Solar bottle lights in a Ugandan Kitchen

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Solar bottle lights in a Ugandan kitchen | 50W Plastic bottle daytime light
 

Uploaded by sendacow on Jan 5, 2012

http://www.sendacow.org.uk Helen from Uganda shows how she is trialling using 1.5 litre plastic water bottles as a way of lighting her dark kitchen in the daytime. She uses the bottles, filled with water and a little bleach, grouped in 3s over her cooking areas in her dark mud kitchen with grass roof. Techniques like this can reduce eye strain and the need for electric lighting where electricity is too expensive or not available.

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Comments:

• You could make larger "windows" by grouping more bottles together. You could also embed them into the mud walls when the house is being constructed, to let in more light from the sides. Attaching cloth flaps (from old clothes or feed sacks) over these windows would serve as shutters if you don't want as much light coming in.

  ElveeKaye 

   
• @ElveeKaye : Making "windows" embedded in the walls by grouping more bottles is a great idea. You could do colored water for "stained glass" windows! And as you suggested, if you want curtains, using feed sacks or old cloths - sewing together old t-shirts, for example - could make great curtains What a great idea. Can't wait to try this here in Guatemala.

  CommentsSurvey (Catherine Todd)

How to Build a Solar Bottle Bulb 2.0 ( Updated English Version)

Mute sound (video has loud, distracting music) but good information:

Thanks to Marco Bieman from Bieman Production Haus Inc. Video Directing and Editing

63-02-5029766 & Joy Aquino for Visual Directing. Amazing WORK !

1) Always scratch the sides of the bottle to create better grip to the sealant. The top part where the bottle meets the metal is the leak point in the build so use industrial strength sealant (epoxy or DOW Corning 791) on the top and bottom if possible.

2) Always put a protective cover over the bottle cap as the suns rays tend to make the original bottle cap brittle and a crack in the bottle cap will allow the water in the bottle to leak during evaporation.

3) Always RIVET the metal sheet holder on to the roof.

4) DON't USE THIN METAL ROOFING SHEETS. there will be no bite on the plastic bottle and the different expansion rates will cause leaks later on. Go for thicker roof sheet.

more: http://youtu.be/rYTIYUUK70I

Comments:

• @CommentsSurvey vulcaseal is really sticky and is rubbery. when exposed to the sun it becomes hard like a rock. caulk or silicone sealant is good for preventing leaks but a stronger adhesive is recommended so the bottle wont slide off the flange.

  mnmc10 1 day ago
• @CommentsSurvey its a pvc endcap. any endcap fitting for pipes will do.

A Liter of Light Information - updated instructions with pictures

A Liter of Light - Director's Cut: http://youtu.be/TYEIT6lLb8A



A Liter of Light Information
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 8:15 PM
To: Catherine Todd

Hello Ms.Catherine!

I'm glad to tell you that the technology is currently being developed to store the energy the bottle gets in the morning and use it at night. We will keep in touch. We're doing our best to move fast, combine, and align everything so we can provide a more comprehensive information bank for everyone. Thank you for helping us make the world a better, sustainable, place!

Kristel Gonzales
Documentation and Internal Affairs
A Liter of Light Team

From: Catherine Todd
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 11:08 PM
To: A Liter of Light Information

Kristel Gonzales
Documentation and Internal Affairs
A Liter of Light Team
www.aliteroflight.org

A Liter of Light ► http://t.co/GpEbARF
To donate or volunteer visit ► www.isanglitrongliwanag.org

A Liter of Light - Director's Cut: http://youtu.be/TYEIT6lLb8A
Video with English Instructions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMrzUztT4UE

Dear Kristel,

You wrote: "I'm glad to tell you that the technology is currently being developed to store the energy the bottle gets in the morning and use it at night."

Can't wait to see what you come up with! The whole world is seeing your videos and how you are implementing the Solar Bottle Bulb. Please keep me on your information list. We are working in Guatemala right now with the solar bottle bulb idea and I can't wait to try it. It's people like you that are making the world a better place. I have listed your new videos, including "director's cut" above. I also see you have a way to donate on your main webpage. I hope you put a PayPal button on your Facebook page.

I have received many excellent ideas from people starting with your solar bottle bulb technique, and I am hope they send you their ideas. We will certainly send you whatever techniques my architect and engineer come up with any improvements we are able to make. We are also concerned with safety and not damaging property with this installation. We are going to set up some test models with different roofing materials and different caulks, high pressure water hoses, and film the results. I will send you the results. We will also translate the final instructions into Spanish and English with diagrams for those people who do not have computer access to see the videos. I will send them to you when they are finished.

It's a wonderful thing you and everyone who worked on this idea is doing. This will change the world for the better. Once the energy can be stored for use at night, everyone will be able to have light and not pay an electricity bill. Many people here in Guatemala cannot afford electricity or live very far away off-grid so this will change everything for them. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Where is your PayPal donation button? I and many others want to donate!


Catherine Todd
Guatemala and USA
cell Guatemala (502) 4198.2214 new

Solar Bottle Bulb (Part II)

4 videos for Solar Bottle Bulb & Solar Hot Water Heater

Luz solar y calentador solar de agua caliente / Solar Light & Solar Hot Water Heater
2 messages
Catherine Todd Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 3:10 PM
To: Eddy Amilcar
See these videos for a solar light and solar hot water heater I want to talk about. I have some money to do this. I would like to try at the Hotel Playa Linda. CT

= Ver estos videos de una luz solar y calentador solar de agua caliente que quiero hablar. Tengo algo de dinero para hacer esto. Me gustaría probar en el Hotel Playa Linda. CT


Brasil: Utilice una botella de 2 litros como un corte de luz de 50 vatios bombilla Bombilla:
http://youtu.be/_zMAWztZ6TI

Bombilla Botella Solar: La luz de la vida .. mp4: http://youtu.be/9FiplFylMOc

Bombilla Botella Solar - Cómo construir (Tagalog): http://youtu.be/laANmQlrJHo

Calentador solar de agua caliente: http://youtu.be/ehDgXrpRlTU

Traducción::

Brazil: Use a 2-Liter Bottle as a 50 Watt Light Bulb lightbulb hack: http://youtu.be/9FiplFylMOc

Solar Bottle Bulb: The light of life..mp4: http://youtu.be/9FiplFylMOc

Solar Bottle Bulb - How to Build ( Tagalog): http://youtu.be/laANmQlrJHo

Solar Hot Water Heater: http://youtu.be/ehDgXrpRlTU

More Answers to How to Create a Solar Bottle Bulb that doesn't leak!

Finally contact info from A Liter of Light (Isang Litrong Liwanag) on Facebook. They wrote: "kindly request for the instructional guide at info@aliteroflight.org so the team can send you details. thanks!"


The light of life..mp4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FiplFylMOc

http://youtu.be/9FiplFylMOc



More ideas from Mark J. Comerford, architect:

from mark comerford markjcomerford@yahoo.com
to [Available] Catherine Todd
date Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 2:13 PM
subject Re: bottle lights caulk
mailed-by yahoo.com
signed-by yahoo.com
Important mainly because of your interaction with messages in the conversation.

hide details 2:13 PM (11 hours ago)

Catherine,

Here's what I have thus far, and I hope to have an update for you later.

Your project and blog discourse have got me thinking about issues with the original youtube design that an improved version should try to avoid.

Creating a Leaky Roof?
One of your readers comments ("be careful about poking holes in someones roofs) got me thinking how the water integrity (no leaks) especially in the rainy season--where I suspect it may be too rainy for days on end to repair, is important, and how you might be doing them a service in terms of creating interior light but a disservice in terms of a leaky roof.

Then, thinking about the Youtube approach, chiseling the hole in the rusty corrugated roof, ( I understand how this is done working on a shet metal on the ground, where you could back it up with something firm, but how this is done in installed panels escapes me) gooping unprepared substrate with sealant and expecting it to adhere to both a rusty roof and a slick plastic bottle. I think the method they are proposing is just too crude to expect to get a "permanent" solution. While the silicone will last 30 years the entire system will fall apart rather quickly due to thermal contraction /expansion, roof movement due to wind and possibly foot traffic, and most importantly inability to prepare substrate properly resulting in adhesion gaps leading to water entrance, etc.

