Flag Poles and Fairy lights -- "how I Done It" --
Its that time of year again, suns out, weathers warm, beer is cold - its festival time =]
well for us any excuse to have a get together or party . . .
This time we look at Flag poles and Fairy lights.
My first attempt at Camp lighting was many years ago at some random camping trip when i used some re-purposed Christmas tree fairy lights . . .
years later . . . . . .
This was Silverstone F1 in 2015 . . .
The idea was to add some internal tent lighting,
it was all running off a small inverter that was connected to a Leisure battery outside the tent. . . that was running the fridges and chargers etc.
Moving on, . . . by 2017 we had added more fairy lights to the kit and was now lighting up the outside of the tent and also the guy lines . . . . to stop twits falling over them. (as seemed to happen fairly often back then)
later in 2017 we added more lights again . . .
This was Debden 2017 . . .
lets look at how it worked . . .
Rough camping we had no EHU and didnt want to draw power from the car or van (didnt want a flat battery when stuck in a field)
so the solution was self powered.
Back then it was:
12v leisure battery,
battery box
small 240v inverter
extension lead,
fairly lights
clips.
***********************
A basic 12v SLA battery done the job . . (it was pre-charged at home before the trip)
next up was a battery box, this was a convenient place to store the battery outside of the tent (due to any gasses the battery may vent off),
but also get one big enough to fit in the small inverter and 12v socket . . . .
next up was the inverter . . . . . we started with one of these, as it was small, almost silent and didnt get too warm when running,
we connected it to the battery in the battery box so it was all self contained.
.
we connected it to the battery with one of these . . . . .
and added a second one for any 12v kit we had . . . . ie 12v air pump for the tent and 12v USB charger etc.
.
next up was an extension lead . . . . i like the ones with switches on as its easier to turn things on/off as needed..
Like lights on at nigh time.
The lead was long enough to reach from the battery box outside to inside the tent via the EHU cable entry . . .
RCD protection . . . . .
240v mains is dangerous in any setting. . . . in a camper install a RCD + MCB is a requirment.
as is with a temp EHU . . .
A tent is no different . . . .
some people maybe happy with adding a mobile RCD . . . .
plug in ,. . . .
or in line . . . .
.
what about the lights . . .
any lights will, its all personal preference, . . .
i use this type now . . . . .
they are safe to use as the 240v stays at the plug pack . . .
the outging wire/cable is low voltage , , , , , so if the worst happens and someone trips over it or damages the wire there is no scary 240v to worry about, just a damaged wire.
what about clipping then up?
well over the years I've tried allsorts.
xmas gutter light hangers . . .
sandwich bag twists.
hairbands,
electic bands
electrical tape,
velcro strips,
etc etc etc . . . .
my final solution is the humble plastic clamp . . . . . .
they are easy/fast to put on/off
dont leave any gluey stuff,
clip to almost anything,
water proof,
you get the idea . . . . . . just an easy solution.
I've got a whole bucket full of different sizes . . . . but if your just looking at fairly lights then the small size works great . . .
Its that time of year again, suns out, weathers warm, beer is cold - its festival time =]
well for us any excuse to have a get together or party . . .
This time we look at Flag poles and Fairy lights.
My first attempt at Camp lighting was many years ago at some random camping trip when i used some re-purposed Christmas tree fairy lights . . .
years later . . . . . .
This was Silverstone F1 in 2015 . . .
The idea was to add some internal tent lighting,
it was all running off a small inverter that was connected to a Leisure battery outside the tent. . . that was running the fridges and chargers etc.
Moving on, . . . by 2017 we had added more fairy lights to the kit and was now lighting up the outside of the tent and also the guy lines . . . . to stop twits falling over them. (as seemed to happen fairly often back then)
later in 2017 we added more lights again . . .
This was Debden 2017 . . .
lets look at how it worked . . .
Rough camping we had no EHU and didnt want to draw power from the car or van (didnt want a flat battery when stuck in a field)
so the solution was self powered.
Back then it was:
12v leisure battery,
battery box
small 240v inverter
extension lead,
fairly lights
clips.
***********************
A basic 12v SLA battery done the job . . (it was pre-charged at home before the trip)
Deep Cycle Leisure Battery 12V 75AH SuperBatt LM75 Battery Caravan Motorhome, Marine Boat: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike
Buy Deep Cycle Leisure Battery 12V 75AH SuperBatt LM75 Battery Caravan Motorhome, Marine Boat at Amazon UK. Free delivery on eligible orders.
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next up was a battery box, this was a convenient place to store the battery outside of the tent (due to any gasses the battery may vent off),
but also get one big enough to fit in the small inverter and 12v socket . . . .
Caravan Yellow 110amp Leisure Battery Holding Box Large: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike
Caravan Yellow 110amp Leisure Battery Holding Box Large: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike
amzn.to
next up was the inverter . . . . . we started with one of these, as it was small, almost silent and didnt get too warm when running,
we connected it to the battery in the battery box so it was all self contained.
.
we connected it to the battery with one of these . . . . .
and added a second one for any 12v kit we had . . . . ie 12v air pump for the tent and 12v USB charger etc.
.
next up was an extension lead . . . . i like the ones with switches on as its easier to turn things on/off as needed..
Like lights on at nigh time.
The lead was long enough to reach from the battery box outside to inside the tent via the EHU cable entry . . .
Mscien Extension Lead with Individually Switched, UK Plug Socket Power Strip with Neon Indicator, Surge Protected Overload Protection Wall Mountable Extension Cord (4 Gang - 1.8M): Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools
Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders. Shop Mscien Extension Lead with Individually Switched, UK Plug Socket Power Strip with Neon Indicator, Surge Protected Overload Protection Wall Mountable Extension Cord (4 Gang - 1.8M).
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RCD protection . . . . .
240v mains is dangerous in any setting. . . . in a camper install a RCD + MCB is a requirment.
as is with a temp EHU . . .
A tent is no different . . . .
some people maybe happy with adding a mobile RCD . . . .
plug in ,. . . .
Masterplug Single Socket RCD Safety Adaptor, 112 x 72.3 x 50.5 mm, Black: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools
Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders. Shop Masterplug Single Socket RCD Safety Adaptor, 112 x 72.3 x 50.5 mm, Black.
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or in line . . . .
Masterplug ILRCDNG Non-Latching In-Line Safety RCD: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools
Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders. Shop Masterplug ILRCDNG Non-Latching In-Line Safety RCD.
amzn.to
.
what about the lights . . .
any lights will, its all personal preference, . . .
i use this type now . . . . .
they are safe to use as the 240v stays at the plug pack . . .
the outging wire/cable is low voltage , , , , , so if the worst happens and someone trips over it or damages the wire there is no scary 240v to worry about, just a damaged wire.
what about clipping then up?
well over the years I've tried allsorts.
xmas gutter light hangers . . .
sandwich bag twists.
hairbands,
electic bands
electrical tape,
velcro strips,
etc etc etc . . . .
my final solution is the humble plastic clamp . . . . . .
they are easy/fast to put on/off
dont leave any gluey stuff,
clip to almost anything,
water proof,
you get the idea . . . . . . just an easy solution.
I've got a whole bucket full of different sizes . . . . but if your just looking at fairly lights then the small size works great . . .
CESFONJER 20 x Small 2.5'' Strong Plastic Spring Clamps: Amazon.co.uk: Camera & Photo
CESFONJER 20 x Small 2.5'' Strong Plastic Spring Clamps: Amazon.co.uk: Camera & Photo
amzn.to
