LED lamps from a car battery. How to make decent lighting in a garage without electricity, all the ways

The garage is not only a protected parking place for your “iron horse”, but also a place where you can do its repairs. Therefore, it is very important that the garage is well lit. But here certain difficulties may arise due to the frequent lack of wiring and banal electricity in such buildings. Such difficulties often arise when the garage building was built with your own hands and far from the power line.

Garage lighting

In such a situation, it will be relevant to make autonomous garage lighting. Our article today will tell you what you need to know to make such lighting yourself.

How is lighting done?

When constructing any premises, lighting systems should always be included at the planning stage. This is especially important for buildings such as a garage, which you can build with your own hands without any problems. Before installing autonomous lighting in this room, you need to consider the following points:

what level of lighting needs to be organized;
what lighting fixtures will be used;
what type of light source will be screwed into the lamps.

Garage lighting option

It must be remembered that the lighting of a garage, even a stand-alone one, must necessarily comply with the following rules:

be safe. Autonomous lighting in this case will be the most relevant, since in this case there is no wiring, and therefore there is a risk of electrical injury;

Pay attention! Using an LED lamp with a power of 12 volts for illumination, you can not only provide high-quality lighting to the premises, but also completely eliminate the risk of electrical injury.

The lighting level should be comfortable for the eyes. In order to correctly calculate the level of illumination for a given room, it is necessary to rely on the standards given in SNiP for garages;
the light that the lamps will create should illuminate the entire space, including the corners. At the same time, it should be uniform. To achieve this level of illumination, you can use general and local types of illumination;
The placement of lighting fixtures should be carried out according to a scheme convenient for you. This will make working in the garage more convenient and comfortable.

Another important factor that must be taken into account when creating autonomous lighting in garage-type buildings is economical energy consumption. In this situation, an LED lamp of any model (especially low-power 12 volt ones) has proven itself to be most effective.

12 volt LED lamp

The fact is that such devices, with a power of only 12 volts, are capable of producing a bright luminous flux and at the same time consuming a minimal amount of energy.

Pay attention! If you wish, you can make a homemade LED lamp and thereby save on buying a factory lamp.

To create autonomous lighting with your own hands, such a lamp is perfect.

Options for autonomous garage lighting

As already mentioned, the best choice for any garage structures will be LEDs. They have a lot of advantages, among which the following points should be highlighted:

creating uniform and bright lighting;
in terms of glow intensity, such a lamp creates a luminous flux that is equal to daylight;
economical consumption of electricity;
such lighting devices can be powered from various devices (for example, from a battery) in a situation where there is no source of electricity.

Most often, 12-volt LED strips are used to illuminate garage spaces. With its help, you can create general lighting by running a ribbon around the perimeter of the structure. In such a situation, the light emanating from the tape will fall evenly. Using an LED strip, you can also create local illumination of shelves and racks, as well as an inspection pit.

Pay attention! To illuminate the inspection pit, a lamp or LED strip must be purchased with a high moisture resistance class. This is due to the fact that there is always high humidity here due to poor ventilation and lack of heating.

The same conditions and requirements are typical for the basement. In this regard, the lighting installation that will be used here should not have a power higher than 12 volts.
You need to remember that in certain places in the garage you need to install a waterproof lamp, both when creating autonomous lighting and when electricity is available.

Autonomous garage lighting and methods for its implementation

In a garage, autonomous lighting is necessary in a situation where there is no electricity in the area or there are frequent interruptions. Therefore, to ensure that there is always light in the garage, many car owners install autonomous lighting.

Pay attention! In the garage, you can organize two types of lighting: from a 220-volt power supply and autonomous lighting. In this case, autonomous lighting in this situation will already be called emergency lighting. But this approach is relevant only when the main lighting has already been done earlier, and problems with it appeared relatively recently.

Garage lighting

Today there are many ways to make autonomous garage lighting with your own hands. The most popular among car owners are the following ways to organize light in a garage without electricity:

placement of solar panels;
installation of a wind generator;
purchase of a gasoline generator;
battery usage;
garden lamp;
Philippine lantern.

For a better understanding, let's look at each lighting method in more detail.

