Brazilian mechanic creates light with plastic bottles and bleach

Soldato
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2393454/Brazilian-mechanic-uses-plastic-water-bottles-bleach-create-LIGHT--illuminating-1million-homes.html

Pretty amazing really. From the article:


A Brazilian mechanic has invented a way of lighting his house during the day without relying on electricity.

Alfredo Moser has been using plastic bottles filled up with water and a splash of bleach to illuminate dark rooms since 2002 and now the idea has now spread across the world.

It is predicted that his lighting system, which works using refraction of sunlight, will be fitted in over a million homes by the end of this year.

The secret of the liquid which fills normal plastic drinks bottles that are often thrown away, is two capfuls of bleach added to water, which stops it turning green with algae when exposed to sunlight. Mr Moser drills a hole in a roof tile and then pushes the filled bottle in from below, keeping the bottle in place with polyester resin, which waterproofs the 'window' in his roof.

The secret of the liquid which fills normal plastic drinks bottles that are often thrown away, is two capfuls of bleach added to water, which stops it turning green with algae when exposed to sunlight.

Mr Moser drills a hole in a roof tile and then pushes the filled bottle in from below, keeping the bottle in place with polyester resin, which waterproofs the 'window' in his roof.

He told Outlook on the BBC World Service that depending on the strength of sunlight, the light filling his home is the equivalent of between 40 and 60 watts.
 
I used to do this with a 2L bottle and a torch when out in the woods. This would be great if I didn't have nay windows and lived in a shed I guess.
 
I think the idea is that people can have shelter and shade (especially in hot countries) during the day and still have light without having to burn fuel etc.

Healthier, safer and more productive.
 
Water refracts light!!! In other news i read this about 3 years ago did the DM run it recently ??
 
Why? The sun is infinitely more powerful than a bulb.

Also, this is really old news (I know the actual article isn't, but in general). I remember watching a documentary that this was featured in over a year ago.
 
Thread does not dleiver.
I was expecting some kind of crazy chemical reaction to create some uber weird glowing "ooze".

Instead a poor man has installed a cheap makeshift version of a "sun tunnel"

:(
 
Brief excitement - couldn't think of a reason why bleach would fluoresce.

Making a hole in the roof to let light in is not "amazing". If anything it's easier to make a roof with holes in than it is to make one without any holes. I suppose he gets credit for blocking the hole with transparent plastic.
 
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