Skylights in modern house construction are tricky to flash/seal properly and are often avoided by builders and owners due to fears that they will inevitably leak, and this is all in the context of a much more precision oriented and better trained workforce.

Is Disposable Skylight OK?
What you will be giving them, at this level of technology, is a disposable skylight. This may not be bad as the time and effort to make a new one every year is not so great and it is consistent with the technology and unemployment of the vernacular/economy which is in itself largely recycled/disposable. If this is the approach you take then be sure to make it clear to everyone it is disposable. And it may well be the best approach

Thinking about it, in the context of the disposable option, The urethane makes better sense than silicone. While it wont last as long as silicone, it will definitely outlast the assembly. Urethene requires less skill and procedural diligence to apply effectively than silicone, and costs less than half. It is a bit softer and more forgiving and probably adheres better in the short term than silicone. I'd bring a few tubes of each and then experiment.

More Permanent But More Difficult Option:
I think a more permanent solution ( i e 10 year) would be much better, and allay the fear that in the process of providing light you are creating a hole in their roof for rain. That solution would address the deficiencies that make the Youtube model so temporary. I think it is "doable" but will add a few steps and complexity to the skylight design and construction process. And you will need to build several experimental mock-ups to fine-tune process. In terms of our Appalachia analogy, instead of doing 100 skylights you will do 20. But they should have less leak/maintenance problems. Here are some issues/suggestions whose solution could yield a more permanent skylight:

Glass or Plastic Bottle?
Replace plastic 2 litre bottle with glass bottle. The glass will provide an ideal substrate for the silicone, as opposed to the plastic, which has to be sanded/scratched, and also probably suffers from UV degradation when it bakes in the sun, and may have chemical compatibility issues. Find bottles with broad caps (like the Nagene hiking bottles for example or canning jars)and position the bottles so that the caps are on top. Thus if the water clouds the bottles the water can be replaced from the top without tearing the skylight apart.

If Glass, Support More Critical
Design a wire basket or strap assembly to support the skylight bottle from the underside. This will have to be thought out--not sure whether rivets into potentially rusty room metal is good enough, but a simple, cheap design should be easily figured out. This could be a safety issue. Do they have earthquakes?

Consider Flashing
This is the hardest, but potentially most beneficial step if done properly: Flashing. Flashing is sheet material used to redirect water. You have in your blog a link to a thru-roof penetration sleeve; what that is doing gets to the heart of flashing. What the flange at the base of that sleeve functionally does is elevate the opening of the roof above the plane of the water. But for it to work the lower portion of the flange must be sealed/integrated into the design of the roof. So really you need to know exactly what type of roof you are penetrating prior to designing the flashing

You might search the web for the SMACNA manual on sheet metal flashing. It consists of hundreds of different diagrams for sheet metal flashing addressing hundreds of different situations. For flashing to work, it is highly customized to the specific site/roofing conditions. Failure of flashing is the most common source of building links.

By the way, if you are interested in building technology issues, one of the best sites I know of, sponsored by one of the worlds leading building scientists, Lsturbek, is www.buildingscience.com


Flashing for Corrugated Roofs
The problem I see with using a sleeve of the type you have shown is that it is not made for corrugated roofs. I cannot envision how this would work with a corrugated roof. Unless you position the leading (upper) edge of that flange beneath one of the bottom edges of the corrugated roofing sheets, you will have created a condition where the gaps between the flat flange and the undulating roof panels will have to be dammed up with globs sealant. You might use a tube or more of sealant on one skylight--expensive stuff.

I'll try to look into flashing solutions for corrugated roofs. Do you only have corrugated roofs?

This is where the water penetration would likely occur, as the water works its way on the interface between the sealant and the rusty corrugated roof panel at that dam. All this is aggravated by thermal expansion/contraction, roof panel flexing in high winds, etc. The primitiveness of their technology makes it all the more challenging. The youtube video approach doesn't really seem to use flashing as I understand it, it must rely on the sealant to act as a dam against the water. I need to look at the video again

Build a wooden curb/box Idea
( or maybe modify already made plastic tupperware type box)
What would work better, I think, would be to build a small wooden box that is fashioned to mate with the undulating profile of the corrugated roof, sit on top of the roof, and then the bottle penetrates the top (base) of the box.

Wooden box customized to roofing material
Imagine taking a wooden box, say 12" x 12" x 4" high, then cutting it, probably with a jig saw, at two opposite edges in an undulating pattern that matches the profile of the roofing. You would have to determine the undulating pattern, using a simple carpenters scribing technique, and it may vary house to house.Then, turn the box upside down, and sit it on top of the roof, centered above a previously cut bottle hole, and seal all around with silicone.

Silicone Profile
Note that this sealant profile (the cross section through the sealant attaching the box to the roof panels) is now of a consistent dimension rather than having gobs of sealant here and little sealant there. The undulation is handled by the box geometry. Having the sealants profile of a consistent dimension (ideally for movement conditions in an hourglass shape in section, a 3/4" wide joint should be 3/8" deep at narrowist, and this geometry allows the sealant to be elastic, and act more like a rubber band.) Note with a rubber band that it is very elastic pulling in one direction, but less so in the other. This is because the cross sectional shape of the material (rubber band, or sealant) effects its elasticity. )

Now you essentially have an upside down wooden box glued to the top of the roof, and because of the undulating cut of the opposing edges of the box, the box matches geometrically with the roofing and the sealant width can be uniform. Now cut a hole in the top of the box and insert bottle through. Note that this is now an easily sealed joint. You are not gooping sealent around an undulating material. Plus, this joint is located above the plane of the water cascading down the roof and thus less vulnerable to the ravages of time and water volume

Then there might be two options. You might ignore the bottle and just slap a sheet of glass on top with silicone used as an adhesive. This would actually be more foolproof/simpler, a less tricky joint, as the glass protects the joint, and the joint is not weather exposed

But I suspect that the suspended bottle full of water might have an optical effect better than simply a hole in the roof, and probably look and behave more like a light bulb. Not sure. But you might experiment with ignoring the bottle altogether. Maybe even just make the base of the box out of plexiglass or clear plastic and call it a day.

Logistics: Benefit of an offsite shop
Now the more permanent method I am proposing involves more precision, translating into more equipment, training, and time. I might consider setting up a shop in town to build the boxes. Here you have electricity, controlled environment, level tables and lighting, proper tools, and security (locked door) to keep the tools from being swiped. I suspect a sawzall is equivalent to a years salary, so tool security will be an issue.

Then you go to the field, meet the occupants, determine the profile of their specific roof panels ( I bet there is a variety of roof sheeting used, varying from place to place), and make some field measurement/ sketch. Do this for each 20 different houses. Then return to the shop with the electricity and make the 20 different boxes in the shop. (or modify the found tupperware type boxes) Here you could also paint them. Return to the field to install.

Shop not required though--all required tools are available rechargable. But you will need to be recharging batteries often, probably daily. May

Summary
More permament solution will require elevated skills and organization. Electric tools will cut through metal like butter compared to hand but will present theft problems. More information is necessary about the roof systems you will be encountering, and permanent solutions will vary depending on type of roof systems encountered.

Do you have a sense of which direction you want to go? In either case I would try to set up a cottage industry where they are installing these themselves like the chap in the video. The process of teachng them some basic carpentry skills and in a sense elevating the technology a bit might have its own benefits as well. Maybe as a part of this you establish a little carpentry school where students are building these roof boxes/skylights. The community gets better skylights and also a cadre of people who now understand some basics about field measurement, drawing, working with wood, basic power tool operation, etc. This might benefit some to "move up" to become carpenters for whatever richer class or group is nearby.

Shopping List
The questions raised above (permanent vs temporary, on site construction versus remote/ shop construction, and hand versus elect tools, all affect your shopping list. If you can provide me input on the level of permanence you think is appropriate, and the amount of modern technology (electric drills, etc) that would be best, I can provide you with a better shopping list. Ideally, we would figure the design parameters out better before shopping, but I understand your dilemma about your flight Thursday. To figure out the design, we really need to know specifically about what type of roof panels they have--which again may vary considerably.

Let me know your reactions and I will make a recommended list. I'll also go through the videos you've attached which I haven't yet dug into to see whether the design concerns I have are addressed already.

