How to Make a "Sun in a Jar" for under $5

[@jricks31]

Have you thought about using a solar blanket to line the bottom of your jars for better reflection? You could cut a section to fit accordingly and use your adhesive to attach it. Maybe tin foil would be a idea as well. Foil is dirt cheap and as im sure you know, you get a lot per roll.

[@experienceenergysavi]

this one is so awesome, we could use it as a give away for birthdays and weddings... its cute and the can use it to light the room of their small kids specially those who dont like dark places.... I like it!

[@bethk4952]

Good idea using the mason jar with the hinged lid because it give you easy access to replace the rechargeable battery when it dies!

[@Hahnck750i]

Hey Joe. just an idea. aluminium foil at the bottom of the cup/jar and the surface where the LED is. see if that gives u more light

[@riojazuki9783]

Got mine at dollar store added foil to bottom of glass and cut open assembly to add a switch. Great video.

[@Totogita]

One other improvement is to add small suction cups to them and placed them on windows to charge when it is cold outside.

[@bignail1954]

you can take a bottom out of a pop can to use as reflector.

[@andreat8440]

Great idea Joe! Aside from Wally World, One might also consider rummaging through the local thrift stores (my favorites are St. Vincent's and Goodwill). I, just recently, picked up a whole set of solar yard lights for something like 5 bucks. A couple of days ago, I ran acrossed 3 TOPS to yard lights (which had the solar panel, battery and LED) for 2 bucks! I should swap in some better grade rechargeable batteries for the cheap-assed ones that come with the lights. If One is really savvy with electricals...One should try building a solar panel battery charger or, better yet, a solar panel that would recharge any given item that would normally plug into a USB port on a computer (although...actually...I think Harbor Freight offers just such a solar panel for, like, 13 bucks....).

[@jacquerefregier9043]

You can buy small round mirrors to glue in the bottom at crafting sections of stores. That would be a terrific reflector ad super easy to glue in the bottom of your glass.

[@kevins1114]

Sweet idea! I have several of those little lights laying around doing nothing. This looks like a good project for tomorrow. BTW, This alone is enough to get me to subscribe. Thanks, Joe!

[@newmexrob99]

Great presentation.. One could also fashion wire hangers for the mason jars and hang them outside on the porch

[@FaebleTheWitch]

also, because the light is allways on in the dark, i suggest an on/off switch attatched to the led

[@lifebetweenmyears9081]

Great video. I'd like to add that you can buy the same solar lights at Dollar Tree for only a dollar. They also have the reflector you mentioned.

[@MrBobWareham]

To make your reflector cone use aluminium foil it works very well and you can make any shape to reflect just a suggestion

[@lynn1464]

Cool thanks

[@TheMeight08]

you can decorate the cup and cover the line where the glue shows by wrapping a ribbon around the top and make a little bow. The girls would love it and it covers any unwanted glue lines

[@arokedee8069]

If you get a small mirror and put it in the bottom on a slant the light is more directional and quite bright. I got a small bag of mirrors 1-4" dia. at a craft store for cheep.

[@sarcasticdps8853]

Can you put aluminum foil on the bottom for a reflector?

[@dbalfany8838]

Love this idea. Wondering if the tiny mirror balls at the craft store would 'shed more light' (ha ha) So much more cost effective than the same ones advertised on the net for almost $20 a piece. I will be trying these this Spring. Thanks!

[@TheRebelmanone]

Very cool, thanks, i have thought about this very same thing the first time i seen the garden solar lights as a kid, just never did it yet. But you were talking about using the light reflector being a help, i agree. I was thinking of a cheap and easy reflector to use when/if you end up with a garden light without the reflector, did you ever try water as the reflector yet? The jar with the removable lid will work great for experimenting with different reflectors.

[@riverrat2993]

aluminum foil cone in the bottom of those glasses is cheap and easy as a defuser

[@robinconkel-hannan6629]

I used these a couple of years I was without electricity for three weeks.. This is close to what I used to light my room every night.. I also use them when camping to light my tent, mark the campsite and as a lantern to get to the toilet at night.. They come in handy when traveling.. One will light the interior of car or truck and save battery..

[@naomar8370]

would it work to put a small round mirror in the bottom of the glass?

[@dodongagan113]

how about if you put water in the glass?

[@Chimonger1]

What helps LEDs shine brighter is having a method of magnifying the light, and, diffusing it. Love the lantern! And, the lantern can have the diffuser paint on the glass, to help the light quality, and won't be ruined by heat in the sun. What about filling the container with water to magnify the light from the low-power LEDs? Can those little LED lights tolerate that much water? Would a 2nd glass a bit larger, surrounding the inner glass, hold water and act like a magnifier, and not ruin the electronics? Glass canning jars and glasses, can be got at 2nd hand stores real cheap.

