studs. For a better joint, I’ve designed this as
a snap-fit arrangement (Figure
P
). Now use
20mm screws to tighten both the parts together
(Figure
Q
). You may apply epoxy glue at the joints
to make it weatherproof.
10. PREPARE THE BOTTLE
The solar lamp is compatible with any soft drink
bottle cap. Take an empty soft drink bottle and
clean it thoroughly. Fill the bottle with water and
add a few drops of chlorine bleach to prevent
algae formation and keep the water clear.
Close the bottle with the Solar Bottle Lamp
(Figure
R
) and your lamp is ready to use!
Bottled Sunshine
Enjoy your new Solar Bottle Lamp! You can make
a few similar bottle lamps and place them around
your garden or lawn.
CHARGE IT
Your Solar Bottle Lamp can be charged in two
different ways:
• USB charging — Before the first use, it is
recommended to charge the battery. You can
easily charge the lamp through a micro USB
cable by connecting it to any USB power source
like a phone charger. The red LED indicates
that the battery is charging and the blue LED
indicates charging is complete.
• Solar charging —You can also charge the
battery by placing the bottle lamp in bright
sunlight for at least a day (Figure
S
).
TEST IT
Press the button switch to set the desired
brightness (Low/High) and test the lamp by
covering the solar cell with your hand. The light
should be turned on (Figure
T
)!
Place the bottle lamp in the bright sunlight,
and the solar cell will charge the battery. When
the sun goes down, the lamp will be automatically
switched on (Figure
U
).
MODIFY IT
• Weatherproofing — You can apply epoxy spray
paint at the joint of the 3D-printed enclosure to
make it more water resistant. Apply conformal
coating to the PCB to protect the board and
its components from the environment and
corrosion.
• Easier build — Use a PVC-wrapped battery
with its own JST connector to avoid use of
terminal plates.
• Light mods — Add some soap solution to the
water to diffuse the light more, or add food
coloring to make the light colored.
• Roof mount — To light a room or shed, you can
follow Liter of Light’s instructions for mounting
the lamp on the roof: instructables.com/How-
to-build-a-SOLAR-BOTTLE-BULB.
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