Best solar path lights?

[m.breen]

I recently bought a solar light to try out. It was the $5.88 one from Home Depot. It was not very bright and is completely out less than 2 hours after sundown. Is this the norm for these solar path lights? Anybody know of any better ones? I want to buy a bunch of them but only if I can get more than a few hours of light. Thanks in advance.

 

[kbs2244]

You get what you pay for.
The high cost part in those is the battery.
Cheap ones have very cheap batteries.

You can open up what you have and replace the batteries with good ones or just buy good ones in the first place.

I have found they are not maintaince free.
I open up mine every year for spider webs and corrosion removal.

 

[jonjon1]

I wouldn't waste your time with them, get a wired set and install a battery with a solar charger, or just plug in the charger... I went through this years ago, just get landscaping lights..
you can get deals on kits, http://www.lampsplus.com/products/m...pe-lighting-set__4w490-2c498-2c502-4w486.html

super easy to install, buy once cry once. If you are worried about the energy, put a battery and a 45watt solar charger, thats what i use on the runs that are too far from the house, solar panel on a birdfeeder, battery buried in a plastic box, at the base of the feeder, run the wire down the pole, feed the lights, done...

 

[Falcon67]

I get decent servie out of cheapies from Target. They usually close out that stuff just before the Christmas items move in. I get a bag full of $3 lights most surprisingly good.

However, the best path lights use wire, power pak and a timer.

 

[ford33]

Same issue here with solar pathway lights. They are out after a couple hours. I replaced the batteries with better but that only added an hour or two. Just go with a wired light and you don't have to mess with batteries.

 

[rebelranger]

Jonjon1 - any chance you can post pictures of your lighting setup? I want to do that exact thing with a solar panel, charger, and low voltage wiring for both path lighting and house lighting. It seems dumb to use 110v wedges 12v is cheaper and safer.

 

[Shiftless]

Jonjon1 - any chance you can post pictures of your lighting setup? I want to do that exact thing with a solar panel, charger, and low voltage wiring for both path lighting and house lighting. It seems dumb to use 110v wedges 12v is cheaper and safer.

I am also interested in the details. I'm wondering how you rig a timer to turn the system on and off...

 

[Flivver250]

Most interesting post of the week. I have bought tons of those solar lights and the longevity of them is pathetic. Not a bad idea wiring a 12v battery with solar charger. Hadn't given it any thought before this post, just was resigned to replacing them often. I'd cheerfully pay more for solar lights if someone made a good one.

 

[m.breen]

I found an old battery charger (about 7 years old) with a couple of AA batteries in it. charged them for 1.5 days, put one it the solar light, and now it runs all night. Think I will charge up the battery that came with the light as well and try it again. These batteries have to be at least 8 years old.

 

[bzinsky]

low voltage landscape lighting is so cheap to purchase and operate these days.

LED has reduced hardware costs significantly since it uses such a low amount of energy (Ie don't need 10 gauge wire and 1000+ watt transformer anymore)

 

[nh_yota]

Keep in mind that the solar lights need at least 8 hours of direct sunshine to charge up the battery each day, otherwise they'll only run for an hour or so.

 

[simpler=better]

The Ikea alien-pod looking ones have been great for me. They put out good light and charge well.

 

[Rithiks]

I recently bought a solar light to try out. It was the $5.88 one from Home Depot. It was not very bright and is completely out less than 2 hours after sundown. Is this the norm for these solar path lights? Anybody know of any better ones? I want to buy a bunch of them but only if I can get more than a few hours of light. Thanks in advance.

I can understand your problem. I brought some light from TNTLighitng I found it really good and their customer service also guide us. https://tntlighting.com/

 

[cybrdyke]

www.solera-solar.com
These are professional products. They also have a professional price.
CD

 

[Worsedog]

I know you said best, but until you drop big $, the best label is a misnomer. My GF buys these at Wally Hell a dozen at a time and they are less than a buck a pop. So if they quit working it's banging it on the ground and if that doesn't work, pitch it and poke another in the ground.


https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstay...ape-Light-Black-Finish/887648616?athbdg=L1600

 

[TRITOON]

I've given up on solar ones. I've tried a variety of brands, and price points, and they have ended up with me being disappointed within a few months. Granted this is highly dependent on your lot - what trees, what direction into the sun, time of year as the sun moves, cloud cover, etc.

Low voltage lights are very easy to install for the average homeowner. With a cordless edger it could be a 15 minute job for a 5 or 6 light setup. I think people are intimidated because its electric and outside. But you literally plug in the low voltage box, place the cord, and clip the lights into the cord. There isnt much to screw up.

I tried 2 different types from $5-20 (for a 5 light setup) per light over a 2 year period just because i didnt want to spend 80 dollars on a transformer for low voltage and then 15 dollars per led light; which has now been running without issues for years.....It was a very dumb decision on my behalf. The whole press the on button and stick it in the ground with solar is very appealing. I get it.

 

[mikedodge]

I bought a set of 6 i think it was on Amazon and have them set to go on with motion. I'm not sure if they'd last the night on all the time but they suit my needs fine.