[@mtboy33]

i wonder if you put some water in the jar one, what it would look like. even colored water.

[@gginnj]

Needs a switch so it can be turned off when not needed and still retain enough charge to use when needed. Say if you wake up in the middle of the night for a nature call.

[@joelevi]

Glad you enjoyed it! My local Walmart put all their yard lights away for the season, so unless I find another source I won't be able to make any more until the spring time... :(

[@ClockworkDemon]

i would go and get a small round mirror, you ca find them at most craft stores and they 0.59 to $1.00

[@MrBademy]

I was wondering if you can amplify the light by filling it with water inside, i believe water amplifies light?

[@wildcountryboyatlarge3829]

Hello, I had a thought, could you place a tiny mirror in the bottom of the glass to enhance the brightness of the little LED light? An thanks for showing a great idea for showing people another way to save a little on electricity. It's probably not much, but every little bit saved does help in the long run. It's like penny's in a jar over time. Thanks Again

[@sofiaangelini5201]

thanks, it really helped me with my science project at school.

[@Tdubya48]

Joe, great idea! I'll probably be making a few of these. Have you considered putting a piece of mirror in the bottom of the glass or jar?

[@lynn1464]

Cool ideal I like the lantern part. Thanks for uploading and sharing

[@sweetpeaize]

what about making a light box I think you just gave me an idea. Thanks

[@michaelj.mccall6530]

Would these be bright enough to light a shed?

[@TheBeardedHerper]

Just a thought, I wonder how it would look if you used glow in the dark paint on the bottom of the jar....

[@ScorpionRegent]

sincitydragons1 It would add a slight color tinge to it while the lamp was working, as the batteries run out of charge the glow in the dark would be more obvious. I guess at 04:30 all you would see is the glow. There are likely better uses for glow in the dark paint. If the lamp didn't automatically switch using the photo cell it would work better as a way to locate the lamp in the dark before you switched it on. All good if you want to go Kip Kay on it and solder in your own switch. Too much work for a lazy guy like me.

[@inventor1v]

you could cut a circle of baking foil to glue to the bottom of the glass instead of the reflector.

[@joelevi]

Foil doesn't do that great, nor does a mirror on the bottom. What you're looking for is something to reflect the light out and away from the bottom. A cone or half-sphere at the bottom of the glass/jar work best for this purpose.

[@KaosFireMaker]

***** What if you made a clay hemisphere and wrapped aluminum over it!

[@ScorpionRegent]

KaosFireMaker The pointed cone is the best shape to disperse the light outward. A hemisphere would reflect some of the light back up into the source and waste it. The idea is that if you have a low level of light you make the most of it. What is the best angle to make the cone? I would guess that about 45 degrees. If you can make the cone fit the whole bottom surface that would be best. Unless of course you decide to hang lantern above you in which case leave the bottom empty.

[@MrEricgram]

i caulked we glued the the top and light a and filed it with water reflects better than the cone thing

[@justsayin3647]

You could just stick it in a taper candle holder - like a candle. If you get ones with the plastic poles - you could cut to any size you like.

[@moonnight3847]

Wouldn't this work best if you add water in the container? The water will reflect the light alot better kinda like the bottle night lamp.

[@joelevi]

In my experience, water inside the jar is bad. That's what we went to such lengths to seal the inside of the jar from the elements in the video. On the inside, the water will evaporate and ulimately deteriorate the electronics.

[@moonnight3847]

how about unsoldering the LED extending it with some wires then inclosing it with a clear tube kinda the ones used in aquariums with a diameter large enought for the LED to fit, then puting some hotglue on the surface were you took out the lip so that the battery could make contact this to protect it from the water.i dont know its an idea.

[@Lady_of_Ishpeming]

Have you ever tried just leaving the reflector intact with the original plastic and placing the whole piece inside the glass or jar? Seems like it would add more of a reflective surface. Also, the jar with the hinged lid, you could try gluing some aluminum foil shiny-side up to the bottom. (Maybe even around the bulb itself- just a thought. I think I will try this for my Halloween party.) Thanks for showing this and great idea!! :)

[@joelevi]

Yes, you can leave the entire reflector assembly in place if you like the look - unless you're using a hinged lid, in which case the reflector assembly will keep the lid from opening/closing (which may or may not be a problem). Foil doesn't do that great, nor does a mirror on the bottom. What you're looking for is something to reflect the light out and away from the bottom. A cone or half-sphere at the bottom of the glass/jar work best for this purpose.