Lighting with solar panels

Today, many people install solar panels in their private homes and even apartments. With their help, you can not only save on electricity, but also illuminate a garage that does not have electricity.

Garage lighting with solar panels

Despite the popularity of this lighting method, it is unlikely to be suitable for a garage for the following reasons:

the cost of one solar battery and its connection will cost a significant amount;
It is unlikely that you will be able to install such a system yourself without the help of specialists;
complexity of the system for connecting lighting devices and batteries to storage equipment (batteries).

But by spending once on the purchase and installation of solar panels, you will not only receive high-quality autonomous lighting for any room, including the garage, but you will also be able to sell the excess electricity that has accumulated to the state.
A 12-volt lamp can be powered from such a system. Moreover, their number can reach several pieces, which is just suitable for a given room. If there is a need for a voltage of 220 volts, then this system needs a 12 volt converter or inverter.

Lighting using a wind generator

For autonomous lighting of the garage, you can use a homemade wind generator. Such a windmill will also generate free electricity, which can be used to power a 12-volt lamp.

Pay attention! You can either make a windmill yourself or buy a ready-made device. However, a purchased wind generator will cost a pretty penny.

Homemade wind generator

When creating this type of lighting, wind speed must be taken into account. In a situation where strong winds are rare in the area of residence, then this method of lighting will be ineffective. Here, all the costs that went into installing a wind generator will not pay off.

Lighting using a gasoline generator

Instead of a wind generator, you can use a gasoline or diesel generator to create autonomous garage lighting.

Gasoline generator

It is rational to use a gasoline generator only when problems with electricity are rare and the lights are turned off for a short period of time. It is also rational to purchase it if you often use power tools in the garage.

Rechargeable batteries and their applications

Another way to create autonomous lighting in a garage building is to connect the lamps to a battery. The battery can power a 12 volt lamp.

Car battery

When the lights are turned off, such a lighting device (rated at 12 volts) can work for 10 hours. Of course, if the battery was fully charged before.
You can use a spare car battery to illuminate your garage. With its help, it is best to power an LED strip that can be run around the entire perimeter of the premises.

Illumination with garden lamps

Many people today use solar garden lamps for night illumination of the garden. During the day they accumulate enough energy to effectively illuminate the garden paths of the flower beds. But, as practice shows, they can also be used to illuminate the garage when there are problems with electricity.

Solar garden lights

They must be charged outside, and as soon as such lighting devices are needed, they are brought inside the garage. They usually provide light for 5-6 hours. But such a period of operation is typical for high-quality lamps.
The disadvantage of using garden lights with solar panels is that over time the brightness of the lighting they provide will decrease. But this parameter is typical for any type of autonomous type backlight that is powered by storage devices.

Illumination with a Philippine lantern

In addition to the above methods of autonomous lighting of garage buildings, some car enthusiasts use the so-called “Filipino lantern”.

Philippine lantern

This method makes it possible to organize free lighting in the garage. Moreover, it is quite possible to do it yourself. The Philippine lantern operates on the principle of light refraction. You can make such a lantern from an ordinary plastic bottle. At the same time, it can be used either entirely or cut out of a part.
The algorithm for making a Filipino lantern with your own hands is as follows:

take a transparent plastic bottle;
The container is easy to wash and remove the colored label;
We put a rectangular or round screen made of stainless steel or galvanized on it;
Clean water is poured into the bottle. It needs to be diluted with bleach. This will prevent the liquid from blooming and, as a result, a drop in lighting intensity;
the liquid is poured so that its level is three centimeters higher than the installed screen;
Then such a bottle is mounted in the roof of the garage structure. The bottle itself must be mounted on a rigid base.

Installation of a Philippine lantern

If the roof was made of corrugated sheets, then simply cut a hole of the required diameter in a sheet of material. To minimize the risk of the roof leaking through the holes, all joints between the bottle and the roof must be well treated with silicone or sealant.
You can use a Philippine lantern as additional autonomous lighting for the garage in those regions where the sun shines most of the year. To increase the level of illumination, you can install several of these homemade flashlights. In cloudy weather, such a design will produce such dim light that working with it will be life-threatening.
In addition, it is worth noting that if the sequence of manufacturing the Philippine lantern is violated, the lighting inside the garage will also be poor.

