more light?

[frarugi87]

Just a question: what if I don't have a Bosch lithium-ion cordless drill?

[Peregrine05]

Use a functional cordless drill of a different brand, or use a corded drill.

[clearloops]

Just a quesstion: Why are you being a jerk?

[Manuelbonilla]

I herad he uses his tonge, that's why he's asking

[abhijitpatil4454]

Is it work at night

[LieslW1]

How do they make this thing work at night though? In the video I saw at literoflight.org the people have a tube like thing in the bottle with something giving off the light, and there has to be something retaining the energy during the day. This would be a great science fair project! Anybody know how to do this? There is more to it than just the bottle, water, bleach, holes, rivets and sealants. They are using these at night.

[Manuelbonilla]

Glass jars with sealed caps and 25 watts solar psnels to charge a deep cycle sealed battery and 12 volt LED light bulbs for night illumination, if you want to add a fridge, a/c, tv, you can upgrade for cheap

[Jcjc1914]

This one is easy, purchase solar lights from home depot, I did this in my tool shop, make sure to caulk around opening where the solar is because rain can get in, its
making a little hole on the roof shop , big enough for the solar light.

[NareshK86]

It's a solar panel with light is added..which will turn on automatically during dark on solar panel..

[LadyAnneJT.]

This is for buildings which are dark during the day; my Amish friends install these in their barns. Obviously, a solar powered anything doesn't work at night.

[KobusTheron]

I have used my own version (will publish it later) using a plastic straw through the cap and into the water. I passed the wires from a small 5 V solar panel to a LED at the base of the straw, insulated it (prevent water from getting in) and voila! No need for serious hole in roof (just a small one to pass wires through). Hanging the light from the roof is not to difficult either - the bottle's neck provides sufficient grip. The installation also has a small Power 500 charger for a LIPO battery and a light switch for obvious reasons. More to follow.

[petercd]

The literoflite ones use a small solar panel to charge up a battery which then powers the bulb at nite.

If you look carefully you can see the water level at the halfway mark, so they are using water as a light diffuser. The tube bit is most likely insulating the bulb wires that run down in the water to stop corrosion which could change the water clarity.

This version is a daytime only one with no batteries, solar panels or bulbs.

Just in case you were still wondering. :)

[TarunT4]

Is it worthy? How much investment need for that?

[matt.carrasquillo]

Like a dollar lol

[MHF2]

Which bleach use

[matt.carrasquillo]

Bleach

[Jcjc1914]

I did try this but the sun makes the plastic bottle so brittle that it callapes into a 100
pieces when you adjust it or clean it, but it's been in the sun after 8 months or so,, so I recommend glass bottles because the last
forever. Thank you.

[NareshK86]

What bleach is used for this.. Chemical name..

[UNSEPARABLE TECHSCIENTIFICS]

There is nothing more to say. . .

: D