3 replies to this topic

[Tom Butler]

I have been searching for a way to illuminate the walkway to our front door and for back-yard security. Of the six motion activated outside lights I have tried over the years, only one has not been excessively activated by the wind--we live in a very windy place. I have pretty much given up on that technology.

On a scale of 0 = can't see to 10 = good enough to read newspaper, our walkway is illuminated by a distant street light at about 1 on that scale. I wanted an always on light solution so I tried a number of different solar powered LED lamps. Most were simply too dim and mounting was a real problem for illumination of a walkway on the shady side of the house without creating a new trip hazard. With the early tries, the solar collector turned yellow and fell apart in the sun after a year or so.

Finally, I found an inexpensive solar lamp designed to be mounted under the eves. On that scale, one provides about a 5, which is plenty to permit a person to walk up to the front door without tripping on the steps. The lamp stays on all night with a normal charge.

I have placed two over the walkway and two above the garage door, giving our home an interesting blue-white accent that does not look like a carnival. I also placed four on the back side of the house for security.

The lights are Vonsolar VSE02148 Solar Eaves/Shed Light, available from costdot-dot-com for $9.99 each. I had to extend the 6-foot wire so that I could mount the collector on the roof around the corner in better sun. The wire plugs into the lamp and there is a switch on the lamp. The batteries are in the lamp housing and are expected to last at least a year. With a step ladder, it takes me about a minute to remove the lamp for service.

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[E3 wise]

What a great find Tom, I am going to check them out, right now my motion activated lights are using a lot of electricity, these might just be the ticket, thanks so much for sharing this information and the honest first hand assessment , it's always nice to see others experiences, nice job.

[Lorilee96]

I'm starting to see store-brand exterior lighting that is solar powered... some with attached cells, some with the panel remoted on a cable. look in that section of the lighting gallery at your nearby apron store

[Tom Butler]

The one you mention have been out for a long time. Here in the USA, Home Depot sells a good spot with mounted cell that has a stake or a bracket mount. The light has been strong every night for over a year. Some of the earlier models were too weak and the cell clouded over in months. So, stick to name brands stores.

We have not seen a continuously on (after dark) eave light in the brick and mortar stores. of six locations around our house, the motion sensor-turned on lights have been unreliable in four. If it is not wind blowing bushes, it is the Air conditioner's heat exhaust turning on the lights.

The above recommended eaves light has been perfect. I am now replacing the last troublesome motion sensor AC light with second pair. The light is enough for safe passage and to eliminate hiding places but not enough to blind the neighbors.

We had an extended power outage a few weeks ago and were the only house in the neighborhood with an illuminated home. :-)

My roof bristles with little solar panels, so now I am looking for a single panel which I can use for all of them. I would rather not have to go through the trial and error of making one work, so I want an off-the shelf module.

Remember these devices use rechargeable batteries. Those age and occasionally need replacing. An ideal system for me would be a single solar panel complete with a gel-cell or some more durable battery which I could wire all of my light modules to. I would take the battery out of the light module and wire directly to the LEDS.