It boils down to doing the Youtube video way, which is inherently simple but also is probably not going to work long term, and is definitely going to create maintenance headaches on a yearly (at best) cycle, or elevating the technology, to get a more permanent solution, which will also make the whole process more complex and in a more difficult. Which way to go?
All the best,
Mark

How to Build a Solar Bottle Bulb 2.0 ( Updated English Version)

UPDATED, DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS. At long last! I hope this is the latest version... many versions on YouTube.

http://youtu.be/rYTIYUUK70I




Uploaded by MrIllacdiaz on Sep 3, 2011 [Mr Illac Diaz]

Thanks to Marco Bieman from Bieman Production Haus Inc. Video Directing and Editing
63-02-5029766 &
Joy Aquino for Visual Directing. Amazing WORK !

1) Always scratch the sides of the bottle to create better grip to the sealant. The top part where the bottle meets the metal is the leak point in the build so use industrial strength sealant (epoxy or DOW Corning 791) on the top and bottom if possible.

2) Always put a protective cover over the bottle cap as the suns rays tend to make the original bottle cap brittle and a crack in the bottle cap will allow the water in the bottle to leak during evaporation.

3) Always RIVET the metal sheet holder on to the roof.

4) DON't USE THIN METAL ROOFING SHEETS. there will be no bite on the plastic bottle and the different expansion rates will cause leaks later on. Go for thicker roof sheet.
Category:

Nonprofits & Activism
Tags:

Solar
Bulb

More Notes - Solar Bottle Bulb, and The light of life..mp4 video

More notes, and they aren't organized; put in just as I keep finding info. It takes so much to finally get basic info with different ideas. But finally it gets culled down to something that really works. I'm going to pick up materials tomorrow (I leave Thurs. for Guatemala) at hardware and plumbing supply stores to take some different things with me. I'm going to look for a hole cutter drill attachment large enough to make the job go easier. Is there a hand drill for this?

I'm going to go over all this with my architect/engineer when I get back to Lake Atitlan and we'll install some and do some tests. I am just thrilled with the idea, as it's one of the best and easiest recycling projects I've seen yet. That and solar hot water via black plastic tubing or plastic water bottles. Can't wait to get started!

Thank you for re-inspiring me right before I leave for Guatemala and I have just enough days to get some materials together. Keep in touch with whatever else you find, as I'll make up real instructions in English and Spanish and post them as a downloadable pdf on the LakeAtitlanDirectory.com I'm creating and the eco-architecture blog I maintain. Here at Eco-Architecture: http://catherinetoddarchitecture.blogspot.com/

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I really like this new video which is one of the best that shows actual installation instructions:

The light of life..mp4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FiplFylMOc



Since the plastic bottles last up to 300 years (guestimate I've heard) I don't know why people are saying they will last "one, two or five years." Are they thinking of evaporation? Mold? Cap failure? Caulk failure?

As you said, the rain guard/ flange would have to be something really cheap, which is what using the tin roofing square is. I'd like to take it a step further and use a plastic/rubber rain guard and a wire cage to hold the bottle if I can figure out how to make/find them cheap enough. Another recycled goods project?

As far as cutting into wooden houses or roofs in Mexico: The idea of the light bulb bottle is that they don't have to cut large holes in walls, and buy/install windows. Not everyone is skilled to do this. Plus this doesn't work where the rooms are close to each other and don't get direct light. Plus cutting a hole is a lot easier than installing a window. Just about anyone can do it.

I've been looking up Roofing Industry: Rain & Repair Pipe Collars, adjustable rain collars.

I think the ADJUSTABLE MULTI SIZE RAIN COLLAR looks like the best bet so far.

www.ipscorp.com

Features
•
Can be used to repair the elastomer sealing collar on all types of residential "No Caulk" roof vent flashings quickly and easily
•
Eliminates the need for a mastic or caulking type messy repair job
•
Can be used to instantly repair a leak during a wet period, until the flashing can be replaced at a later time
•
Large size covers the entire existing elastomer collar
•
Fully tested for Ultraviolet, Ozone, and Weather Resistance
•
Individual Sizes and Multi Size adjustable models available
•
Better appearance than a mastic repair job, which means a more satisfied customer

Don't see the product you need? Call Customer Service at 800-888-8312.



Pipe Collar in use

Download Product Literature

ADJUSTABLE MULTI SIZE RAIN COLLARS



http://www.ipscorp.com/watertite/roofingproducts/raincollars/rainrepair

"Can be used to repair the elastomer sealing collar on all types of residential "No Caulk" roof vent flashings quickly and easily... "

and Adujstable Roof Flanges, Roof Vent Pipe Flashing, Plumbing Vent Pipe Flange/Flashing,

I also found that gray caulk you see in the video. It's called Vulcaseal. Another facebook entry said:

See: use silicon sealant instead of Vulcaseal (which is only in the Philippines… the brand has evolved to become a common household item, used to seal cracks & gaps in roofing, plumbing/pipes, gutters, downspouts, sinks & P-traps. … SUPER VULCASEAL is a one-component sealant for use on and between all common household, automotive and construction materials.)



Vulcaseal: http://www.bostik.com.ph/%28S%28hwftcm55rzutg0rnhiamfk55%29%29/products_hardwarelist_view.aspx?newsID=87&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1



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Nojj Jatt wrote on FB: I'm also building a solar bulb, just like the one you posted in your account, but my design consist of two mineral bottles instead of one, and i use a silicon sealant instead of vulcaseal. My project is still progressive, maybe i can upload it on youtube by sometime this week. Skeptic kas talagai ako kung maliwanag ba talaga, but i am positively hopeful that it is. :)



https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Liter-of-Light-Isang-Litrong-Liwanag/181127878593329
Another way to get light into a house:
I lived in a beautiful wooden casita when I first went to Guatemala that an American had built out of an old shed. It had a plexiglass strip all around 3 sides of the house up under the ceiling/roof line. It let in so much light all the time I would think I had left the lights on when I would be leaving, and I'd keep flipping the switch! Everyone that visited thought the same thing, and the Guatemalans couldn't believe how much light the house had. I wonder if we could do something like that with plastic bottles.

I've seen the bottle bulb listed as good for one year or five years. I've seen so many discrepancies about the simple materials used but NOTHING about the most important thing, THE SEALING CAULK.

And you're right: any kind of flange

On Sun, Sep 11, 2011 at 11:30 AM, Melody wrote:

Yep, just an educated guess, but you’re right, it would be nice to have some more practical information. I would say that the bottle will hold up, though, I doubt that it would start to leak. They have a half-life of about 1000 years, right?



Whatever the flange is, it would have to be easily and cheaply home-made. Otherwise the purpose of this almost-free light source is nullified.



Lots to think about! I’ve contacted a friend here who is Mexican-American and very active in the community to ask if this could be a helpful thing in out environs. Because they are plywood homes, people can cut windows easily, so light might not be a problem here.



Keep in touch. Be well.



Melody



From: Catherine Todd [mailto:catherinetodd2@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2011 11:34 PM

To: Melody Scott
Subject: Re: water bottle lights



Thanks for writing back, Melody! I'm so glad I put my email on the video.

I have read a number of concerns over the caps failing due to UV rays, as a different type of plastic is used as is used for the clear bottle. I will try to find more information about this. Small scale or large scale, I wouldn't want the bottle to fail and water and bleach get splashed all over the house!

Just because "most videos" show something one way, it doesn't mean it's the correct way. Especially when it's just the same repeated information, over and over.

This is often what happens with alternative ideas. They get executed poorly and are sloughed off, so this solar bottle bulb is such a great idea I hope we can do it right.

Why would the water and bleach solution need to be changed after one or two years? Did you read this somewhere or is it an educated guess? I have wondered about this "estimate" and again, no real information is given. I don't know why the "million light bulbs" guy in the video hasn't posted instructions on his website. So many people are interested... I know I'll post them for free when I have a real working model.

The fact that you are using plywood roofs might make it even better, since you might have to use some kind of cage that the bottle sits in, with a flange that fits over the roof opening, like a stove pipe that goes through the roof. Some of the rooms I'm going to be installing the lights in have concrete roofs (the entire building is concrete) so I'm thinking along those lines myself.

