Making a solar powered mailbox light

Converting an inexpensive solar spotlight into a light for the mailbox.
The switches I used: amzn.to/2Gv2cyG (affiliate link)
Feel free to ask questions in the comments.

[@speedybob9119]

Lmao I just came here from the mosquito trap video

[@uttpcomit4920]

Same

[@supplier817]

Same

[@DavinDesborough]

I welcome all! :-)

[@iamnotescanor933]

@@DavinDesborough sup

[@XNK--C]

Me too

[@larryvincent2493]

This is really great. I want something not-at-all similar, in that I need downcast lights on either side of my mailbox *post* to illuminate the address numbers at night. If I just bought (e.g.) two solar-powered deck lights, the 'leeward' light would never see sunshine and never charge. I need a single solar panel on the back of the mailbox, wired to two lights. This video suggests that I can likely tinker-toy something together to do the job if I can track down some suitable raw materials. Thanks very much for walking through your process.

[@DavinDesborough]

Yes, most of these lights (in my experience) are just screwed together and the circuity is simple. A bit of wire and creativity will let you relocate components and make them into what you need. Have fun!

[@Markerry]

Tbh I enjoy this type of content more then gaming

[@DavinDesborough]

Good, because I gave up gamming time to make it. :-) Thanks for watching!

[@donaldkain5132]

I think all you had to do was figure out where you wanted the solar panel mounted and the light. After you figured that out,figure where you are going to mount the switch. Now all you have to do is cut one of the wires going to the led and series the normally open contacts of the switch in series with the two cut ends of the wire you cut going to the led. Same result.Does not interfere with charging of the solar panel. Less complicated,just my thought.Still did a great job.

[@DavinDesborough]

One additional thing, I wanted it to light up even it if was light outside so that it would help in the early evening. Otherwise, yeah, what you said would have been fine. Thanks for the compliment and for watching and commenting!

[@brettmcnasty1562]

Man KZbin ain’t doing this guy justice this is quality content!!!

[@DavinDesborough]

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

[@agentray]

Omg this is awesome

[@DavinDesborough]

Thank you! Give it a shot. It is easy and you can make it as elaborate as you want!

[@zekethefreak4]

I like these kinds of videos

[@DavinDesborough]

I'll keep making them as new ideas arrise.

[@saynotowoke.8492]

*At **24:36** **_"That's all there is to it!"_** I have a good friend who loves doing all this kind of stuff. But to my mind, there's soooooo much wasted time and fiddling with stuff, compared to just buying a light that'll do the job perfectly, straight out of the box. Not to mention that it would be a damn sight cheaper than messing about like this. The switch used here, when bought from Amazon, comes in a set of 12... which costs considerably more than the $6 spent on the solar light he's mutilating. Then there's the brackets, the solder, the soldering gun and flux (if you don't happen to have one lying about the house?) A multimeter, and so the list goes on.* *Alternatively of course, you could just sit at your breakfast table, tap a few buttons, and order a 12 LED, USB rechargeable, motion sensor light, complete with magnetic strip, which would only light up when you opened your mail box, then switch off after 20 seconds automatically... for $6.99. It takes around 10 seconds from opening the box, to having it in place and working!*

[@DavinDesborough]

And where is the fun in that? Yes, if you don't have the tools, it makes little sense to have to buy them for a project like this. However, if you enjoy working on things and have the tools, then this is a nice project for a rainy day. Also, my little light is going to cost less over time than a motion sensing light. A motion sensing light will need the batteries replaced at regular intervals. I shouldn't need to do anything to mine for years. If you keep doing things like this, you will build the confidence to try to tackle more complex things that will actually save you money. Either through building something for substantially less, or repairing something that otherwise would have gone to the dump or cost a lot to fix at a repair center. In any event, it all comes done to what you like to do in life. You probably have some other activity you like to do instead of this type of stuff, and that is fine. To each their own!

