installing a skylight

[Eric VVilkinson]

I saw a neat idea where you take an empty soda bottle, 2L or smaller, fill it with water and then cut a hole for it in the roof. Apparently the water scatters the sunlight very effectively so that your hexayurt is not dark during the day.

Here's a video that shows them in use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zMAWztZ6TI

Wanted to try it out, but before I start cutting holes in my roof had a couple questions in case anyone on here has tried it before:

1. Does it let in a lot of heat?

2. Would the weight of 2L of water be ok for the roof?

3. Does it provide a lot of light?

Thanks for any info,

Eric

[Cody Firestone]

you want to put some bleach in the water also, it clarifies it.  not that you would have algae growth in a short period of time, but... cant hurt!

you could also used distilled water.  altho not sterile, tap water will grow stuff pretty fast, and it has a light green tint to it.

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[Jeremy Shaw]

No Idea. I can't find a picture/video at the moment, but I have seen people do a similar thing, but using those solar garden lights (with the stake part removed) instead. That allows you to get light at night too..

- jeremy

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[Cody Firestone]

not trying to plug or sell anything in particular, but i've used these for a long time.  They have a low glow when noone is around, then they brighten to full brightness when you walk up.

http://www.harborfreight.com/36-led-solar-security-light-69644.html

We put one under our shade structure and it is awesome.  It basiclly turns the light on for you when you go in the hut at night, and provides a little low illumination for when you open the door so it;s not to glare - y.

Also, we have put a red gel over it, to give it color and keep it from messing with our night vision.

This is another system they have with a small 2.6 amphour battery, PLENTY for overnight.  you can also use it for 12 volt accessories, such as charging your ipod, etc.

http://www.harborfreight.com/39-watt-solar-power-system-68694.html

you may also want to look at this, a 12 volt light with fan.  a small panel outside to a battery would be great.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=shop&q=tent+fan&oq=tent+fan&gs_l=products-cc.3..0l4j0i5l6.1761.2850.0.3074.8.8.0.0.0.0.75.574.8.8.0...0.0...1ac.1.Mr8AVKIaIco

We use this one because you can hook up a 12 volt battery really easy, and it charges from a single 12v panel.  we made a little tent power system with a 3-way auto plug thing, and it rocks.

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/7278600837718479453?hl=en&q=tent+fan&oq=tent+fan&sa=X&ei=liHoUeu5O4jxiwLEr4DAAg&ved=0CH8Q8wIwBA

not sure, but wondering if you could put rechargeable batteries in their, someone know?

Finally, we have used one of these every year at BRC, they work GREAT!  people stand in front of it, it mists, a line forms, AWESOME!

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/8991341042934858673?hl=en&q=tent+fan&oq=tent+fan&sa=X&ei=vCHoUbLIEJGYigKSyoCYBA&ved=0CC4QrRI

It also helps keep the humidity up in the general area of your shade structure so it's not so hard on your nose / dry nose / bloody nose... etc

[lizbalfour]

Hi Eric,

What you want is this, I think:

http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-turn-a-2-liter-bottle-of-water-into-a-50-watt-lightbulb

It uses a mixture of bleach and water but, I believe, highly effective!

Good luck,

Liz

[CCCM]

Hi yurt people, 

FYI, IMHO you do NOT need a skylight if you use bi-filament tape.  Here is a photo from the inside of our yurt during the day.  The taped seams let in plenty of light without punching another hole in the roof for a skylight.  We had considered doing this also, but are glad we didn't, because there is no need for one.  

[Phil Dirt]

Cody has covered the options very well. Granted, the water bottle has some appeal for its recycling third-world simplicity, but my question is how much do you really need a light in your yurt? Are you planning to read novels in there? Unlikely. Mainly you will only be in your yurt to sleep, or visit, or rummage through your gear, in which case a cheap LED lantern will cover your lighting needs without the complications of how to hang a water bottle through the roof.

On Thursday, July 18, 2013 9:55:21 AM UTC-7, Eric VVilkinson wrote:

[Cody Firestone]

Thats a really kewl picture.  almost makes you think you need dark tape to filter out the light to sleep in the day!!  :-)

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[Percival du Chat Gris]

Greetings,

Why not just put a window in?  Using the recent research about the clear vinyl/glues, you could cut/tape a hole, seal it with the vinyl on the outside, and use the cut-out piece as a plug (hinged on the bottom side, so it doesn't get lost) for the times you want dark.  That way it will still pack flat, doesn't need installation on site, creates no moop, allows for dark or for light (as would the bottle), and you could put several of them in, depending on which exposure you wanted at any point in time.

As to the light-leakage, I often make a lip of aluminum tape one going each way on the inside or outside (or cover the bi-fil with it) to make it more dark.

Percival