Conclusion

Today there are many possibilities for creating autonomous lighting in the garage. Some options will be quite expensive, but very effective (for example, installing solar panels or buying a gasoline generator), and some will be cheaper, but less effective (for example, using solar garden lights). But if you approach the solution to this problem competently, then you can choose the most optimal method from all the available lighting options and stop depending on electricity, which is supplied intermittently.

Many of us adhere to standard thinking, in which the LED strip should work through an adapter from a 220 V network. But you can do it differently by using a battery or battery as a constant voltage source. The result is a lamp completely independent of the mains, which opens up completely new possibilities.

Let's look at options for assembling lamps using the example of an LED strip powered by 12 V.

Why is this necessary?

At first glance, it may seem that there is no need for battery-powered LED strip lighting. But if you think about it, you can find a dozen places in an apartment alone, the lighting of which will increase the level of comfort and add originality. For example,

inside the wardrobe and wall kitchen cabinets;
along the contour of shelves and shelves;
around paintings and mirrors;
for decorating children's toys and bicycles;
in the pantry, etc.

In addition, autonomous lighting from an LED strip will be useful in a garage, basement, country house, in general, where there is no stationary 220 V power supply. And in regions where there are frequent power outages, LED lighting can be used as emergency lighting.

Connection to a 12 V battery

Compared to batteries, this method of autonomous power supply for LED strip operation is the best for several reasons. The 12-volt battery maintains the rated voltage in the load for a long time, allows you to obtain a fairly high level of illumination and can withstand several hundred recharge cycles. The most common 12V batteries are lead-acid. Most often they are used in UPS, security and fire alarm systems. Among them, batteries with a capacity of 4.5 Ah (up to 0.8 kg) have the smallest dimensions and weight. The connection and operation process looks like this:

2 wires of the required length are soldered to the contact pads of a pre-prepared piece of tape with LEDs (red wire to “+”, and black wire to “–”);

similarly, on the reverse side, terminals for connecting to the battery are soldered to the wires;

for convenience, a small toggle switch is soldered into the gap of one of the wires. If it is not there, then to turn off the backlight it is enough to disconnect one terminal.

The current consumption of an LED strip depends on its length.

In addition to lead-acid batteries, 12 V Li-ion batteries have high performance data. With equal capacities, Li-ion batteries have 4 times less weight and size. And to charge them, a compact charger is used.

Important! The battery will work out its life (up to 500 full recharge cycles) only if the discharge current does not exceed 1/10 of the capacity. In practice, this means that a 12V-7A*h battery can be connected for a long time to a load with a current consumption of up to 0.7 A or 2 meters of LED strip type SMD 3528-60 pcs./m, which will shine continuously for 10 hours.

To facilitate calculations, below is the current consumption of 1 meter of LED strip, which depends on the type of LEDs installed:

SMD 3528-60 pcs/m – 0.4 A;
SMD 2835-60 pcs/m – 1.6 A;
SMD 5050-60 pcs/m – 1.2 A;
SMD 5730-60 pcs/m – 3.0 A;
SMD 3014-60 pcs/m – 0.6 A.

Battery powered

If buying a battery is expensive, but there is nowhere to charge it, then you can make the LED strip glow using batteries. Let's look at the 3 most common connection options.

Option No. 1 involves the use of 6 1.5 V AA batteries connected in series. Why exactly 6 pieces? Because the LED strip, even when powered by 9V, will operate at approximately half its power. Firstly, this level of light from the tape is quite enough to illuminate something. Secondly, half the current will flow through the LEDs (nonlinearity of the current-voltage characteristic), which will significantly extend the battery life. But if you wish, you can increase the number of batteries to 8. There are two ways to assemble a battery-powered LED backlight circuit:

using short wires, all batteries are soldered together in series, secured with electrical tape, and two wires are soldered to the extreme “+” and “–” to connect the LED strip;
6 batteries are inserted into the cassette (container), observing the indicated polarity. The wires coming out of the cassette are clamped together with the LED strip in the connector.

The capacity of an AA battery is approximately 2 times greater than that of an AAA battery from the same manufacturer.

