# Area lighting options

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/area-lighting-options/16396>\
**Category:** The Garage\
**Created:** [August 27, 2018, 2:03pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/area-lighting-options/16396 "2018-08-27T14:03:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Human\_Shield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f05b48/32.png) [@Human\_Shield](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Human_Shield)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 2:03pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/area-lighting-options/16396/1 "2018-08-27T14:03:24Z")

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I think lighting needs to be looked at. A floodlight seems like the only way to light up a room in bright light but it will drain multiple 100% storage batteries very quickly. I like blacklisting atomic lights to use more candles and lamps but getting zones of bright light after I have a solar house has been annoying.

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**Author:** ![mlangsdorf](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/mlangsdorf/32/2462_2.png) [@mlangsdorf](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/mlangsdorf)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/area-lighting-options/16396/2 "2018-08-27T20:11:36Z")

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Poking through the code, vehicle lights look pretty straightforward:

They are defined in data/json/vehicleparts/lights.json.  
They’re flagged with CIRCLE\_LIGHT for exterior all directional lights like emergency red/blue lights or flood lights, AISLE\_LIGHT for all directional interior lights like aisle lights, CONE\_LIGHT for directional external lights like head lights. ENABLED\_DRAINS\_EPOWER means they drain electrical power when turned on.  
Vehicle lights have a bonus that determines how much they illuminate: 8000 for floodlights and headlights, 500 for emergency lights, 30 for aisle lights.  
You could easily create a heavy duty aisle light that illuminated a larger area. Start with a bonus of 100 and see what that gets you.

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**Author:** ![Orange01](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/orange01/32/2469_2.png) [@Orange01](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Orange01)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/area-lighting-options/16396/3 "2018-08-28T03:00:11Z")

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Someone posted on reddit that you can make a enslaved shocker zombie for a cheap/infinite light source.

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**Author:** ![vlad\_1492](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/vlad_1492/32/2989_2.png) [@vlad\_1492](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/vlad_1492)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2018, 8:58am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/area-lighting-options/16396/4 "2018-08-30T08:58:18Z")

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Oh, really? 😇

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**Author:** ![darktoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@darktoes](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/darktoes)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2018, 9:35am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/area-lighting-options/16396/5 "2018-08-30T09:35:55Z")

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Easiest method by far is to drop a friendly turret where you need light. Free and easy, even acts as a decoy against nasties. Only practical if you have a control laptop though.

Earlier game your best best is probably a flashlight modified with the storage battery or UPS mod and a charger. Flashlight hooked up to a car battery should last for ~3.5 days. A heavy duty flashlight with the same setup will last half as long, but gives substantially more light.