Lighting for garage with no mains power

The house we have just bought has a lock-up garage in a separate block, under what I believe is rather optimistically called a "coach-house".

Unfortunately, there is no power to the garage and no way of running it from our house. The only real nuisance is not having lighting in there, so what are the best battery-operated, non-torch solutions to provide sufficient light to find things in a dark garage at night?

Car headlights?

Jim - I have a shed with the same issue

I got hold of some secondhand domestic 12v halogen lights, dumped the mains transformer and hooked up an old car battery - they work just fine (3 x 50W, so plenty of brightness)

if you wanted to ensure that the battery is always topped up, hook up a small solar charger

Edit - uses MR16 lamps - search for "MR16 holder" on ebay - very cheap

These are good.
http://www.ledhut.co.uk/led-flood-security-lights/solar-flood-light-pir-80-lumens.html
I have one as a porch light and another for the wood store in the garden.
For some longer lasting brighter light these are also good:-
http://www.ledhut.co.uk/led-flood-securi...cool-white.html

They are also great for lighting up areas in the garden when having a BBQ or similar.

Thanks gents. As the garage is essentially in someone else's house, I can't mount any solar panels, so it will need to be a car battery!

I'll check the various options out - I might even have an old halogen lamp around somewhere...

The second on my links is a battery option and a lot safer and more convenient than a car battery solution.

I hadn't clicked on that, bockers, so thanks for the clarification. Ideally I'd prefer something more diffused than a spotlight-type, but then again, I'm not mad about fluorescent light either...

I know what you mean, these are more flood than spot but do need to be placed carefully.

As it is under someone else's house, I suggest lining the walls with flaming torches.....

Jim - go with LED if you're running a battery solution - much lower power usage for equivalent lumens than halogen.

Thanks Steve. How's the new job as Game of Thrones lighting tec' going?

MRS - I found a good LED solution on Pistonheads, after someone asked the exact same question:

Shed and garage lighting

What you need is a car battery ,300 watt inverter and one of these 4 tube fluorescent lights . I bought 12 of these lights off ebay three weeks ago for 99p . The light is fantastic i have put two in my garage will put another 5 up . Just put two of these in a mates garage he has no electricity and he is well happy . He had one on the other day working on his car for over 4 hours no problem

Inverter http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12v-300w-Inver...=item1c52dec82f

[IMG]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a293/robcoupe20vt/a%20light%20005_zpssdxylzt1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a293/robcoupe20vt/a%20light%20004_zps14mqmxa9.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a293/robcoupe20vt/a%20light%20003_zpsijlsvpfm.jpg[/IMG]

Blimey, Rob, that looks like quite a system! I like the recycled aspect. I'm spoiled for choice...

Hi Jim,

Did you get anywhere with this.

We have an offer in on a house with a detached double garage without power.

My idea would be a leisure battery hooked up to a solar charger on the roof. You could bring in the leisure battery to charge.
Connected to a inverter for 240v power.

Then grab some 4-5 ft flourescent fittings, free cycle? Retrofit led tubes which offer Low power usage with high output at about 23w per 5ft tube.

Less than 100w for four led 5ft strip lights.

Is it to far away to run power to it then Reub?

Unfortunately not, it will be across a shared right of way.

My instinct tells me that might cramp your style, Reuben? Can you lay suitable cable underneath?

Basically it's the only detached house in a grove of 6.
Theres a driveway infront of the house feeding a further two houses.

The owner obtained the land and had a double garage planted it there so approximately 30 feet from the house across the drive.

Too much hassle to deal with that just for lighting and basic tools.
That setup should cost no-more than £120 quid.

See if I get the house first. More news tommorow..

Good luck with the house, Reuben! I haven't done any more about the lighting on our garage for several reasons, but whatever solution I do go with won't have solar as we can't put anything on the exterior of the building. Currently just use a head torch...

Cheers Jim.

Understood. But could charge the leisure battery in the house and take it out?
100w of lighting on a 110mah battery should run for a substantial amount of time without failing.

Sounds like a decent solution for you. Our garage is through our garden gate and down a long flight of steps, so less fun to lug a battery that far!
The main reason for inactivity is that the garage has been taken over by the storage of a vast amount of crap, so no need to light it! My dream is to clear it all out (including stepson major's moped) and cosset the coupe inside. Not holding my breath!

Is there a wall or spot in the garden you could position a panel on a pole or bracket and run a cable to the battery in the garage?

I can't be reading this thread right as I can't see why an extension lead won't work.

Will find out if we get the house tommorow hopefully. An extension won't really be feasible as there i would trail across the shared drive.