Option No. 2 involves the use of power in the circuit from one 9 V Krona battery. The capacity of the alkaline crown is approximately 0.5-0.6 Ah. This means that, for example, a 30 cm long SMD 3528 tape will shine continuously for 5 hours. The crown is often used for LED tuning of a bicycle.
Option No. 3 involves the joint use of a battery from a phone (smartphone) and a step-up converter up to 12 volts. In this configuration, LED backlighting has several significant advantages:

reliability and durability;
compactness (the size of the converter is comparable to a flash drive);
reasonable cost (3.7 V-12 V converter – $2, battery – $10);
the battery can be easily charged from a smartphone or charger, and its capacity reaches 2000 mAh;
Light emitting diodes shine at full brightness.

You can connect batteries and accumulators of any type to the converter. The main thing is that their voltage matches the input voltage of the converter.

Benefits of Low Voltage

As many people know, such a dangerous voltage level as 220 volts is used in household networks due to the limited capacity of the wires and the requirements for small-sized household appliances. For example, an electric kettle of the same power, but powered from a low voltage network, would load the wiring with about ten times the usual current.

Few people know that a significant part of modern household appliances have an operating voltage much lower than the mains voltage; they are powered through built-in transformers. Lighting networks can also be included in this category of consumers. In the era of total abandonment of incandescent lamps, it has become possible to run low-voltage current through the lighting network, but why do this?

Electrical safety. Such a small voltage is not capable of harming a person; most will not even feel this effect.
Fire safety. Especially for lighting networks, where fairly long sections of cable lines are laid in a flammable environment with open air access - in suspended ceilings. A short circuit in such a network is more likely to damage the transformer than to burn the wiring.
Reducing the number of transformation steps. It is known that it is cheaper to install one powerful transformer for the entire network than to supply each lighting fixture with it.
Energy savings when using low-voltage light sources can range from 10% to 30%. Needless to say, low voltage lighting devices are more durable and do not have to be replaced as often.

Problems and disadvantages of low-voltage networks

The most obvious disadvantage of low-voltage networks is the potential voltage loss when transmitting electricity through a conductor. Electric current density plays a significant role in solving this issue. If there is a conductor with a sufficiently large cross-section, the losses are not so high.

As practice shows, the length of the cable line from the source to the low voltage consumer is rarely more than 20 meters when it comes to household electrical networks. If you lay these sections with a standard 1.5 mm 2 copper wire, the losses will not be noticeable.

This may seem questionable for larger properties such as cottages and multi-storey mansions, but wiring on them is carried out according to distributed circuits and takes into account the requirement of selective protection. This means that nothing prevents you from installing one transformer in each group panel.

Note! Here, not only the conductor cross-section is important, but also the quality of the material. Cheap Chinese cable products of the ShVVP or PVS brands are not suitable for these purposes. It is necessary to use cables of the GDP or VVG brands, in the cores of which there are no impurities of brass and silumin.

Optimal solution to the problem

Like any innovation, low-voltage lighting networks are best introduced at the building design stage. This will help avoid problems such as cable overuse or incorrect junction box layout.

Scheme for assembling modular panels from distribution boxes

First of all, you need to take into account the additional space in the group panels for installing modular transformers. Devices like the ABB TS25 or HAGER ST313 take up four modular slots, while the more powerful HAGER ST315 takes up 6 modular slots. The cost of such transformers is up to 3,000 rubles; the rather high price is due to the possibility of mounting on a DIN rail. Free-standing devices are cheaper, easier to find, and have a much higher power range. For example, devices such as TASCHIBRA can output up to 250 watts, which is enough to connect 30-40 halogen lamps.

If you plan to use LED light sources, conventional electronic transformers will not suit you. To power the LEDs you need a stabilized current transformer. To obtain it, you can use devices like the Deluxe NV1236C LED driver (costing about 1000 rubles) or popular LED power supplies made in China. If you need to mount the device in a group panel, it is better to purchase an LED RGB controller, such as Supernova LED Dimmer for 2,500 rubles. It has multiple pulse width modulated channels and can operate in standalone mode. This means that you can also configure it to control the brightness and color of the LED RGB strip.

