I ran across this on instructables and it's quite brilliant, no pun intended. The LED strips are very inexpensive and power efficient. You can power them from used PC switching power supplies or directly from solar power as they are 12 VDC. I can see a lot of applications outside of garages and workshops. Inexpensive Garage Lights From LED Strips: 6 Steps (with Pictures)
They are probably about the same price as florescent tubes if you get them from the big box store. If you get the LED strips in rolls off ebay or amazon and get the power supply out of the trash I bet they would he cheaper, use less power for the same amount of light and you would never have to replace an evil Mercury filled tube.
The strips would need to be able to run unregulated power because a "12v solar panel" will typically make between 18v to 22v.
Love LED, fairly cool, very efficient, run on 12 volts so no conversions needed from batteries. getting cheaper all the time, can pick and chose colors and appearances, work in colder rooms, many different styles available, just wish I knew how resistant it was to EMP.
Single chip VDC regulators are out there fairly inexpensively at Mouser and Digikey. EDIT: Make that Amazon: Amazon.com: 12 VDC voltage regulator
Might be worth it to keep several spools in an EMP proof enclosure. They are cheap enough that it wouldn't be a bad investment.
Do you think they would work okay in a gun safe? Appears that you could staple or glue them to the inside... I'm getting tired of having to fish around for a flashlight every time I get in there. EDIT: Looking at some on Amazon now...
That's why I keep spares in protection . So far as a gun safe , Harbor freight has motion sensor lights ($9.) that are battery powered perfect for any where you need light . I put them every where but the bed room. Those that are used heaviest, are pared 12 volt, series wired in my system , other wise I don't mind the AA battery consumption that usually lasts several months or more depending on use. I have other LEDs in light fixtures I've run on 12 volts. and take old burnt out incandescent bulbs and modify them .
Bought a travel trailer about three years ago. First thing I did, because it was going to be powered on solar at the BOL, was to replace every incandescent light bulb with LED towers. Measuring current draw of both, I figured that about 5 LED towers (bayonet style base-direct plug in replacement on a 12 volt system) could be illuminated on the amount of current that it takes to illuminate one incandescent bulb. Never regretted the decision even though they were a little more expensive.
Exactly - without the built in rectifiers used in the AC replacement bulbs you can see just how much more efficient the LED truly is.
Auto parts store carry strip LED lights, and many have a test battery. They are 12v already and most have a great 3M adhesive backing. I have these on everything, including the trailer brake and tail lights of my little utility trailer. They are great in the top of a cooler box, gun safe, tool box or whatever. The shorter ones run just fine on a 9v battery as well. Here is a link to some on Amazon for $0.799 each. Amazon.com: YITAMOTOR 10x 12V Car Motorcycle 30CM 15SMD LED White Waterproof Flexible Light Strip: Automotive