Wouldn't work for us, either, as the garage is in the middle of a row, with someone else's house above. The steps down to it are a public footpath, too.

Something like this may be useful, not only for your purpose but as back up emergency lighting and plenty of other uses.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10W-20W-30W-Po...-/371556762559?

how about
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Generator-/121900621381?hash=item1c61d7de45:g:Km0AAOSwQYZWyH5A

Silence is what's needed ...... Though not too sure about the power capabilities of this particular one ... CLICK

Well looks like I'm going to be needed power when the house move goes through. Only lighting typically.
So for me, a leisure battery,hooked up to a solar panel and charge controller feeding 4x 12v 10w led floodlights in each corner.

News on the house? Is that a yes?!

Yup, offer was accepted on the new house. So in a few months i shall be in my new pad!


Heres a pic of my new home for the coupe and cinq! Sorry for the hijack Jim

I like it Reuben, sod what the house looks like, here's my new garage

Great news. Could you not run a cable under the path with the agreement of the neighbours?

Na, from that drive edge probably another 20-25 feet to the porch.
To much effort for a bit of light.I will run a lead if need some for power tools i think.

Also the water main is under there somewhere

His and hers

Great news! Looks like you'll get a deal of natural light as it is

Who cares what the house looks like when you have a double garage

It was high on the list of priorities to be honest. Long way to go until we're in their though.

Back to the thread.. Make some space Jim and get some use of the garage for the coupe!

I will be ordered something like this,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40W-Mono-Solar-Kit-Panels-Controller-Cables-Complete-Setup-/161980077847?hash=item25b6c3d717:g:DywAAOSwKtVWw4~u

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Energy-saving-10W-12DC-Waterproof-LED-Flood-Light-Lamp-Work-light-Spotlight-IP65-/251950506455?hash=item3aa96ba1d7:g:QvwAAOSwBahVSxZv

http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/125-ah-xplorer-leisure-battery/?gclid=CPL2ubySlMsCFfEV0wodlLIKnQ

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leisure-Battery-Box-Strap-Caravan-Camper-Motorhome-Medium-75-85ah-Battery-/390881862115?hash=item5b025fe1e3:g:cpMAAOxyRhBSqvUI

How about a running an invertor from a car battery. I bought a 1000Watt one from Maplin and although it cost me around 100 quid its come in handy too (one time when the electric was off all day due to works).

Other option is a small generator

Ok project solar should be rolling soon.
Saw an offer code at eurocarparts the ither night. I managed to pick up a new lesuire battery for just £45.
Bought 5x 12v 10w led floodlights for £13.
Found some disused 2 core cable for lighting circuits.
Ordered some battery clamps.

What i need to get...
10 way junction box- or possibly use and old klick lighting junction box knocking around at work.
Light switch and back box
Solar panel and controller.
Hoping i can have most of this done for £120.

I also will likely put a 12v car charging port in somewhere. Can plug and inverter in then for little bits of mains power.

What about visiting your local caravan accessory shop or ships chandlery and get something like this:- https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?cat=123&item=84450&intAbsolutePage=1

Power from battery to the fused panel and then wiring straight to your individual lights. Just need the controls for the solar side of things.

I was thinking that but with my only needing a lighting circuit and one 12v cigarette socket it's not really worth it.

I am going to build a small unit with switches utilising 3x 12v switches, 12v socket fitting into an adaptable box with each circuits fused locally at the battery.

Tested my 10w 12v lights this evening. Very impressed. I have 5 in total but feel I may only need 2-4. There tiny but spread the light well. Only concern I may have is shadowing.

Paint the garage walls, and ideally floor, white.

Defiantly on the list of things to do Neil.

Holy thread hijack...
So my led floods were ok but not great due to shadows and not dispersing light like I wanted.

So next I went to is led light strip. Fantastic stuff...
Just one strip has provided enough light from a battery source to make the garage fully usable at night.
I have ordered a further two .

Here's a quick video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTvBCPbpQTs

Crikey that a lot brighter than I expected.
With the other 2 fitted you will need to wear shades!

They are great. Still lots to do and tidy up.

Jim did you get sorted? This could help?
I have these attached to a small battery bank/jump starter.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/DBPOWER-8000mAh...arter&psc=1

Charges by usb. Unsure how long it will last in full but so far so good with testing.

I'm glad this thread helped out! I've abandoned my plans, largely because the garage only gets used for storage and never for cars or anything we need in the dark. But I'm still considering it for MrsC's studio (shed) in the garden...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/ae0181-rechargeable-led-work-light-5w-12-240v/1047d

If your still after something portable and rechargeable, I've picked up one of these for work.
fab work light and comes with car and mains charger. Good for all sorts of uses.