Let's definitely keep in touch. I posted our email with my questions on my eco-architecture blog, without your email address. If you want me to take your part out, I will. But it's so important I wanted to keep all the info together for the time being.

http://catherinetoddarchitecture.blogspot.com/

Thanks again for writing. You have re-inspired me to test out this product and I'll go to Lowe's and get some parts before I leave next week for Guatemala!

Catherine Todd

On Sun, Sep 11, 2011 at 12:52 AM, Melody wrote:

Hi, Catherine,



You put your email on one of the YouTube videos. I understand your concerns, and if you’re going to try it large-scale then I see why you want answers first. But maybe the answer is to try it small-scale and work out the details that way.



In my case, the buildings here are made of plywood mostly, so I’d have to talk to some builder friends and discover the best way to attach the bottle. Only one person in all the videos I saw mentioned the film canister. I don’t think that’s a concern, most videos just show a bottle with a regular cap:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziT3XYE2xSA&feature=share



As for replacing it, my understanding is that you would only have to replace the water and bleach. Even if the person would need to replace the entire bottle, it should be a matter of climbing on the roof and pulling it out and replacing it. Like you, I think the method of cutting the roofing material with tin snips to create a flange is the best way to do it.

Anyway, let’s keep in touch, and I hope you feel better soon! Melody


From: Catherine Todd [mailto:catherinetodd2@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2011 7:30 PM
To: Melody Scott
Subject: Re: water bottle lights

Dear Melody,

Where did you find my email, and thank you for the link!

I had pieced together instructions from all over the web, but these are a nice list with two good videos. But I see some discrepancies and some questions that still remain. I'm sick right now on medication, so I'm not very well organized below, but here are my thoughts. Let me know what you find out.

This idea is so great that I will pay someone to draw up real instructions in Spanish and English if we can get a real, working model. Then we need to start doing real tests.

I'm finding a few problems with the simplistic instructions found on the web.

I'm going to see what my architect & engineer in Guatemala thinks about this when I get back next week.

1. Bottle cap may fail due to UV rays. Instructions say "use film dispenser cap" to protect the cap. No one has "film dispenser caps" anymore since we are all digital.

2. I've seen instructions for coating the bottle cap with caulk to protect it from the sun's rays, or people have just capped it with a regular bottle cap, as shown in the video. Who knows what might happen?

3. I also wonder about: "The solar bulb is expected to last up to two years before it needs changing."

What part(s) will need changing - i.e. fail - within two years? I'll do a test and start the process.

4. I've seen the square piece of tin roofing material caulked on the underside and then riveted down on all four corners, with the edges of the plate, all rivets and the plastic bottle cap covered with caulk. Or just caulked on the edges. Seems like rivets are a better way to go.

5. I've seen "clean water" and "purified water" instructed to be used, and "don't use tap water or mold will grow". Since you add bleach, I'm not sure what if any the difference is.

I spoke to an engineer in the states about this solar bottle bulb idea and he pointed out something important:

6. It is only the caulk that keeps the bottle in place.



He felt that there was a good possibility the caulk could fail within one to two years, and "probably during the rainy season." He cautioned me against cutting holes in people's roofs without "seeing how this plays out first."



7. Perhaps we can add a cage of some kind to hold the bottle so it wouldn't depend solely on caulk for keeping it in place.

8. I'm also going to bring some of the best outdoor caulk I can find when I return to Guatemala. There's no guarantee that high-quality caulk will be available when I get there, or at what location or price.

9. Hole in plate: Check the video on my website that shows the actual construction of the metal plate, that has small tabs cut on the inside of the circle and are bent into place.

http://catherinetoddarchitecture.blogspot.com/

That is better than the simple instructions below that say

"Step 2. Make a hole in the 1’x1’ roof sheet material, just the same size of the bottle’s circumference..."

10. On the link you found and on my eco-blog there is a video of an engineer from Brazil who installed these solar water bottle bulbs in his workshop three years ago, and started this idea. He used film dispensers over his bottle caps. I don't know how they've held up. I am going to try and contact him if I can find any kind of contact information.


11. Water:

Step 1. Fill the 1.5 liter clear soda bottle with purified water then add 3 tablespoons of liquid bleach and tightly seal the cap. Do not use tap water because this will allow the growth of moss.


I don't think it matters what kind of water is used, as long as it's clean, if it has bleach in it which will prevent moss. If you are using "purified water" then you aren't recycling used bottles, as you might as well just buy the liters or refill them from a larger container.

11.b. Cap: I also don't know what "tightly seal the cap" means. If you don't caulk it, I wonder how much will dissipate? Seems like a lot.

12. Bleach: I think the Brazilian engineer used two capfuls of bleach but I've also read using 1 capful. Your link says "three tablespoons." It should be just enough bleach to keep mold from growing in the water. I don't know how much that really is, so this will need to be tested.

13. Indoor Tubing:

A scientist friend of mine has suggested running two pieces of plastic tubing from the bottle down the inside of a wall and putting a reflector behind it. He said leave the tubing movable "for close work" and the reflector would really help brighten the house. So I think there has got to be something to this.

My architecture blog with everything I could find about the solar bottle bulb:

http://catherinetoddarchitecture.blogspot.com/

Here's the instructions from the link you found below.

Thanks for writing and please let's keep in touch! I'm really excited about this project and want to do it right. CT

http://www.pinoybisnes.com/business-ideas/how-to-make-solar-bottle-light-bulb/#ixzz1XbUkcX84

How to make your own Solar Bottle Light Bulb?

The materials are the following: 1.5 liter soda bottle, 1’x1’ roof sheet material, purified water, camera film dispenser, chlorine and a rubber sealant.

Procedure:

Step 1. Fill the 1.5 liter clear soda bottle with purified water then add 3 tablespoons of liquid bleach and tightly seal the cap. Do not use tap water because this will allow the growth of moss.

Step 2. Make a hole in the 1’x1’ roof sheet material, just the same size of the bottle’s circumference and insert the bottom part of the bottle leaving it exposed under the sunlight.

Step 3. Next, make another hole on the roof of the house (same as the bottle’s circumference) where you want to put the solar bulb and firmly fix the device.

Step 4. Seal the roof with a sealant to prevent raindrops from getting inside the house. It will produce a light when the water inside the bottle bulb refracts and scatters the light inside the house.

The solar bulb is expected to last up to two years before it needs changing.


See two videos on the website, includes "Solar Bottle Bulb from GMAnews.tv"

http://www.pinoybisnes.com/business-ideas/how-to-make-solar-bottle-light-bulb/#ixzz1XbUkcX84

The Brazilian video is also on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_zMAWztZ6TI

Related Search Terms: solar bottle light, solar bottle, solar bottle bulb materials, Solar bottle bulbs, solar bottle light bulb, solar light bulb, bottle bulb, solar bottle bulb procedure
Recommended Readings

Instead of kerosene, a solar-powered light bulb
Customisable window collects solar energy
Buy a bottle of wine and donate clean water
Water-bottle refills at cafés, now with a charitable twist
How to Make Solar Cell
From Japan, gardening in reused bottle caps
Connecting owners and renters of solar-friendly rooftops
New water purity sensor offers a breakthrough for solar disinfection
Solar smartphone comes with eco bragging rights
Dutch solar cycle path generates electricity
Solar-powered pest control
How to Make Inexpensive Laundry Detergent

Read more: http://www.pinoybisnes.com/business-ideas/how-to-make-solar-bottle-light-bulb/#ixzz1XbXFInaz


On Sat, Sep 10, 2011 at 6:51 PM, Melody wrote:

Actually I found them! Here.



http://www.pinoybisnes.com/business-ideas/how-to-make-solar-bottle-light-bulb/



Melody



From: Melody
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2011 3:46 PM
To: 'catherinetodd2@gmail.com'
Subject: water bottle lights



Hi, I wondered if you ever got the written instructions to make those lights from water bottles? I’d like to introduce it in the area in Mexico where I live, too.



