Foto-lectric Garden Lites

[Joe_Cole]

Re: or simply ....

I think that you are probably right, and that the light intensity at a distance WILL be reduced. It seems too good to be true otherwise!

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[NigeCh]

Re: or simply ....

Increase the on-voltage to 6v [ie 2v over-voltage] and decrease the current by a fraction. This will increase the momentary intensity by a factor of 10. So although the LED is flickering its apparent intensity is increased. The downside is that the usable life of the LED is reduced from 100,000 hours to about 50,000 hours. [You haven't changed the energy equations - there is still no free lunch. All you've done is to trick the brain behind the eye into thinking that it is seeing a continuous flow of light.]

If you take a Homebase garden light, modify the circuit, throw away the 2 supplied Ring 600 mAh batteries and replace them with 2300 mAh Ni-MH batteries you'll find that the LED will work for 15 hours+ with a 5-6 hours charge time



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[brianrunyard]

Re: Garden Lites-even more cunning plan

You've forgotten one thing, why waste the light from the bottom layer?
If you use some cunningly placed mirrors, you could also charge the Queen Fairy with the light given off by the bottom layer! "Perpetual light" with some to spare!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Brian
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brunyard