[@saynotowoke.8492]

@@DavinDesborough Thanks for your courteous reply Davin. I must confess, although I did mean what I said about just going out and buying a light designed for the job instead, I worded it with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, so I'm glad you took it as meant. I don't know about it being a _"...nice project for a rainy day,"_ it would be a penance for a rainy day for me personally! I'm absolutely *hopeless* at little DIY jobs around the home. I was cursed, growing up as I did, with hands like garden spades, and fingers which wouldn't look out of place on the hands of a mature silver-back gorilla. I can hardly pick up a screw from a workbench, let alone do anything with it. I promise it's no exaggeration that we have to get a handyman in to change a fuse, wire a plug, or glue more than two pieces of wood together. And so joking aside, in truth I'm full of envy and admiration for men like you, and electricians, and car mechanics etc. That said, I've had 37 novels published thusfar, and can come up with lyrics for a new song at the drop of a hat, when asked. So I guess it all evens out in the end. As you rightly say, to each their own. Good luck and contentment in all your future projects, be they major or minor. I wish you well my friend.

[@DavinDesborough]

@@saynotowoke.8492 I have always admired authors, so we have a mutual admiration society going on here. No offense taken and keep on writing!

[@saynotowoke.8492]

@@DavinDesborough Hi again Davin. If you don't mind me asking - and feel free not to answer if you so wish... but what do you do employment-wise? I'm just curious that if these are the sort of things you enjoy as a practical hobby on _high days and holidays,_ what do you actually do to earn a crust for 40 hours a week? Cheers again.

[@DavinDesborough]

@@saynotowoke.8492 I work at a software company. I used to be a developer but am a manager these days. Projects like this and the things in my other videos satisfy the creative needs I have. These videos are doubly satisfying as I get to do something, and produce a video. Bonus when I get comments on the videos that I have helped someone learn something or save some money by fixing something themselves. Be it in code or hardware, I like to create things and tinker. A return question if you don't mind me asking. What are some of the books you have published?

[@AydenC]

Your pretty good with your hands 😌

[@DavinDesborough]

Thanks 😅

[@jmonster50]

Fuckin nice mate, please keep it up.

[@DavinDesborough]

Thanks!

[@Rumeel12708]

I want to do this but to the sides of the mail box to illuminate the numbers and the front to view the mail at night. The mail box has an outer and inner shell which I can fit the LED panel and the numbers are cut out. The mail box is from Deus Modern Waldo XL, they do sell a light upgrade kit but I would need a power source which I don't want to run a power all the way to the front gate. Unless this set up can power it.

[@DavinDesborough]

Well, you could certainly do something with solar for this. It comes down to how bright you want it and if you want dusk to dawn operation. If you want to use their 12v light kit, you'd just need a small 12v battery and a 12v solar charger like this: amzn.to/3qpuIF6 (Amazon affiliate link) as a basic setup. You'd probably also want a photosensor too: amzn.to/3mvyOKI (Amazon affiliate link)

[@MrFreakyfred70]

Great Video... what gauge wiring do you use?

[@DavinDesborough]

Honestly, I am not sure. The wire is not marked with a gauge. It is just thin, solid wire. An LED and solar panel will not push much current. What I used was thicker than what was in there. :-) Thanks for the compliment!

[@chezkiackerman9704]

which garden light did you use for this? So many of them are motion based.

[@DavinDesborough]

It was one of the no-name lights at Walmart. In other words, not the Better Homes & Gardens version. The important part for me was the separate battery box, which makes for easy reuse of the light in other ways. I think most spotlight versions like this are going to be dusk-to-dawn with no motion sensing.

[@jbreezy3146]

Q. using the same solar unit can you series two 3000mah lithium in a series and use the same solar panel and circuit for all night long led mailbox number ?

[@DavinDesborough]

You would want to put them in parallel to effectively make a bigger battery at the same voltage. Putting them in series would increase the voltage. But yes, you could increase battery capacity and omit the switch for it to just work like a normal solar light that lasts longer.

[@avocadoisdead3218]

idk but i think you deserve more subs and views than this

[@DavinDesborough]

So do I! :-) Thanks for the complement.

[@SneedsterSpeedster]

It's been a while, where have you been?

[@DavinDesborough]

Too much to do, too little time. I have ideas for some more videos, just need time to make them. Thanks for watching!

[@Antonio00213]

Only 2 comments wow

[@DavinDesborough]

Thanks for making it 3. :-)