Thanks,

Melody








--
Catherine Todd
3007 Bent Tree Dr. Oxford NC 27565
H 919.693.0853 U.S. cell 919.605.0727
CatherineTodd2@gmail.com or CTodd1000@gmail.com
Blog: http://catherinetodd.blogspot.com/
Music: http://www.last.fm/music/Catherine+Todd
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinetodd/sets/

AtitlanArts.com, Guatemalan Arts & Crafts (GAC)
Panajachel, Lake Atitlan
Guatemala cell (dial 011 from the U.S.):
(502) 5013.6300
Directory: LakeAtitlanDirectory.com/
Travel: http://lakeatitlan.blogspot.com/
Eco-Architecture: http://catherinetoddarchitecture.blogspot.com/

For 2011:

"The winds of grace blow all the time. All we need do is set our sails."
~ Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa ~ Gospel of Ramakrishna


All sorrows can be borne if you tell a story about them.
~ Karen Blixen

Peace and justice are goals for man.
~ Mahatma Gandhi

-------

More comments with great ideas:






1. @CommentsSurvey Good questions, im guessing Glass Bottles would work just as well, and there is some very good quality silicone out these days, rated to last years , it would be quite easy to change the water /chlorine if needed, hop on the roof, unscrew the cap suck it out with something and refill it., yeah great idea, i need some in my dark (no sun) room
MrWompycat 8 hours ago

2. @CommentsSurvey easy to improve on design if lucky enough to have access to 'better' tools, pre fab parts, top notch silicone etc, there is already so many pre fab parts for plumbing, sky lights, wood stove flanges, massive 'worm clips, hose clamps' to fix solidly and professionally into a roof.. and use glass bottles if available.
MrWompycat 7 hours ago

3. @CommentsSurvey Yes it is a fantastic idea. I like the idea of the cage but I think they are limited in resources. Since the bottles have those nubs on the bottom of them, it may be easy to use 2 pieces of wire to create a simple holder and attach it to 4 small holes in the steel panel at the top. You would cut 2 pieces of wire twice as lon as the bottle; make a cross out of the wire joining them in the middle and twisting just once;
MsSuke13 14 minutes ago

4.
y CONTINUED: then place the middle cross section of the wire in the centre of the bottom of the bottle and bend them up around the bottle using the nubs as notches to hold them in place. Hook the ends through holes in the tin panel and secure. Also caulk the holes so no rain gets in.

I also wonder if salt would work instead of chlorine to stop mold etc?? Unless salt is more expensive. I don't like the idea of the chlorine going into the environment at the end. LOL
MsSuke13 11 minutes ago


Response:


1. Glass bottles with metal cap. Cap would not deteriorate, but use caulk to prevent evaporation? Industrial strength silicone:

2. Tools: what tools? I am going to bring whatever tools and materials I need to Guatemala. Parts: I’ve been looking at all kinds of plumbing pipe, roof and rain guards made in the USA. They are expensive here but maybe we could copy the idea. Industrial strength silicone.

Why use glass bottles? Part of the idea is that the plastic bottles are recycled and trashed right now.

What are 'worm clips, hose clamps' to attach into roof? How is this different than the Vulca…. Used in the Philippines?

3. HOLDER: “…Since the bottles have nubs on the bottom of them, use 2 pieces of wire to create a simple holder and attach it to 4 small holes in the steel panel at the top. Cut 2 pieces of wire twice as long as the bottle; make a cross out of the wire joining them in the middle and twisting just once; then place the middle cross section of the wire in the centre of the bottom of the bottle and bend them up around the bottle using the nubs as notches to hold them in place. Hook the ends through holes in the tin panel and secure. Caulk the holes so no rain gets in.

3b. Would salt would work instead of chlorine to stop mold etc?? Unless salt is more expensive. I don't like the idea of the chlorine going into the environment at the end.

That’s an EXCELLENT idea. And chlorine is no laughing matter. I’m going to try both and see what happens. Anyone have an answer?

Lights Made With Bottles & Water

Lights Made With Bottles & Water
By Megan Ly, eHow Contributor
http://www.ehow.com/info_10045326_lights-made-bottles-water.html

updated August 08, 2011


Lights Made With Bottles & Water: Reusing 2-L bottles as solar bulbs is good for the environment in two ways: it cuts down on solid waste and electricity usage.

Solar bottle bulbs are lights made out of 2-L bottles that use no electricity and produce the same amount of light as a 50- to 60-watt incandescent bulb. These lights are used in developing countries where energy prices are high and median incomes are low. Nearly anyone can make these lights and install them in a workshop or other area where a hole can be cut in the ceiling to allow direct sunlight.

How They Are Made

Solar bottle bulbs are simple to construct. A 2-L bottle is filled with water and roughly two capfuls of bleach. A hole is cut in a square piece of corrugated metal and is placed around the bottle to prevent leakage through the roof and to help secure the bottle in place. A hole the same diameter as the bottle is then cut in the roof of the structure, and the bottle is inserted into the hole. The bottle cap is either covered in a protective substance or a plastic covering to protect it from sun damage.

How They Work

The lights work by refracting sunlight in a 360-degree arc around the room, which provides superior light to a window or skylight, only allowing light into a room in a direct beam. The bleach keeps the water clean and clear by preventing algae growth. The bottle lights should last around five years if left undisturbed.

Brazil

In 2002, Alfredo Moser, an engineer in Brazil, got the idea to use solar bottle bulbs in his workshop so that he could continue to work during the energy shortage. His neighbors, intrigued by the idea, soon started following suit, adding the bulbs to their homes in kitchens, bathrooms and living areas where electric light was prohibitively expensive and inefficient.

A Liter of Light

The MyShelter Foundation runs a program in the Philippines called Isang Litrong Liwanag: a Liter of Light. Based on a project developed by students at MIT under the Appropriate Technologies discipline, the project aims to bring sustainable, affordable lighting to the underprivileged rural communities in the country.


Read more: Lights Made With Bottles & Water | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_10045326_lights-made-bottles-water.html#ixzz1XdQDNiId

A Liter of Light (Isang Litrong Liwanag): on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Liter-of-Light-Isang-Litrong-Liwanag/181127878593329

References

Isang Litrong Liwanag: Home Page: http://isanglitrongliwanag.org/

Clean Technica; Solar Lights Made of Plastic Bottles & Water; Zachary Shahan; August 2011:
http://cleantechnica.com/2011/08/01/solar-lights-made-of-plastic-bottles-water/

Make; Lights Made from Water Bottles; Gareth Branwyn; April 2009


Read more: Lights Made With Bottles & Water | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_10045326_lights-made-bottles-water.html#ixzz1XdSG5TGb



---

What Can Be Made Out of Recycled Water Bottles?
What Items Can Be Made From Plastic Water Bottles?
How to Get Water Bottles Made for Our School
Types of Plastic Water Bottles
How to Hang Lights Made from Wine Bottles


135 Years of Electrical Engineering Discover the Latest Innovations.
www.siemens.com/energy/services
Enterawater - reusable

Email re: Solar Water Bottle Bulb

solar light bulbThe light of life..mp4

http://youtu.be/ziT3XYE2xSA



Email rec'd 10 Sept. 2011 and my response:

Catherine Todd
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 at 10:30 PM

Dear Melody,

Thank you for the link with videos and instructions (pasted below)!

I had pieced together instructions from all over the web, but these are a nice list with two good videos. But I see some discrepancies and some questions that still remain. I'm sick right now on medication, so I'm not very well organized below, but here are my thoughts. Let me know what you find out.

This idea is so great that I will pay someone to draw up real instructions in Spanish and English if we can get a real, working model. Then we need to start doing real tests.

I'm finding a few problems with the simplistic instructions found on the web.

I'm going to see what my architect & engineer in Guatemala thinks about this when I get back next week.

1. Bottle cap may fail due to UV rays. Instructions say "use film dispenser cap" to protect the cap. No one has "film dispenser caps" anymore since we are all digital.

2. I've seen instructions for coating the bottle cap with caulk to protect it from the sun's rays, or people have just capped it with a regular bottle cap, as shown in the video. Who knows what might happen?

3. I also wonder about: "The solar bulb is expected to last up to two years before it needs changing."

What part(s) will need changing - i.e. fail - within two years? I'll do a test and start the process.

4. I've seen the square piece of tin roofing material caulked on the underside and then riveted down on all four corners, with the edges of the plate, all rivets and the plastic bottle cap covered with caulk. Or just caulked on the edges. Seems like rivets are a better way to go.

