EL without mains supply.

[nearlythere]

Situation- Small offshore island owned by NT. Leased to ornathologist club which has constructed accommodation for club membership use and is used for occasional overnight use. Currently has largish dorm which is being subdivided into three smaller dorms. No electricity other than generator but they have gone greenish and installed solar panels to keep two vehicles batteries charged up for some low voltage lighting.  
Use of strategically placed torches for EL is my thought at this time but they are applying for a grant to upgrade building and I expect it to be conditional on facilities for the disabled. Still will have no mains elect.

I would consider it appropriate to installed a proper EL in the disabled WC rather than a torch and was wondering if anyone has even come across one that could be kept charged from a solar panel supply.

Or maybe another idea?

Not sure at this time if lighting voltage is 12 or 24. If 12 maybe use one battery supply as a backup to the other?

[kurnal]

Lots of LED based primary and  emergency lighting units are on the market with very low power requirements ideal for your setting.

[nearlythere]

Lots of LED based primary and  emergency lighting units are on the market with very low power requirements ideal for your setting.

Thanks K. Any particular suggestions?

[kurnal]

Any of the major manufacturers and suppliers websites will offer you a wealth of information. Heres a rather out of date page from wiki, LEDs have become even more efficient over the last two years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED_lamp

[wee brian]

on some trains they have the chemical light-sticks in emergency wall mounts. Maybe worth a punt on the web to see if you could get them.

Not brilliant, but will always be rady for use and cant be borrowed for a bit of late night twitching.

[Bill J]

The "emergency" part of an emergency light, is only intended to operate when the mains is removed! If you have no mains electricity, what is actually going to trigger the light to operate?

Could (and I am ready to accept I may be wrong), one of these type of things do the job, they are only going to illuminate when a person in the area is moving, so should be charged up and ready to go most of the time?

http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/shop/solar-bulkhead-pir-light-stp05bh.htm

Bill

[nearlythere]

The "emergency" part of an emergency light, is only intended to operate when the mains is removed! If you have no mains electricity, what is actually going to trigger the light to operate?

Could (and I am ready to accept I may be wrong), one of these type of things do the job, they are only going to illuminate when a person in the area is moving, so should be charged up and ready to go most of the time?

http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/shop/solar-bulkhead-pir-light-stp05bh.htm

Bill

Thanks Bill. Worth looking at.