Having recently returned to Scotland, I have moved into a flat while we source a proper house.
This will be for a couple of years, which presents me with a problem.

I have to store a half built scratch build car.
A lockup has become available, but it's the in-a-block type, which means no electrcity, and too far to use a long extension.

No ideal, but cheap.

So, any ideas on how to light it?
anyone done this using LV halogen and car batteries, or any other suggestions...

You wouldn't really want to use halogen (or any other incandescent light) - very high power consumption for the light output. 12v fluorescent tubes would be your best bet, or maybe a small (quiet!) generator and some 240v ones.

I had this problem when I built my car.

My answer was some 18W 12v fluorescents from Maplins (I did try some 9W jobbies from B+Q but two of them weren't as bright as a 18W Maplins job). I powered them with a car battery that I'd take home every time and stick on the charger. 3* 18W is enough to be reasonably bright.
I also used a LED head torch for close up work.
And I stuck some aliminium foil onto hardboard and lined the garage with them to reflect some of the light.
Maplins also sold me a 12v soldering iron for wiring work and I used battery powered tools (my drill was 9.6v but I hardwired 12v up it's chuff from the car battery- it worked well ).
I got a cheap CD player from Asda which had 10 batteries (ie 12v) to drive it and soldered wires onto the battery terminals (got to have music to work by!!!)....
Did the job for me.

thats kind of what i was thinking

on the gen front;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-MUNRO-PRO-USER-850WATT-PETROL-GENERATOR_W0QQitemZ250327642261QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_BOI_Industrial_Tools_Generators_ET? hash=item250327642261&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1298%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

you get fluorescent tubes with a built-in rechargeable battery (they also run off the mains)

a mate of mine used then in his tent garage thing
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/rechargeable-fluorescent-lant/path/lead-lamps-inspection-lamps


oh and welcome back - where abouts in the country are you now ?


[Edited on 18/11/08 by mcerd1]

Hi -

I'm also building in a lock-up - no heating, no light, no power. A generator is the only answer. It runs a couple of small strip lights, and will run a power drill, or a soldering iron.

How secure is your lock-up, and the area its in?

Its in Cumbernauld, about 20 mins from Glasgow

To be honest, I dont know the area very well, but its cheap and it seems quiet enough (no graffiti etc)

quote:

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Originally posted by Jumpy Guy
To be honest, I dont know the area very well, but its cheap and it seems quiet enough (no graffiti etc)

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I have a couple of batteries that connect to an invertor which runs a double 125watt strip light, OK for a nights work . Painting the ceiling and walls white helps . I have a generator but don't like using it too much as my garage is near to houses