LED lighting for power outages

[billcreller]

Seems like we get quite a few power outages on this particular part of the township grid, and I've been thinking about some small lights like LEDs that draw low power, to mount in certain places in the house.
   I have a generator of course, but don't like fumbling around until I get the gen running.  My gen is in a yard barn, which has electrical power, which is how the house is fed from the gen-set.  Even the yard barn could use some LED lights, to fool with the gen set during power failures.
Any ideas about this?  I know zero about LEDs.
  Currently, I'm using 12 volt Emergency Locator batteries that I removed from airplanes, the are out of date.
They work OK, for a while, on small 12 volt automotive lamps.

[EL34]

I would probably use something like the LED I used for my CNC machine lights
They are high output, but only run about 20-30 milliamps each

I have used these LED's for a couple projects with good success
Cheap - You get 25 of them for $2.60 and free shipping.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1106

For 12 volts I would put 3 or 4 in series to see how that looks
You could just drill small round holes in some material, even wood, and glue in the LED's
You would need one current limiting resistor, a double wire and some sort of plug

I use the Andeson powerpole connectors and love them
I have a page with info on those here
http://www.el34world.com/Misc/bike/BikesLights27.htm

[EL34]

Maybe I should stock those high output LED's
I have recomended using them to several people so far

It would be a lot easier if I had them in stock

Actually, I think I still have 10 to 15 left after my projects
I'll add them to my catalog

[billcreller]

Thanks Doug.  Sounds like something I could use.

[PRR]

LEDs are fine for lighting a few square feet.

There's much stronger ones, but the price is still YOW! so you probably should wait a year or three; else you will feel foolish when the price falls.

If you have batteries, look at camping lanterns. The little ones are LED but for lighting a large campground (or dark shed) they have fluorescents which are really very efficient and start in larger size/output than affordable LEDs.

But sure; get a few of Doug's brite LEDs and try them, there's sure to be a use.

[EL34]

I'mm gonna add them to the catalog soon
I am testing them on the bench right now trying to determine what the spec's are
The source does not provide any spec's

So far I am guessing 3.6 volts at a max of 30ma is a good guess

[EL34]

Bill, I set up a new post on the high putput LED's
http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=10179.new#new

I might set myself up some of these also for emergencies.
They would be quite easy on the batteries