5. I've seen "clean water" and "purified water" instructed to be used, and "don't use tap water or mold will grow". Since you add bleach, I'm not sure what if any the difference is.

I spoke to an engineer in the states about this solar bottle bulb idea and he pointed out something important:

6. It is only the caulk that keeps the bottle in place.


He felt that there was a good possibility the caulk could fail within one to two years, and "probably during the rainy season." He cautioned me against cutting holes in people's roofs without "seeing how this plays out first."



7. Perhaps we can add a cage of some kind to hold the bottle so it wouldn't depend solely on caulk for keeping it in place.

8. I'm also going to bring some of the best outdoor caulk I can find when I return to Guatemala. There's no guarantee that high-quality caulk will be available when I get there, or at what location or price.

9. Hole in plate: Check the video on my website that shows the actual construction of the metal plate, that has small tabs cut on the inside of the circle and are bent into place.

http://catherinetoddarchitecture.blogspot.com/

That is better than the simple instructions below that say

"Step 2. Make a hole in the 1’x1’ roof sheet material, just the same size of the bottle’s circumference..."

10. On the link you found and on my eco-blog there is a video of an engineer from Brazil who installed these solar water bottle bulbs in his workshop three years ago, and started this idea. He used film dispensers over his bottle caps. I don't know how they've held up. I am going to try and contact him if I can find any kind of contact information.


11. Water:

Step 1. Fill the 1.5 liter clear soda bottle with purified water then add 3 tablespoons of liquid bleach and tightly seal the cap. Do not use tap water because this will allow the growth of moss.


I don't think it matters what kind of water is used, as long as it's clean, if it has bleach in it which will prevent moss. If you are using "purified water" then you aren't recycling used bottles, as you might as well just buy the liters or refill them from a larger container.

11.b. Cap: I also don't know what "tightly seal the cap" means. If you don't caulk it, I wonder how much will dissipate? Seems like a lot.

12. Bleach: I think the Brazilian engineer used two capfuls of bleach but I've also read using 1 capful. Your link says "three tablespoons." It should be just enough bleach to keep mold from growing in the water. I don't know how much that really is, so this will need to be tested.

13. Indoor Tubing:

A scientist friend of mine has suggested running two pieces of plastic tubing from the bottle down the inside of a wall and putting a reflector behind it. He said leave the tubing movable "for close work" and the reflector would really help brighten the house. So I think there has got to be something to this.

My architecture blog with everything I could find about the solar bottle bulb:

http://catherinetoddarchitecture.blogspot.com/

Here's the instructions from the link you found below.

Thanks for writing and please let's keep in touch! I'm really excited about this project and want to do it right. CT

http://www.pinoybisnes.com/business-ideas/how-to-make-solar-bottle-light-bulb/#ixzz1XbUkcX84

How to make your own Solar Bottle Light Bulb?

The materials are the following: 1.5 liter soda bottle, 1’x1’ roof sheet material, purified water, camera film dispenser, chlorine and a rubber sealant.

Procedure:

Step 1. Fill the 1.5 liter clear soda bottle with purified water then add 3 tablespoons of liquid bleach and tightly seal the cap. Do not use tap water because this will allow the growth of moss.

Step 2. Make a hole in the 1’x1’ roof sheet material, just the same size of the bottle’s circumference and insert the bottom part of the bottle leaving it exposed under the sunlight.

Step 3. Next, make another hole on the roof of the house (same as the bottle’s circumference) where you want to put the solar bulb and firmly fix the device.

Step 4. Seal the roof with a sealant to prevent raindrops from getting inside the house. It will produce a light when the water inside the bottle bulb refracts and scatters the light inside the house.

The solar bulb is expected to last up to two years before it needs changing.

See two videos on the website, includes "Solar Bottle Bulb from GMAnews.tv"

http://www.pinoybisnes.com/business-ideas/how-to-make-solar-bottle-light-bulb/#ixzz1XbUkcX84

The Brazilian video is also on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_zMAWztZ6TI

Related Search Terms: solar bottle light, solar bottle, solar bottle bulb materials, Solar bottle bulbs, solar bottle light bulb, solar light bulb, bottle bulb, solar bottle bulb procedure
Recommended Readings

Instead of kerosene, a solar-powered light bulb
Customisable window collects solar energy
Buy a bottle of wine and donate clean water
Water-bottle refills at cafés, now with a charitable twist
How to Make Solar Cell
From Japan, gardening in reused bottle caps
Connecting owners and renters of solar-friendly rooftops
New water purity sensor offers a breakthrough for solar disinfection
Solar smartphone comes with eco bragging rights
Dutch solar cycle path generates electricity
Solar-powered pest control
How to Make Inexpensive Laundry Detergent


Read more: http://www.pinoybisnes.com/business-ideas/how-to-make-solar-bottle-light-bulb/#ixzz1XbXFInaz

Sustainable Living / gerritbotha.com

Reposted from: Sustainable Living
Collecting resources and success stories in sustainability

Solar Bottle Bulbs - Example of Appropriate Technology

Here's an astonishingly simple affordable way to bring lights to poor people. Fill a liter pop bottle with water and bleach and place it snugly in the roof of a shack. And presto you have the equivalent of a 55 watt light bulb as the water refracts the light 360 degrees. The bleach keeps the water clear for about 5 years. A Philippine organization called Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light), a sustainable lighting project, is teaching people how to make the Solar Bottle Bulb. …
Continue reading Solar Bottle Bulbs - Example of Appropriate Technology
http://www.gerritbotha.com/sustainable-living-blog/
2011-07-28

Appropriate Technology

a concept that provides simple and easily replicable technologies that address basic needs in developing communities.

-----

See also:

10 Steps to Sustainability: http://www.gerritbotha.com/odds--ends/Resources.html

gerrit, 2011-07-29

Solar Bottle Bulb Instructions (translated) = 50 watt bulb!

1. Watch both videos. These instructions are gleaned from the videos. Let us know how things work in real practice so the instructions can be updated.

PHILLIPINES (in English): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9fpolCvM-8&feature=youtu.be

BRAZIL (in Spanish): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zMAWztZ6TI

2. Start with squares of tin roofing material. Cut a hole smaller than the water bottle. It looks like about ½ inch or so smaller which are then cut into tabs which are bent upwards and the bottle is pushed up through the bottom of the square.

3. Fill the empty bottle with clean water and two capfuls of bleach. Close bottle with bottle cap. For faster filling, use a thin tube connected to the sink faucet to direct water into the bottle.

4. Caulk the bottle on both sides of the square piece of roofing material before installation, and let the caulk dry.

5. Mark the holes where you want the lights to be on the ceiling from inside house, and use a hole cutter to drill through the ceiling material and through the roof. Put two lines of bulbs down both sides of the room or as many lights as you want.

You can also cut the holes from the outside on top of the roof. Drill a pilot hole through the ceiling up through the roof, or use a chalk line and tape measure to transfer measurements from the ceiling onto the roof.

6. Cut the roof hole a bit larger than the bottle, so you can slide the bottle through. The square roofing plate will cover the hole later on. Use a hole saw, drill hole cutter attachment, or a metal cutting blade on a hand or electric saw.

7. Caulk the bottom of the square metal plate holding the empty bottle, and place the bottle in the hole. Press down to glue the square metal roofing plate into place.

8. Rivet or screw the plate down on all four corners.

9. Caulk all seams, rivets or screws, and coat the bottle cap with caulk to protect the cap from degradation from the sun’s rays.

10. Go inside, turn off any electric light in the room and see what happens!

11. Test roof for leaks after caulk is dry.

12. The Solar Water Bottle Light should last 2 to 5 years and give 50 watts of light.


Translation (google translate; not necessarily accurate): http://translate.google.com

1. Vea los videos. Estas instrucciones son recogidos de los videos. Háganos saber cómo funcionan las cosas en la práctica real de lo que las instrucciones se pueden actualizar.

2. Comience con cuadrados de material para techos de hojalata. Corte un agujero más pequeño que la botella de agua. Parece que alrededor de ½ pulgada o más pequeños que se cortan en las pestañas que están arriba se inclinó y la botella se empuja hacia arriba a través del fondo de la plaza.