[@Lady_of_Ishpeming]

:) Didn't hurt to ask :) I have some old crytals lying around from a broken chandlier. Going to eperiment and see what happens. Cheers!

[@TheAnimeFreak8951]

why dont you just add foil or cling film at the bottom of the cup that should reflect your light ......

[@Grejam53]

Great vid. Next time try the dollar store.. I found the same components: $1 for a solar light + 2 plastic cups for a $1, adhesive $1. So build two lights for $4. Thanks for sharing

[@tillievision3845]

Wow that is so awesome. I just made a cloud lamp for my youngest son today. You should do a video on how to do that to.

[@to6ko9913]

where i can get the solar top part i live in bulgaria

[@christo930]

I would have made 1 light using 2 of the solar panels and either used both LEDs or installed a brighter single LED. The batteries in these things are like 100mA at 1.2V NiCAD cells that are VERY small, like 1/2 AA (an actual battery size). You can also pick these up at the dollar tree, along with the glasses and the glue. $4 grand total.

[@isaackarjala7916]

filling the jars with water, oil or glycerine should help refract and diffuse the light.

[@opeyshop]

last one i bought 97 each wally land and all i did use whole solar candle and remove stake work fine night light

[@larryvickimarzean4868]

Maybe a small circle of foil would work as a reflector

[@loveandriches5714]

why do all that just use the garden light

[@deborahbowe3738]

Can you use Liquid Nails?

[@joelevi]

Whatever you use, make sure it's exterior grade, and ideally high-temperature rated. Those glasses can get 150-F inside of them in a short amount of time.

[@moonshynegirl172]

Excellently presented and explained!

[@immrnoidall]

they work longer with a better battery. the ones i took out were only 600mAh. i put in 1600mAh.

[@baglady201]

maybe cut the bottom off a soda can for reflection? Its shiny and convex, not quite a cone but still the right shape.

[@joshbeekman5474]

Some aluminum tape for duct work in a cone with or without different color marbles would work

[@DavidSmith-cz9zv]

Dear Joe thank you for you video. Very inspiring . What I found is that the AA batteries you get in these are usually fake. They are no where near the 600 ma capacity that is printed on them. They don't feel right. Not heavy enough. If you have some good make batteries. Left over from your model airplane days for example. They make the lights work much better.

[@nicholefidel6560]

do you need to hold the top to make the light work?

[@joelevi]

+Nichole Isabelle Fidel only in the daylight. The unit I used has a photo-sensor on it. When it detects light, it turns off the LED. When it's day, it turns on the LED.

[@nicholefidel6560]

thank you so much :)

[@ThatGuysChannel4Whatever]

+Joe Levi There's no photo sensor in it, actually. It's much simpler than that. When the miniature solar panel is outputting voltage, then the light is off, when it's not outputting voltage, the light is on. So, when the circuit sees voltage coming from the solar panel, the battery is charging, when it's not, the battery is discharging. Also, instead of putting these things in glasses, why not just attach a base to the light?

[@joelevi]

Scott Berkey​ my lights did have photo cells, but you're right that some circuits use the voltage of the solar panel itself as the "light sensor".

[@vincentmercado]

Is the light water proof?

[@joelevi]

Weatherproof = yes. Waterproof = no.

[@blockthisuser]

what is this video about???

[@lexindigital]

Hey Joe, more handy hands vids? ^^ Always fun to do such projects. Thumbs up mate.

[@Checkthisup]

I found those at the Dollar Tree store for only a buck. Thank you for sharing :)

[@nancyrodriguez5150]

Where did you get the glass lanterns?

[@joelevi]

I got the mason jars at a local craft store called Michael's.

[@joelevi]

IKEA has different kinds that I've had success with, too.

[@drex6476]

What was the point of dismantling the first one? Just remove the stick and you will have the same result!

[@ramon3300]

Cool idea. Thank you.

[@JohnFleshman]

I reused a empty Starbucks frappuccino bottle to make one of these the other day during a time with no electricity. and now I find this video. lol. solar candle is a better description in my opinion but a damned useful idea nun the less.

[@tonytony6945]

you should just put aluminum foil in the bottom or just figure out a good position to fit a mirror in the bottom.

[@amethyst777]

why not just use them the way they come? I don't get it...?

[@drgnarm]

Because the original light has a spike on it that goes in the ground so you can use it outside? And he wants to use this inside? And also make it "original"?

[@joelevi]

You can use them the way they come by placing the spike into a block of floral foam, a jar of beans/rocks/rice, etc. but they're not weatherproof, and that solution wouldn't be appropriate for young children.