House panel layout diagram

As for the connection diagram and wiring of such a lighting network, you most likely will not encounter any difficulties. The transformer is connected to the mains voltage, further wiring is carried out independently of the system. Lighting switching is carried out using conventional switches; for halogen lamps, polarity does not matter. But in the case of LED lamps, especially those operating in RGB mode, you will have to maintain the polarity and place only the positive wire in the gap.

You can also experiment and run a four-way control circuit through a three-gang switch, opening the negative terminals in different colors. Such a switch must have three independent keys, so use Schneider Electric WDE 000331 or its equivalent. In this case, it becomes possible to control the shade of the glow without first adjusting the controller.

Examples of connecting junction boxes

Low voltage lighting in a residential apartment

The question involuntarily arises: is it possible to install a low-voltage lighting network in an already inhabited apartment? Yes, you can. Maybe not so economically and with the loss of a number of opportunities, but it is possible. It is most advisable to carry out such an upgrade during a major overhaul of the electrical wiring (this way you will avoid the need to install junction boxes). It is advisable to lay the power cables of the outlet lines along the floor, connecting the outlets in a chain.

The cavities of suspended ceilings can be used to lay lighting cables, thus almost completely eliminating the need for horizontal grooves. But there is an alternative circuit layout option: if you replace the distribution boxes with modular panels, you will not only provide selectivity of overload protection, but also gain space for installing transformers.

Little tricks for low voltage lighting

And a small life hack as a conclusion. How often have you encountered the need for emergency night lighting so that you can walk through a dimly lit room at night? If you have low voltage wiring, there are two interesting solutions to this problem.

The first is quite simple: put in each box with a switch a small piece of LED strip or a bunch of NE-2 neon bulbs connected through a current-limiting resistor from 100 kOhm to 5 MOhm.

In this case, you will get a rather interesting internal glow effect. Light will ooze out from all the cracks and gaps between the plastic parts, which looks quite unusual and provides the necessary level of illumination for orientation in complete darkness.

Second option: the backlight can be made brighter by installing super-bright LEDs directly into the frame, but this is a rather difficult job. First of all, you need to make a 1 mm groove in the bottom edge of the frame, removing a little plastic at the end with sandpaper. LEDs need to be soldered in series, the optimal number of which is three. A current-limiting resistor is also soldered into the circuit in series, the value of which is selected individually.

The entire garland is attached to the cavity of the switch frame with a glue gun or silicone sealant; it is advisable to orient the LED heads towards the edge of the frame. And if during repairs you make several thin strobes and insert a thin two-core wire into them, you can also illuminate the sockets.

It often happens that there is no electricity for various reasons and there is no lighting. Then we use candles, flashlights, and, at worst, kerosene lamps. Candles smoke and are a fire hazard; a flashlight has a directional light and does not always have a long glow life. I suggest making an alternative.

This design will use available components, mainly from old computer power supplies. The schematic diagram of the device is shown below:

The power source for the circuit is a 12V battery with a capacity of at least one and a half ampere hours. The role of the light source will be performed by a “housekeeper” light bulb with a power of 8–15 watts.

Components borrowed from a computer power supply:
– pulse transformer;
– PWM controller TL494;
– high-voltage capacitors (C3, C4);
– high-frequency diodes (VD1, VD2);

The remaining components must be purchased. All components are mounted on a single-sided printed circuit board measuring 50mm. at 54mm. (minimum dimensions, excluding mounting space).

The printed circuit board file was made in the Sprint-Layout 6.0 (5.0) program and is attached at the end of the article, in the archive. The file shows a view of the board from the components side.

The output transistors must be installed on a heat sink, a radiator, for example, from an old computer processor. A correctly assembled device does not require adjustment and will work immediately. When turned on, the board consumes about 1.5 amperes for a short time to charge the capacitors, then at the end of the charge it consumes 0.75 amperes per hour.

Since there is no housing yet, I did not screw the radiator on for testing.

The light comes on almost immediately, and shines as if from a regular electrical outlet. The light bulb can be placed either next to the body or on the ceiling as an alternative lamp.

ATTENTION: at the output of the circuit we will get a constant voltage with an amplitude of 220 volts, BE CAREFUL!!!

Files:

For many men, the garage is not only a room for covered parking, but also a full-fledged workplace.