3. Llena la botella vacía con agua limpia y dos tapones de lejía. Del frasco con la tapa de la botella. Para agilizar el llenado, la utilización de un tubo delgado conectado al grifo del fregadero de agua directamente en la botella.

4. Masilla de la botella en ambos lados de la pieza cuadrada de material de cubierta antes de la instalación, y dejar que la masilla seca.

5. Marque los agujeros en la que desea que las luces se en el techo de la casa de adentro, y el uso de un cortador de agujero para perforar el material del techo y por las nubes. Poner dos líneas de focos a ambos lados de la habitación o como las luces que quieras.

También puede cortar los agujeros desde el exterior en la parte superior del techo. Perfore un agujero piloto a través del techo a través del techo, o utilizar una línea de tiza y una cinta métrica para transferir las mediciones del techo en el techo.

6. Corte el agujero del techo un poco más grande que la botella, por lo que se puede deslizar a través de la botella. La placa de techo cuadrados cubrirá el agujero en el futuro. Use una sierra circular, taladro de fijación agujero de corte, o una hoja cortante metal en la mano o sierra eléctrica.

7. Masilla de la parte inferior de la placa metálica cuadrada que tiene la botella vacía, y coloque la botella en el agujero. Presione hacia abajo para pegar la placa de metal para techos cuadrados en su lugar.

8. Remaches o tornillos del plato en las cuatro esquinas.

9. Selle todas las costuras, remaches o tornillos, y la capa de la tapa del frasco con material de calafateo para proteger la tapa de la degradación de los rayos del sol.

10. Entrar, apaga cualquier luz eléctrica en la habitación y ver qué pasa!

11. Techo de la prueba de fugas después de masilla se seca.

12. La luz de la botella de agua solar debe durar de 2 a 5 años y dar 50 vatios de luz.



I also lived in a very charming house that had a 24" or 36" strip of lucite plexiglass all around two sides of the house up at the roof line. It was wonderful and let in so much light I never had to use lights anywhere during the day. Plus no leaking since it was under the roof line, not in the roof.

Good luck and please, keep us updated!

Catherine Todd,
Ctodd1000@gmail.com

--

--
AtitlanArts.com
Catherine & Les Todd
3007 Bent Tree Dr. Oxford NC 27565
H 919.693.0853 U.S. cell 919.605.0727

"The winds of grace blow all the time. All we need do is set our sails."

Guatemalan Arts & Crafts (GAC)
Panajachel, Lake Atitlan
Guatemala cell (first dial 011 from the U.S.)
(502) 5013.6300
Travel: lakeatitlan.blogspot.com/
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinetodd/sets/
Eco-Architecture: catherinetoddarchitecture.blogspot.com/
28 Aug 2011 Sent to Suzanne De Berge

Solar Light - Deck Prisms used on Sailing Ships

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deck_prism

A deck prism is a prism inserted into the deck of a ship which provides light down below.

Group of original deck prisms. Some from the 19th century.

Purchase one (also comes with a lighted base) from one of my favorite stores: Edmund Scientific www.scientificsonline.com

Reproduction 19th Century Deck Prism

For centuries, sailing ships used deck prisms to provide a safe source of natural sunlight to illuminate areas below decks. Before electricity, light below a vessel's deck was provided by candles, oil and kerosene lamps - all dangerous aboard a wooden ship. The deck prism was a clever solution: laid flush into the deck, the glass prism refracted and dispersed natural light into the space below from a small deck opening without weakening the planks or becoming a fire hazard.

In normal usage, the prism hangs below the ceiling and disperses the light sideways; the top is flat and installed flush with the deck, becoming part of the deck. A plain flat glass would just form a single bright spot below-- not very useful general illumination-- hence the prismatic shape.

On colliers (coal ships), prisms were also used to keep check on the cargo hold; light from a fire would be collected by the prism and be made visible on the deck even in daylight.

The names "deck light", "dead light" or "deadlight" are sometimes used, though the latter is uncommon as a reference to prisms, as more often refers to non-opening plain-glass panels.

more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deck_prism

Solar Bottle Bulb ~ Instructional Videos

Best 3 videos I've seen:

I want to do this when I get back to Guatemala! It's cheap and easy! Catherine Todd
= Quiero hacer esto cuando regrese a Guatemala! Es barato y fácil! Catherine Todd

In Espanol (Brazil):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zMAWztZ6TI
Use a 2-Liter Bottle as a 50 Watt Light Bulb lightbulb hack / Utilice una botella de 2 litros como un corte de luz bombilla de 50 vatios bombilla


