The

Malibu

Lantern

This project creates a low voltage lantern (12volts) that is to be run on a set of malibu lights.  

It should not be Plugged directly into the wall outlet.

Always remember to add all your wattages up and not exceed the total recommended by the manufacturer.

For this project you will need the following:

1 Kerosene lantern (Wal-Mart)

1 malibu light (usually the cheapest one see picture Here) If you don't have them already just get the set  with the transformer.

A 4 watt amber or orange bulb to fit the light (you can use the one supplied with the light, but the amber    looks better)

A length of wire (a 6 foot black or brown extension cord with both ends cut off works great)

4 pieces of shrink tube (available at Home Depot in electrical)

Tools needed will be:

Pliers

Wire Cutters

Drill with a 3/8" bit

Soldering iron with solder

Lantern from Wal-Mart

malibu light (assembled)

this is the socket assembly from the malibu light

the rest is trash

To start remove the glass from the lantern by pulling the top up and tilting the glass to the side

Remove the wick assembly by twisting it clockwise

Use a pair of needle nose pliers to separate the wick cover from the wick adjuster.

Open up the center of the cover by cutting with your wire cutters.

Now cut the connector ends off the malibu light socket leaving enough wire on each end to make a new connection.

Drill a hole in the bottom of the lantern large enough to put the wire through.

Feed the wire through the hole you drilled and out the hole the wick assembly was in.

An extension cord with the ends cut off works good and cheep too.

Tie a knot in the end of the cord that is coming out the wick hole, about 5 inches from the end

This will keep it from being pulled out through the drilled hole.

Strip the wires on the knotted end of the cord and the malibu socket.

put a piece of shrink tube on each wire to be spliced

Twist one of each together and solder them.

You could use wire nuts here, but this assures a good trouble free connection, we wouldn't want them to stop working on our big night.

slide the shrink tube down over the connections.

Heat the shrink tube to shrink it.  A lighter will also work.

Push the wire and splices back into the lantern so the socket fits into the top.

Reinstall the wick cover over the malibu socket

Flip up the globe holder and insert the light bulb into the socket.

You may have to turn the socket to get it to align with the slot in the globe holder.

This is the trickiest part.

The globe holder hinges out to the back, but you need to insert the globe from the front so that it dose NOT hinge away.

If you do it correctly the bulb will stay in the socket.

Next splice the malibu connector ends to the other end of the cord and solder.

Don't forget the shrink tube

Heat the shrink tube

Your lantern is now ready to go, but I like to go a step further.

First I frost the glass by spraying the inside with Krylon Glass interior frosting spray

then I spray a fine mist of flat black on the inside top of the globe.

I do this from the bottom.

Now it looks like this.

Here it is hooked up to the malibu Transformer

This is one I did with the wire going thru the top and metal sides of the lantern.

It is difficult, but not impossible.