Introduction: Improve Your Solar Garden Light Aesthetics
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About: Don't believe it.
My dog ate my homework.... actually, my dog chewed up sever brand new but inexpensive garden lights. All the top, light and solar cells survived in working order, so what to do with these "light tops"?
Here are a couple of many ideas that might inspire you!
The first thing to do is to think.
I happened to have this giant silver plastic Christmas ornament on a stand, A glass one should work as well, just might be more difficult to attach. I also had this cast iron lantern that held a candle but there are lot's of other ways and ideas.
Here are a couple of many ideas that might inspire you!
The first thing to do is to think.
I happened to have this giant silver plastic Christmas ornament on a stand, A glass one should work as well, just might be more difficult to attach. I also had this cast iron lantern that held a candle but there are lot's of other ways and ideas.
Step 1:
For the glowing globe, I hacksawed off the ornament end and carefully carved the hole until the diffuser that came with the solar light made a firm fit. The diffuser should fit all the way in so that the light assemble is as close to the globe as possible.
This picture shows the diffuser from the solar garden light in the globe.
This picture shows the diffuser from the solar garden light in the globe.
Step 2: Assemble
I pressed the diffuser in, using the light assembly. It's a little easier than trying to fit the solar light onto the diffuser already in the hole. Note that too firm a fit will crack the globe and if plastic, just tight is best as the pressure may eventually lead to cracking.
Step 3: ...enjoy the Glow
You could get a stand at a garden center, florist supply, etc. or you can place one or several globes in the garden or among the branches of a tree. By day it looks like a common gazing globe but at night they glow rather eerily.
The solar panel assemble on top looks a bit funky in the daytime, I might work on making the solar panel attached somewhere remote with wires to the LED in the globe.
If you already have low voltage garden lighting, you could use that with either the standard incandescent bulb or I'd highly recommend using 12v LED's. You can get very bright automotive LEDs that would kick butt in these applications.
The solar panel assemble on top looks a bit funky in the daytime, I might work on making the solar panel attached somewhere remote with wires to the LED in the globe.
If you already have low voltage garden lighting, you could use that with either the standard incandescent bulb or I'd highly recommend using 12v LED's. You can get very bright automotive LEDs that would kick butt in these applications.
Step 4: Lantern - Door and Diffuser
I did not want to drill or remove the top hanger from my lantern, but you could. There are also many types and constructions of lanterns to consider.
I simply mounted the solar light to the side with the light diffuser poking through an existing opening in the lantern's door, holding it in place with a big rubber band. If you cannot locate a suitable color rubberband, try cutting a band from an old innertube.
Because the solar light is still a rather pinpoint spot, I slid a diffuser into the lantern. This one is thin white plastic sheet, but you could also rut a gallon milk carton or similar translucent plastic.
I simply mounted the solar light to the side with the light diffuser poking through an existing opening in the lantern's door, holding it in place with a big rubber band. If you cannot locate a suitable color rubberband, try cutting a band from an old innertube.
Because the solar light is still a rather pinpoint spot, I slid a diffuser into the lantern. This one is thin white plastic sheet, but you could also rut a gallon milk carton or similar translucent plastic.
Step 5: Orient for Aesthetics
Ugly from the backside, but in this location, on a deck railing, you'll never see the back and the solar cell basks in direct sunlight.
Step 6: Enjoy
From the front you'd never know it was a solar light.