DIY MANUAL: SOLAR LIGHT TUBE A guide by Libba Rollins MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA
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MATERIALS NEEDED: -3 Liter Clear Plastic Bottle (I used Pepsi for my project) -Roll of aluminum foil - Jar of contact cement - 43 centimeters of 4” PVC piping - Sheet of corrugated iron roofing - Scissors - Drill - Rivets and Rivet Gun - Measuring tape
STEP 1: Preparing the bottle - Strip the bottle of its labeling. Use a paint chipper to scrape
off any part that clings to the bottle - - Jab a whole in the center of the bottle, and insert the scissors
and cut the bottle in half - Wash both bottle halves
STEP 2: Cut the piping -Using a handsaw, cut a length of piping 43 centimeters
long. (In reality, the length of the piping depends on the amount of space between your roof and ceiling). - Make the the newly cut edge smooth using sandpaper - -If needed, clean the newly cut piece of piping and remove it
of any accumulated dirt or dust
STEP 3:Cut and paste glue on aluminum foil Tear two strips of aluminum foil of equal length of about 43 cm long, the length of the piping. Paint 3 strips of cement glue on the duller side of each sheet of aluminum foil. Allow to dry for about 10 minutes. Paint 3 strips of cement glue on the inside of the piping that run the length of the piping, as well as two strips around each opening on the inner circumference.
STEP 4: Insert foil strips into the pipe - After the glue dries, insert two
pieces of paper into the piping to act as a barrier and allow you to properly adjust the foil strips once inserted. - - Delicately roll one sheet of
foil around something that will help you insert the foil into the piping. I used 2” piping, in this case.
STEP 4: CONT. - Insert the foil wrapped around the 2” piping into the tube. Once inside, delicately remove the 2” piping from the foil - Remove the paper that
corresponds to the way the foil will uncurl and seal the glue strips together carefully with your fingers, so as not to rip the foil. Do this with the other strip as well. - After this step you can paint the
outside of the light tube if you so desire.
STEP 5: Secure bottles halves with rivets
- Place bottles halves on either end of the piping, allowing at least 4
inches of each half to be exposed to collect and diffuse light -
Drill 3-4 holes through the plastic of each bottle half and piping in a circle and use rivets to secure the bottles to the piping
- TADAAAAAA! Your light tube should be complete. For questions
of installation or the continued education station, please continue.