Car enthusiasts spend many hours of their lives in it every day, and not only for repair work. There are no windows in such places, so full lighting comes to the fore here.

Either there are a lot of obstacles with documents, or there are simply no electrical networks nearby. But don’t be upset, because there are several simple ways to illuminate your garage building, even without power lines nearby.

First of all, you should decide on the following points:

what kind of lamps will be used

what kind of light bulbs will be in these lamps

what lighting intensity do you need?

Firstly, lamps must be economical. After all, you won’t have a power line nearby from which you can easily take a few kilowatts. Therefore, the best option would be low-power LED models or 12-volt light bulbs.

Even with this supply voltage, they are quite capable of producing a full luminous flux no worse than 220V incandescent lamps. The lighting from them will be bright and uniform.

At the same time, energy consumption from an autonomous power source will be reduced to a minimum. They can be powered from batteries of minimal power. Not necessarily from automobile ones, even used computer UPSs will do.

Bulbs of different wattages for a regular 12V E27 socket can be ordered from the Chinese here.

You can also use LED strip as backlight. If you stick it around the perimeter of the room, or with tapes of several stripes in the center, you will get overall uniform lighting.

Also, pieces of such tape can be glued into an old spotlight, taking only the body from under it. Thanks to the reflector, the lighting will be more than bright and consumption will be minimal.

Short pieces of tape are convenient for organizing local illumination of a workplace or inspection pit.

Just don't forget about humidity. Because of this, for pits you need to buy not a simple tape with IP20 protection, but models with a higher moisture protection class.

The same applies to the cellar. In general, using U=12V lighting in such places is the only correct solution. If it is not a tape, but a lamp, then it should also be chosen with moisture protection.

Once you have decided on the light sources, you next need to make a choice from what they will receive power from.

Let’s make a reservation right away that we will not seriously consider such exotic species as solar panels, wind generators or the Philippine lantern.

Although panels and wind turbines are no longer particularly rare in our stores, few people would dare to install a solar battery on the roof of a garage far from their home.

The factor of theft and vandalism cannot be ignored here. Moreover, such sources have a lot of disadvantages:

3 ways to light a garage without electricity
How to make lighting in a garage without electricity in a few minutes. Which is better, LED strips or 12V light bulbs? Rechargeable light, everything you need to know. Why is it impossible without a voltmeter?

Installation of solar panels

Whatever one may say, the most effective way is to install solar panels, thanks to which you can not only create autonomous lighting in the garage, but also independent power supply to the entire area. Yes, this is an expensive option and you probably can’t do it without the help of specialists in installation. However, once you spend once, you can not only turn on the lights during a power outage, but also significantly save on your energy bills.

We talked about how to install solar panels with your own hands. If your budget allows, seriously consider this option.

Homemade wind generator

An alternative option for autonomous power supply to a garage and a dacha in general is to install a windmill, which can also generate free electricity. You can buy a ready-made device, but it will be quite expensive. For a 2-kilowatt model you will have to pay about 100 thousand rubles. That’s why we suggest you make a wind generator with your own hands, thanks to which you can use light in your garage without electricity.

The only thing to consider is wind speed. If there are no strong gusts of wind in your region or location, it is unlikely that you will be able to get free electricity.

Diesel or gasoline generator

You can also make light in the garage without electricity if you use a gas generator. In this case, as in the version with solar panels, it is possible to completely provide the site with electricity by connecting the generator to the power grid. It is rational to use this idea only if the lights are turned off for a short period of time, and if you use power tools in the garage.

Otherwise, 1 kW of electricity from a gas generator will cost you quite a lot, so using it constantly is unlikely to be profitable. We talked about how to connect a generator to the network in the corresponding article.

Battery use

LED lamps with battery

On the Internet you can now find many offers for the sale of battery-powered LED lamps. Inside the 5-12 watt light bulbs there is a battery installed that can maintain autonomous lighting for 6-12 hours.

Using such a lamp is quite simple - it is screwed into a standard E27 socket, charged from the mains throughout the day, after which it can provide lighting in the garage without electricity. The cost is about 600 rubles, so you can buy 2 light bulbs and forget about problems with power outages.

