# Need help with indoor lighting

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941>\
**Category:** The Bunker\
**Created:** [November 12, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941 "2013-11-12T14:31:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 15\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![timtek](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/timtek/32/103_2.png) [@timtek](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/timtek)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/1 "2013-11-12T14:31:35Z")

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I’ve gotten this to work before but for some reason it’s not working now. I’m trying to light up the inside of my garage. I started a vehicle construction. Installed controls and a headlight but when I tried try to turn it on I’m getting the message “the headlights won’t come on!” I searched around the forum and someone mentioned adding a seat, so I tried that too but still no lights. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.

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**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/2 "2013-11-12T14:32:10Z")

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You need a car battery.

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**Author:** ![timtek](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/timtek/32/103_2.png) [@timtek](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/timtek)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/3 "2013-11-12T14:33:30Z")

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Just installed one and still no light. ☹

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**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/4 "2013-11-12T14:34:29Z")

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The battery needs power. [F]ill it with batteries, or charge it with a a solar cell(?) outside.

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**Author:** ![timtek](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/timtek/32/103_2.png) [@timtek](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/timtek)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/5 "2013-11-12T14:36:17Z")

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Thank you very much, that’s what I wasn’t doing. 🙂

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**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/6 "2013-11-12T14:36:46Z")

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Np.

[size=2pt]Pro 1337 cata player here.[/size]

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**Author:** ![Aluminumfoil](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/aluminumfoil/32/5163_2.png) [@Aluminumfoil](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Aluminumfoil)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/7 "2013-11-12T18:10:19Z")

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If you don’t want to mess around with headlight-lamps, just load up the back of your vehicle with Metal Tanks (which you can get by remOving gas and water tanks from pretty much every vehicle) and Pipes (which you get easily by Smashing display racks in stores). One pipe and one tank makes a Wood Stove. Wood Stoves don’t make smoke and their fire won’t spread to adjacent squares, so they’re safe for indoor use. Despite being called Wood Stoves they will burn anything remotely flammable, and burn for hours on next to no fuel. They cast enough light to fill a medium sized room. One or two should adequately light your garage, and they’re useful for crafting and trash disposal, too.

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**Author:** ![timtek](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/timtek/32/103_2.png) [@timtek](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/timtek)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/8 "2013-11-13T00:56:35Z")

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I’ll give that a try thanks. I’ve never built a stove before, but if it will give me enough light to read on rainy days/nights, I might as well go for it. If I have to keep refilling batteries, my current set up isn’t going to work for me long term.

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**Author:** ![Aluminumfoil](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/aluminumfoil/32/5163_2.png) [@Aluminumfoil](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Aluminumfoil)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 1:09am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/9 "2013-11-13T01:09:49Z")

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I suppose you could always drive a vehicle halfway through the wall, then install Boards on it to block up the gap, put solar panels on the side that’s outside, and install your headlights on the inside…

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**Author:** ![Isidarth](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/isidarth/32/106_2.png) [@Isidarth](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Isidarth)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/10 "2013-11-13T01:38:45Z")

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Most people use a window to connect their inside lightsource/kitchen to outside solar panels. 😉 If you have enough storage batteries, it will last for a looooooong time on just one sunny day’s charge.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/cataclysmdda/original/1X/21b5d044e8473b25d0bf905d60477e25f6fbe0cf.png) [@system](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/11 "2013-11-13T02:04:56Z")

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Batteries in cataclysm are powered by clothing, take a pile of clothing and drop it on your car battery. Light the clothing on fire (apply a lighter) and the battery will absorb the heat and microwave radiation from the pile (you should see the charge tick up every turn). If the clothes get wet from rain in won’t work so make sure to do this inside your safe house.

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**Author:** ![timtek](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/timtek/32/103_2.png) [@timtek](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/timtek)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/12 "2013-11-13T04:48:48Z")

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Think I’ll pass on that, thanks.

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**Author:** ![TaintedHolyWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TaintedHolyWater](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/TaintedHolyWater)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 5:46am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/13 "2013-11-13T05:46:07Z")

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Sounds legit, if timtek won’t try it I guess I should… Oh god! Why?!

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**Author:** ![timtek](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/timtek/32/103_2.png) [@timtek](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/timtek)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 5:59am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/14 "2013-11-13T05:59:16Z")

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Someone give that man a fire extinguisher!

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**Author:** ![Rutilant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a88e57/32.png) [@Rutilant](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rutilant)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/need-help-with-indoor-lighting/3941/15 "2013-11-16T00:38:32Z")

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> [@Cinghiale](#):
>
> Batteries in cataclysm are powered by clothing, take a pile of clothing and drop it on your car battery. Light the clothing on fire (apply a lighter) and the battery will absorb the heat and microwave radiation from the pile (you should see the charge tick up every turn). If the clothes get wet from rain in won’t work so make sure to do this inside your safe house.

I can’t decide if this is mean or if whoever believes it deserves it. 😛