faro0485, you wrote: "Actually if you add some salt and a couple of electrodes in the bottle, you could run power off that water."
If this would work, and the energy stores, then the light could be turned on at night. How exactly do we try to do this? I'm going to see if we can do this in Guatemala where I live part time. CatherineTodd2 at gmail dot com.

~~~~~~

Program: A Liter of Light -- the community from the test site at Sitio Maligaya 1 in San Pedro, Laguna shares the benefits from the Solar Bottle Bulb. Works in the daytime with the sun.

traducir: Programa: Un litro de la Luz - la comunidad de la zona de prueba en el Sitio Maligaya 1 en San Pedro, Laguna comparte los beneficios de la Bombilla Botella Solar. Trabaja durante el día con el sol.

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zMAWztZ6TI

English: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/thinking-tech/video-worlds-cheapest-light-bulb-shines-in-developing-regions/8004


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http://thephilippines.ph/lifestyle/bottle-for-light/

The solar bottle bulb is just a piece of 1.5 liter of soda or softdrinks plastic bottle filled with a solution of purified water and liquid bleach that harness solar power or that provide light from the sun. Per solar bottle bulb provide 55 watts of light from the light of the sun during daylight and much even higher if the sun do really shines so brightly during the day. Moreover, every solar bottle bulb last up to five years before the solution on the bottle can be replaced. Wow, that is really could save a large percentage of your money for electricity bills if you are using light bulbs during daylight.

The solar bottle bulb is fixed in a hole on the roof with half top exposed on the sun outside. The light from the sun then refracts into the solution in the bottle which creates pure white light inside the house.

*Use a 2-Liter Bottle as a 50 Watt Light Bulb lightbulb hack

One of the best videos on solar water light bulbs I've seen yet. Written translation / instructions in English. Technique discovered by Alfredo Moser in Brazil during an energy blackout. Use a two liter plastic bottle with clean water and 2 capfuls of bleach, and cover the cap to protect the cap from the sun. See more on video:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zMAWztZ6TI, Uploaded by KAWUNEARTH on May 8, 2008

Bringing light to the poor, one liter at a time

See more at: Myshelter “Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light)” project in Manilla, Phillipines

Website: http://isanglitrongliwanag.org/

YouTube video: http://youtu.be/a9fpolCvM-8

Video and more: http://youtu.be/a9fpolCvM-8

Video: World’s cheapest light bulb shines in developing regions

From SmartPlanet.com
Home / Technology / Thinking Tech
Video: World’s cheapest light bulb shines in developing regions

By Tuan C. Nguyen | July 29, 2011, 7:35 AM PDT

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/thinking-tech/video-worlds-cheapest-light-bulb-shines-in-developing-regions/8004

A plastic bottle is filled with water and bleach. That’s it. That water refracts light from the sun in all directions and disperses the sun’s rays that would otherwise go in one direction inside the home. The bleach prevents algae and particle build-up, keeping the water clear. Once the “light bulbs” are assembled, they are put through holes in the roof. The process can be done in an hour.

So far, workers have installed 10,000 of them in homes in Manilla in the Philippines. The obvious drawback is that the light bulbs are only functional during the daytime, but even then, installing them translates to tremendous costs savings for families who can ill-afford what they consider a luxury.

more: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/thinking-tech/video-worlds-cheapest-light-bulb-shines-in-developing-regions/8004

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cSsIqMcROA&feature=player_embedded#at=20

Search: Solar Water Bottle Bulbs water tubing reflector

A search for Solar Water Bottle Bulbs water tubing reflector brings up lots of info. Can't wait to try this out and take it on as a project at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala!

From Kevin Warnock's blog
http://kevinwarnock.com/category/home/

On the right, Alfredo Lim, the mayor of Manilla, Philippines, holding a litre of light 'bulb'

The beauty of the Solar Bottle Bulb is that it works and it’s really affordable, at about P150 to P200 (USD $4.66 at today’s exchange rate) per home, installed, according to Alfredo Lim, the mayor of Manilla in the Philippines, pictured above on the right. That 150 to 200 peso cost is per home, not per bulb.

I am going to install these in any eco home I build down the road. I have a big collection of glass bottles to choose from. I’m not sure if glass is as suitable as plastic, but I would prefer to use glass if it can be made to work reliably.

While UV lamp disinfection systems have been widely used to disinfect .... Low cost solar reflectors or cookers can be made from materials as simple and ... The WAPI is placed in the water to be heated with the wax at the top of the tube. ... Bottles made of polyethylene terephthlate (PET) are preferred to those made of ... (more)
Home at Kevin Warnock
kevinwarnock.com/category/home/

Written by Kevin Warnock, July 17th, 2011 at 5:00 am, Posted in Home,Ideas
Tagged with A litre of light, Alfredo Lim, Isang Litrong Liwanag, Solar Light Bulb

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Alibaba.com http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/solar-water-bottle.html
Solar Water Bottle-Solar Water Bottle Manufacturers, Suppliers and ...
www.alibaba.com › Showroom - Cached

Solar Water Bottle Manufacturers & Solar Water Bottle Suppliers Directory - Find a Solar ... 10led garden lamp, with beer bottle,energy saving, safe, water proof, .... This solar thermal bottle is mainly made by vacuum tube,reflector can focus the ...
►
Light tube - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_tube - Cached

2.1 Solar and hybrid lighting systems; 2.2 Security Applications ... The first commercial reflector systems were patented and marketed in the 1850s by Paul .... Compared to artificial lights, light tubes have the advantage of providing natural light ...
Megahelp - Let there be light—from a soda bottle!
www.megahelp.com/?a=17272 - Cached

Who would have thought that an insignificant empty water bottle would serve as a key ... Installed on roofs, the Solar Bottle Bulb acts as a reflector of sunlight and ...
WHO | Managing water in the home: accelerated health gains from ...
www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/wsh0207/.../index4.html - Cached


A Solar Bottle Bulb is a clear water or soda bottle filled with tap water and a .... of its LED bulb so I can replace my existing ceiling installed reflector CFL bulbs. ...
More Solar Power - 2 liter soda bottle = 50 watt light bulb
www.warriorforum.com › The Chat Room › The Off Topic Forum - Cached

May 29, 2011 – In a sense they are sky lights, but the water in the bottles will diffuse and ... Light Tunnel & Pipe | Sun Tubes | Solar Tube | Solatube® ..... Plus, you can use mylar as a reflector to add even more potential to your solar panels. ...
New and experimental solar projects and concepts for do it yourselfers
www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/experimental.htm - Cached

This is a cut at a solar water heating collector that uses PEX tubing instead of ..... a tracking inflatable reflector to concentrate energy on a line of PV cells ---> ..... It uses two identical collectors each with a bottle of water inside to collect heat. ...
Solar Water Bottle Heater
www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Water-Bottle-Heater/ - Cached

Feb 18, 2009 – After reading a great Instructable on building a solar water bottle heater by ... F. If I used a 2 bottle system with a cut out half of a car window shade reflector, I could go as high ... A whiskey bottle isn't fragile: a light bulb is fragile. .... I have read putting a length of black plastic tubing in a clear bottle works also. ...
HIGHTIMES.COM > The $1000 Growroom
hightimes.com/grow/nico/6216 - Cached

Feb 16, 2010 – Water and light are self-explanatory, but the other two require brief explanations. ... one for use during the vegetative phase (labeled “Grow” on most bottles) and ... Some people choose to air-cool the bulb and reflector hood with inline fans ... The reservoir is usually filled from a tube that begins above the ...

Bottle Water Light with Tubing and Reflector down the Wall

Received from Roger Stringham, FirstGate in Hawaii:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Roger Stringham
Date: Sat, Aug 13, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Subject: Re: Bottled Water & Bleach Creates Free Light (Video)
To: Catherine Todd


Katie,

I think you should experiment, The bigger the bottle and hole the more light you gather. Funnel it down and attach some transparent plastic tubing so it will reach down to the floor. If you are not using the tubing for close work, hang it on the wall with a reflector.

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My response:

Roger, what a GREAT IDEA to use tubing and a reflector! How did you think of this?

I take it that you are running the same water & bleach solution in the tube? How do you cap off the tube?

I'm going to try this right away when I get back to Guatemala. Know just the spot to test it.

Keep those ideas coming! Katie (Catherine Todd)

A Liter of Light: Solar Bottle Bulbs - INSTRUCTIONS

http://www.crazyengineers.com/solar-bottle-bulbs-provision-for-lighting-in-summer-206/

Solar Bottle Bulbs – Provision For Lighting In Summer
Posted by Shubhankar Deshkar on May 2, 2011

The Scorching heat of the summer is rising now and so is the demand for electricity. As we all know that many rural as well as the urban areas suffer Load-shedding or Power cuts to comply with the available limited generation of electrical energy. Thus the situations worsen especially in the rural areas which suffer a load shedding of more than 10 hours a day. One of the main utilization of the electrical energy is for the purpose of lighting. Without light, no work can be done.

Thus to put an end to the lighting problem, an expert team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has invented the Solar Bottle bulbs. This bulb also facilitates the poor people who cannot afford to buy a legal electricity connection and need light for the mundane household chores. “Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light)” is the name of the project and it will help improving the conditions in developing communities like Philippines. It is basically a plastic soda bottle containing a mixture of purified water and chlorine. Chlorine is mixed in the water to increase the life span of the water making it last for 5 years approximately. Distilled water is used in the process to avoid the refraction phenomenon.

Some readily available chemicals are also mixed in the solution and kept in the sunlight to harness the solar energy and then use it at nights when required.

Following materials are used to make a solar bottle bulb:

1.5 liter soda bottle, purified water, chlorine and a rubber sealant, roof sheet material, camera film dispenser*

This is how you can make a solar bottle bulb:

Fill the 1.5 liter bottle with distilled water and add 3 tablespoons of liquid bleach. After this seal the cap tightly.
Make a hole in the 1’X 1’ roof sheet material equal to the circumference of the bottle. Now, insert the bottom part of the bottle and keep it exposed to the sun.

Make a hole in the roof of the house (equal to bottle diameter) to fix this bulb.

Seal the roof with the sealant to avoid water from entering the house via the gaps. The water inside the bottle will refract and scatter the light inside the house causing illumination.

This bulb is capable of producing energy equivalent to a 55 Watt electric bulb. If this source of light is used on a 24 hour basis there will be a 40% saving in the monthly electricity expenses. With the efforts of the Manila city Government, 120 houses were lit up using the “Solar bottle bulbs” in Tondo in the month of April.

It is really a revolutionary effort from the experts of MIT to reach out and benefit even the lowest Strata of the society.

Source: CoolBuster

* Note: I think the camera film dispenser is to keep the bottle cap from degrading in the sun. Where do we get those film dispensers or another item like it now that everyone uses digital cameras? I also saw a video where they simply coated the cap with the same gray caulk they were using around the cut piece of tin roofing material. Purified water and chlorine is to keep moss and algae from growing in the bottle from the water. The bottle lights are estimated to last about five years, and give off up to 55 watts of free energy.

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More info and to donate: http://isanglitrongliwanag.org/

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Also note in this article, salt is added to the solution:

'Bottle bulbs' to provide light to poor
By LEONARD D. POSTRADO
April 14, 2011, 6:34pm
http://www.mb.com.ph/node/314093/bottle-bulb

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/314093/bottle-bulb

"Under the system, each home will be installed with a solar bulb made from a two-liter plastic bottle filled with a solution of water, salt and chlorine that gather and amplify sunlight.

The bottle will act as lens and provide a tremendous amount of interior light equivalent to 55 watts during daytime, so that there is no more need to use electricity."

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Facebook Page: A Liter of Light (Isang Litrong Liwanag)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Liter-of-Light-Isang-Litrong-Liwanag/181127878593329?sk=info

Email
info@aliteroflight.org
Website
http://www.aliteroflight.org