Posted on 09/05/2013 9:11:08 AM PDT by PrayAndVoteConservesInLibsOut
Alfredo Moser's invention is lighting up the world. In 2002, the Brazilian mechanic had a light-bulb moment and came up with a way of illuminating his house during the day without electricity - using nothing more than plastic bottles filled with water and a tiny bit of bleach.
In the last two years his innovation has spread throughout the world. It is expected to be in one million homes by early next year.
So how does it work? Simple refraction of sunlight, explains Moser, as he fills an empty two-litre plastic bottle.
"Add two capfuls of bleach to protect the water so it doesn't turn green [with algae]. The cleaner the bottle, the better," he adds.
Wrapping his face in a cloth he makes a hole in a roof tile with a drill. Then, from the bottom upwards, he pushes the bottle into the newly-made hole.
"You fix the bottle in with polyester resin. Even when it rains, the roof never leaks - not one drop."
The lamps work best with a black cap - a film case can also be used "An engineer came and measured the light," he says. "It depends on how strong the sun is but it's more or less 40 to 60 watts," he says.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Also, how well does this work in the winter when they freeze? How well does it insulate?
.........Probably not an issue in the slums of India, African huts or tin shacks of Haiti.
And I doubt they last very long before leaking starts
.........Their shacks probably already leak.
Also, what if you don’t have cathedral ceilings for the “water filled skylight”?
........Most shacks in these areas do have “cathedral ceilings”.
Probably not the best idea for 90% of Americans, although I just might try this out in my shed, which I never did get around to wiring for electric.
I agree with you ansel12.
Thanks for this info. Also, to those interested, the article explains it this way:
“Refraction is the bending of light, which is caused by a change in its speed.
The speed of light is determined by the density of the substance through which it passes.
So refraction occurs when light passes from one substance to another with a different density - eg from air to water
In the case of the “Moser lamp”, sunlight is bent by the bottle of water and spread around the room.
Thanks for posting everyone.
No worries on that score.
Please reference post #26 for my contextual opinion recantation. I capitulate that I missed the point of the innovation with respect to the potential benefactors.
(I will wear this douche bag on my head for the rest of the day as punishment)
settlers did this in the USA west.
everything old is new again.
glad i’m not the only one to make that connection...but i bet the bottles run low on water after a while... what then? do you have to go up[ on the roof periodically to refill them?
NOT if you look at the pictures in post 10.
This sounds to me like it work a lot like those little, round skylights that they sell. A lot more light enters the room than just the diameter of the hole because there are reflectors inside the shaft that enhance the light.
You're not familiar with the first law of thermodynamics are you?
Settlers in the west had clear plastic 2-litre bottles? ;o)
Yes, cover them with a bucket.
Many Americans would be surprised to learn how many Southern California ceilings are the roof, no attic, no insulation, no second layer of any kind.
Even in many of our expensive older homes in the wealthiest neighborhoods, the boards you see when you look up in the living room, is the roof.
When they leak, mop the floor.
Well, I like it. Did the same thing to light the inside of our “forts” when I was a kid. Dad showed us how to do it. Learned it in Boy Scouts. He was an Eagle scout. This was 40 years ago for me and 70 for him. Oh well, what was old is new again. Wish I would have known I could have changed mankind tho. Might have changed my outlook on life.
Yes it does, but I can offer some more clarification on this great, utterly fantastic idea which is suitable for barns and sheds in the US.
I you live in a place where a quart of water that is 3/4s inside of a building will freeze, then it isn’t practical, or you can throw some insulation over it for those days, like we do with our water pipes in much of the United States. I also wonder about adding a little alcohol.
The plastic should last for years, and when it is time, replace the bottle and at night time these will also let in light.
This is vastly superior to when many Americans just used empty bottles to make a dim window.
I have been meaning to get around to using these myself since I first read of it.
They all died from drinking what was in it-more than 16 ounces of soda!
You obviously didn’t read the article. These people can’t afford electricity much less window glass. These put out as much light as a 40+ watt bulb. There is no need to be so negative. Check out this link for good videos on these.
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