Garden solar lights

A similar idea is to purchase solar-powered garden lights, place them outdoors on the property, and in the evening, if the lights go out, bring them into the garage. Such lighting devices will last for 5-6 hours if they are of high quality.

The only drawback is that over time the brightness of the lighting will decrease, in fact, as will the battery life. However, many people use this idea, so there is a reason for its existence.

Philippine lanterns

Well, the last way that allows you to create free light in the garage during the daytime is the use of Philippine flashlights, which work on the principle of light refraction. Making a Filipino lantern with your own hands is quite simple - cut out part of a bottle (although you can use a whole one), attach it to a rigid base and mount it in the roof. If the roof is made of corrugated sheeting, you can simply cut a suitable hole in the sheet into which a bottle of water is installed, as shown in the photo below:

To prevent rain from getting inside the garage, the joints between the roofing material and the bottle must be well sealed with sealant. This idea is suitable for residents of regions where sunny weather prevails. Otherwise, the light will be dim and nothing will work. If you do everything correctly, the result will be something like this:

So we have listed all the popular ways to make light in a garage without electricity. Our opinion is that if you really only need autonomous lighting, and not a full power supply, it is better to purchase battery-powered LED lamps or make a windmill yourself. All other technologies are either too expensive or not effective enough.

Autonomous garage lighting - 7 simple ideas
How to make light in the garage if there is no electricity? 7 ideas for organizing autonomous lighting inside the garage with your own hands.

We have already talked about how to connect lighting in the garage. Of course, everything is written there well and clearly, but there are times when it is not possible to use electricity. This may be its complete absence or constant shutdown; in any case, it is unpleasant. Therefore, in this article we decided to tell you how to make lighting in a garage without electricity, we will tell you the main methods and talk about those that you should not choose at all.

What is better not to do

Solar panels

They can be called a modern method that can really bring results. But if you use solar panels in a garage, it can be called a disaster. Let's just remember how much average batteries cost now; to light a garage and get electricity for certain work, you will have to pay about 5 thousand dollars for their purchase and installation.

This amount is considered unacceptable, even if you are constantly in the garage. They also need to be constantly wiped from dust and their condition monitored. And of course, there is a very high probability that they will simply be stolen.

Wind turbine for garage

The method is good, but only in those regions where there is a strong constant wind. To generate electricity to operate devices, you need a wind of 6 m/s. A light wind can provide illumination, but there are easier ways.

Solar lanterns

Here we will simply write two main disadvantages:

The light is dim.
You constantly need to take it outside to charge, they also quickly break down.

You should forget about this option.

How to make lighting in a garage without electricity: effective ways

Here we will tell you several basic methods, all people have already tested them in practice. Each of them works, but has its own specific pros and cons, let's try to look at each one separately. Learn how to make garden path lighting.

Finnish lantern

This method is suitable only for those who do not have the opportunity to open the doors on a sunny day. The installation is simple, this is what it looks like.

The result is good, but only in sunny weather. Think about this option in advance, you will have to break down the wall, and this is already a disaster.

Car battery

You can safely use an old 65 A/h battery. We connect regular 12-volt LED strips or spotlights to it. Such lighting sources are considered economical, if you need light you just turn it on and everything starts working right away.

This is how we connect the tape to the battery, do not forget to observe the polarity.

Not a bad light, you can add light bulbs if you wish.
An old battery is inexpensive.
It's easy to connect everything together.

The battery will have to be constantly charged while carrying it home.
It will fail in a year or two.

You can also make light in a garage without electricity using a 2 Kilowatt gas generator. It's enough to make lighting or work with tools. This method can be called optimal. Of course, now the cost of generators is serious, but if you often find them in the garage, then you simply cannot do without one.

Combined garage lighting system

The essence of this method is quite simple: we connect the generator and charge the battery from it. The battery is connected to the LED strip and provides lighting; it needs to be charged infrequently.

If you need to turn on the tools, then simply start the generator and enjoy all the benefits. You can come up with several more applications, if you have your own ideas, leave them as a comment on this article.

How to make lighting in a garage without electricity
In this article you will learn how to make lighting in a garage without electricity with your own hands. We will tell you the main connection methods and options.