Patio Lighting

I have no fear of using any 120V lights or whatever outside, especially if they are outdoor rated. When using 120v stuff, I usually use a good exterior extension plugged into the 20a outlet on most power stands. Ihat keeps it all from using the rig wiring and plugs, and has separate circuit breakers grounds. For outside lights, we have a exterior remote control switch made for outdoor Christmas lighting. Lets us turn lights off from inside to keep from annoying neighbors at night, and back on if we need to look around during the night without going outside.

Just be sure to keep the ends of your power cord where they won't be in a puddle if it rains, and I try to shelter my outlets a bit if possible.

As we have a dog that needs to walked before bedtime, I have an aluminum clamp worklight that I usually clamp where it will not shine into others campsites if possible. It is bright, and lights a lot of area, so it is not used very much, only if needed. Usually clamped onto the latter at rear of MH.

OK, I looked at them and the bucket lights are kewl.

I especially like the ability to make signs using paint or Cricut vinyl.

But I'd still have to make a pole or hanger or holder.
And, the 120V scares me so I'd have to convert to a 12 volt lamp.

Y'all have got me thinking . $ hmmm / * buzz ... clink ...

Wow! What a bunch of creative ideas!

I'm going to take a closer look at the "bucket lights".

I'm a bit nervous of 120v things and things I can't just place and forget. Of course all the 120v ideas could be adapted to 12 volt - except for connecting appliances ;) - by replacing the sockets/lamps.

I hadn't thought of using my shop floods - they're so "industrial" :)

So, aside from the shop floods and regular floor lamps, there aren't any commercial, inexpensive, products?

This oughta do it;

The ones I like are made with a square metal exterior junction box. 2 exterior plugs for things like electric skillets or such. A dimmer switch for the lamp. A short section of rigid conduit out the top, up to a socket for a bulb. Some type of lampshade, some made from plastic flower pots. A long exterior cord (16G if possible) to plug into power at the power post. Sorry, no pictures, but a c-clamp was welded to the box so it could be clamped on the edge of a picnic table. Some of out club members made several of these a number of years ago, but the pots they used for shades are no longer available.

Presumably you only sit out there in nice weather...no need for a special "outdoor" fixture. Any tabletop/floor lamp would do as long as you don't leave it where it's going to get wet.

You could just wear a headlamp.

We have seen a lot of homemade lights, from a simple bucket to pole lights, and prices from less than $5 up. I like ones made from plastic flower pots, but haven't found a pot that I like yet. Right now we have a japanese lantern made from silk that has held up well for several years. But, it is getting to the replacement point.

We made a pole light out of PVC pipe. You can google PVC pole light. We painted it black and it works great on the patio.

Ever consider making or buying a bucket light.

Click here if you want to buy one.

Click here if you want to make your own.