# LED Lighting / Battery Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353 "2014-07-17T12:01:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/1 "2014-07-17T12:01:39Z")
I wonder if we have any LED / Battery experts here… I want to put a couple of small lights in my shed. These will be rarely used, only for the rare occasion when I need to start the snowblower in the dark or put something away after the sun goes down. Probably 10 times per year for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Since the shed is a good distance from the house, what I would like to do is either buy or make a couple of small LED lights. Perfect might be something like one of those camping lanterns. My real question is, what sort of battery is going to have the best standby life? I was thinking about wiring up some 12v LEDs to a couple of those 6v lantern batteries, on the assumption that those would have a long shelf life between uses. But I don’t know if that’s actually the case. For that matter, what kind of a shelf life would I expect from something running on D-cells? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/2 "2014-07-17T12:21:36Z")
There are [solar powered security lights](http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_alternative-renewable-energy+solar-lighting) with battery that you can buy. Any lead acid battery should work for your needs. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/3 "2014-07-17T12:25:03Z")
Most batteries have pretty good room-temperature shelf life these days, [although it appears alkaline batteries are among the best (PDF).](http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/non-rechargeable_FAQ.pdf) As the PDF says, elevated temps will shorten battery life, so if your shed gets hot in the summer months, you probably won’t get 5 years of life out of batteries kept there. After that, it’s just a question of brightness and capacity (run time). Unless you’re looking for an electronics hobby project, I’d just buy a manufactured LED lamp. For convenience, pick one with lots of lumens that runs on D-cell batteries. The shelf life for big batteries will be the same as smaller batteries, but it will provide you with more lights-on time. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/4 "2014-07-17T13:34:24Z")
I’m with Machine Elf, get a manufactured light, like an LED lantern that takes D cell batteries. I used a Coleman version for Hurricane Sandy and got a weeks worth of light out of one set of batteries, and they’re still going today. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/5 "2014-07-17T17:13:00Z")
get a good combo LED headlamp with a 1W LED. wear that out there it will fill in for the low quality lighting you might have there. there are LED trouble lights with internal rechargeable batteries, or use rechargeable batteries in the battery holder. i have one where the 3 banks of LEDs can be swiveled for 360 illumination or directed, hangs or stands upright. alkaline batteries are good. if you have freezing cold and want to leave it out there then lithium batteries work best, i find these in a 9V battery so you would need a light that accepted these. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/6 "2014-07-17T18:21:59Z")
Lithium primary batteries have the best standby life. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/7 "2014-07-17T19:57:38Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Lithium primary batteries have the best standby life. And if they discharge are ruined forever. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/8 "2014-07-17T20:06:33Z")
The simplest way to do it is use one of [these](https://www.instabulb.com/) portable lights with a mounting bracket and carry the light with you from the house. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/9 "2014-07-17T20:15:07Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > And if they discharge are ruined forever. Naturally, since they are not rechargeable. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/10 "2014-07-17T20:22:11Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Naturally, since they are not rechargeable. thought you were referring to rechargeable. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/11 "2014-07-18T15:37:14Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > There are [solar powered security lights](http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_alternative-renewable-energy+solar-lighting) with battery that you can buy. Any lead acid battery should work for your needs. This. It’s what I use. I’ve needed to replace the 4 AA rechargeable batteries after 3 years, but otherwise it works great in my backyard shed. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/12 "2014-07-18T16:30:53Z")
What about the effect of low temps on batteries? The OP is clearly in the snowbelt. I had LiOn phone batteries fail after a year or two in my garage, which rarely got below freezing. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/13 "2014-07-18T16:45:57Z")
i use lithium primary batteries in an outside weather sensor through freezing winters. good for many years in that application. alkaline batteries work in the cold but will stop well before lithium or if low. i would take a warm headlamp with me with alkaline batteries. i would also take a warm LED trouble light (about the size of a 4 D cell flashlight) out. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/14 "2014-07-19T05:50:02Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > What about the effect of low temps on batteries? The OP is clearly in the snowbelt. > > I had LiOn phone batteries fail after a year or two in my garage, which rarely got below freezing. either use a solar powered system that keeps the battery charged or bring the light with you from the warm house. It cost between $50 and $150 for a solar charging system or $10 to $20 for a portable system that requires the user to monitor battery life. If option B is used then a set of good rechargeable batteries works well. Keep them in or near a charging station. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/15 "2014-07-19T12:18:04Z")
Why reinvent the wheel. There are many low cost LED battery lights made exactly for what you want already. And although you will need to change the batteries, the cost is way lower then the time and cost of your ideal system. Although under the circumstances you mention I would consider using a cheap LED light from the dollar store for the instant quick light combined with a dual mantel propane camping lantern with spark ignition instant on and a full 'warm ’ brightness (as long as the fire risk of the location was minimal). ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-lighting-battery-question/693353/16 "2014-07-19T13:28:29Z")
I use both LED’s and 12 v incandescent lights at my hunting shack. both work well for me and the reason is i have timer switches on everything. I also have a couple solar panels to keep my lead acid battery charged. I do like the LED’s for night lights because they can run on so little power. [Spring wound timer](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Woods-Ind-59718125V-Spring-Wound-Timer-ALM-60M-SPRING-TIMER-/111388938313?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ef4c5049) I have a 12 hour timer for the main and i put a stop on it so it will not rotate to the hold position. I put my light switches for the bedrooms up high thinking the children wouldn’t be turning those lights on and ON all the time but that just didn’t work. My light bulbs are plugged into[ceiling mounted wall receptacle’s](http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTM1MFgxMzUw/z/404AAOSwEK9Tvc0K/$_12.JPG)so i just pull the light bulbs and put them away when necessary.