Generator for lighting stable with no field electricity?

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Groom Mum

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I've been looking at generators for lighting on those dark winter nights.

Anyone else use a generator?
I need something that causes minimum DIY !!
Also what type of lighting does anyone use who uses a generator?
I need something fairly bright as I will be lighting two 12x 12 stables in a very dark field.
thanks
 
Generators are terribly popular with thieves, and the smaller ones are pretty thirsty, think regular feeding with smelly petrol from a 5 litre can.

Might be easier to buy a few rechargeable lanterns.....try camping and caravaning shops. Or indeed 12V lighting and a couple of batteries, one to work one to re-charge.

If you are set on a genny, Machine Mart has a good choice.
 
Or hook your vehicle up and use that when you are there - then you can drive it away and there's nothing to be nicked.
 
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I have solar lights in my stable amd feed room. They are the stable solar light or something like that and are around £35 each. They are remote control and after speaking to the company that makes them you can also take them home if need be and charge them by mains with a charger or cigarette charger in your car.
 
I have a portable Honda, I think it might be the 10i but without looking I'm not totally sure, cost about £900 a few years ago and it's been an absolute godsend.

It's really easy to carry around, easy to start and is not at all thirsty. I've had it running clippers for over 3 hours before and it hasn't needed refuelling during that time - obviously the clippers weren't running constantly but the genny was!

It powers lights for 2 12x12 stables, a 10x10 stable, a 10x4 tackroom plus an outside light and it can power all these at once. When my horses were kept in overnight I used to muck out & do the 'chores' so it would be running all the interior lights for over an hour in the morning and at least half an hour in the evening and I probably used to fill it maybe twice a week. All my interior lights are on the same switch so all 4 are on together although as the outside one is on a separate switch I do tend to have either inside or outside lights on but the genny is capable of powering all 5 together if needed. I'm useless at this sort of thing but I have one of those small gerry cans you keep emergency fuel for the car in & it uses about a third of that to fill, maybe slightly more.

The only downside is it won't power a kettle!!
 
We have a Honda. Its great. Powers 5 stables, tack room, sheds, large barn and outside lights. I was so thankful when I had an emergency call out in October in middle night for colic.
 
What about looking at the thread about getting lighting to stables via leisure batteries? It was a sticky at the top but seems to have disappeared.
 
I have a solar panel running to two leisure batteries running 13 lights, it was fitted by an electrician and cost about £400 with a (vectron blue panel). Other side of the yard I have a honda 20i generator running strip lights and flood lights in a barn and over an arena that cost about £1100 but gives some thing they called clean power and was suitable to run the scanning machine for the vet.
 
Having had to use a noisy/fumy generator, I now have solar lights and would definitely not go back to a generator. Bought a complete kit from The Solar Centre, online, and it's been great.
 
We've had two generators and our portable lights nicked over the years from our yard. I do everything using a head torch now! The hay store has small lights powered by a solar battery from Maplins. All cheap and cheerful but I manage to do everything I need to with no problems!
 
I've got 6 of the lights from bedazzled that milmo refers to running off the rechargeable torch. They are fab. Light up the 15x17 enclosed section of my barn really well. I'd not even consider a generator just for lighting. Get the bedazzled kit, easier, far far cheaper and an absolute doddle to set up :-) The torch is on sale at chain reaction cycles at the moment, just search for mobi power pack. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...52446906933933.1073741831.676953932&source=43
 
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I got a set of the Bedazzled lights for Christmas! We have one in each stable, one in the washroom and one in the feed/tack room, mounted from the ceiling, about 9 foot up. They work brilliantly, and the torch is fab. I walk up there in the mornings with it, plug it in, leave it there until the evening, and recharge when I get home. So much more convenient than having to start a generator, and get fuel for it. Much quieter too!
 
Ali2 said:
I've got 6 of the lights from bedazzled that milmo refers to running off the rechargeable torch. They are fab. Light up the 15x17 enclosed section of my barn really well. I'd not even consider a generator just for lighting. Get the bedazzled kit, easier, far far cheaper and an absolute doddle to set up :-) The torch is on sale at chain reaction cycles at the moment, just search for mobi power pack. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...52446906933933.1073741831.676953932&source=43
Click to expand...

Another vote for the stable lights from Bedazzled. Have had them for 4 years and they are brilliant.
 
I've always had a portable generator that I can put on the back of a quad. Not only will it power your stable lighting but can be taken down the field to power hand tools for those fence repairs. I wouldn't be without one. Just be sure to put some petrol preserver in the fuel from time to time to stop the carburettor gunking up.

The trouble with "temporary" lighting is that I can predict exactly when the battery will fail. It will be when I've a pony in the stable in need of urgent survey and the vet is about to make the first incision….Sod's Law applies!
 
I use a petrol generator that I have safely locked in a concreted down site safe tool box. It's easy to start and powers 40w lights in 5 stables and 2 50w yard lights. I do tend to use my head torch for most nights but it's invaluable to have the power available when I need it. I have the LED spotlights which are really bright.
 
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