[@2r3notgoodas1]

OK trick! but I wouldn't call it "Sun in a Jar".

[@lm2193]

ye, take out a pre-made solar light and put in a plastic cup = sun in a jar. fyi these light don't last more than an hour after the sun goes out. tat means by 7pm or 6pm, u will be left with the moon light in a cup.

[@rathirajan666]

genius using the post. excellent tutorial

[@opeyshop]

did you know that u could change color of led and coollllllll

[@SwtIslandGurl808]

Lol I thought you were describing my kids :D. Great video!

[@PetalsAtl]

Love this ! can you please show how to make them hang from a tree.

[@NodePoint]

Awesome Joe!, this is really useful :D

[@ma.mercedesracaza9278]

Thanks for the idea. I'll make one to keep my stairway lighted.

[@peter072888]

Idea put foil on the bottom of the jar it at the same way friendly FYI lol :)

[@tomthumb5028]

One word......."COOL"!

[@v10moped]

or, you can sprinkle some baby powder on the inner surface to get the softer, diffused light.

[@shijokingo7]

Great project, will give it a try, thanks for sharing :)

[@rchambers5488]

Great idea!!

[@trishbutterworth6251]

love it thank you will be making them for my step grandson as he is scared of the dark

[@Myreply59]

Place aluminum foil in the bottom and it will reflect a lot of light.

[@maryhill2346]

Joseph Ricca me too

[@mommahen5749]

I suppose one could cut a circle of tin foil and glue that to the bottom too.

[@Skelosteve]

Great idea

[@Ev3nt1d3]

Don't mean to be funny but... Could you not flick the light switch on?

[@joelevi]

Not when the power is out, or if you're camping, or if you just have a child who wants a nightlight to sleep by.

[@wandajanetrusett]

Very good idea sun in a jar

[@immrnoidall]

or .get $5 of thin wire,and leave the solar panel outside, and the light inside.

[@MNZGA57]

I thought this was hilarious. Why dont you just take the original solar light inside, and save yourself all the messing around? Coz youre still going to need to put it outside in the sunshine to recharge it........ And, if you take the stem off the solar light, then you can just shove the solar top piece into a jar that fits it...but why even this, when you can get a $2.99 LED light, and just press it. This is surely a joke, right?

[@ViralHattrix]

I thought a really bright sun in a jar.

[@nathanread33]

well done your basiclly making a bigger garden lamp hardley bright

[@joelevi]

You'd be surprised how much utility you can get out of that little light. Not enough to light a room, but enough to see where you're going and even to play cards by.

[@crazybob1954mo]

OK.... OR One might just remove the post, glue the light to an old CD. Then, Use that glass to enjoy a bit of wine or other "Devilishly Desired" drink. OR You (We) could share the experience with your (Our) kids while they are drinking their "Devilishly Desired" drink ( Fruit Juice) from the "Rescued" glass. The CD 'may' serve as somewhat of a reflector aswell. Most Kind Regards, Bob

[@joelevi]

[@reymed1670]

Where the sun ???

[@JamVillaresco536]

Nice..

[@mertinzlo]

I have the same lantern like you, that with stars

[@charlieredeemed]

I use these as Nightlight's. They only cost one dollar at the Dollar Store, now.

[@joycemccarthy5732]

I have got such a great idea for this! I will take a video and share with you what I did with it! I go to a Costume Ball each year in Steampunk and we are fairy hunters! this is perfect for my needs! Love your idea!

[@zbetllet]

that was good but I think you taked too much time to explain to us .. also in my country (morocco) we don't have that stuff ...

[@samsen3965]

The problem with these is that cheap dollar store solar lights that won't last longer than a month (If lucky) or usually a much shorter time. Better to invest in better, more reputable sources.

[@joelevi]

I certainly appreciate when you're going with that! Here are some things to consider: 3/25/2022: This video is now almost a decade old! Yikes! The Solar Jars that I made way back then are still in use today, and only 1/2 of them have needed to have their battery replaced with a new rechargable cell - the others are still rocking the original, cheap cells. They still work, though they don't necessarily give off light as long as they did while they were new. This is partially due to the age of the solar cells. Regardless, I'm impressed at their longevity. However, the dollar store lights I bought for this project 10 years ago may be higher quality than those that you can buy today, so there's that possibility, too. Lastly, as cheap as they are, you could buy a bunch, and when one fails, swap it. You could likely get a dozen cheap ones for the same price as one higher quality one, and have backups. Thanks for the comment and the thoughts, Sam!

[@harrystevens3885]

WOW light reflects off the mirror............

[@Purple431]

I love this! :D