Solar lights

[vette-kid]

I know, I know, just go low voltage. Well, I have lv lighting for the walk way. But I have several dark areas around the yard I want to shed some light on. I like some solar lights to mount to the fence. There has got to be someone that makes quality solar lights. All the big box stores have are 5 dollar specials. At $5 I know I'm getting junk. They don't have to be super bright, and I do not want motion lights.

Anyone have good experience with any?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[brianh]

You can make your own.

This setup uses 12 volts I have a solar charge controller charging some gel cell lead acid batteries set up on a photocell relay, been working perfectly for the last 3 years.

Great for the times I am up in the shop late.

Last picture was taken after snowfall.

DSCN0971 by Brian Harnett, on Flickr

DSCN0972 by Brian Harnett, on Flickr

DSCN0977 by Brian Harnett, on Flickr

DSCN0981 by Brian Harnett, on Flickr

DSCN1296 by Brian Harnett, on Flickr

 

[vette-kid]

nice setup, but that would kind of defeat my purpose of using solar. I prefer solar for this to avoid running more wires and trying to find a clean way to hide them on the fence.

Surely solar technology has come far enough that there are some decent quality self contained units available somewhere.

 

[bgarrett]

I would like to find Good Quality lights too

 

[Irongrave]

I've had good luck with some post lights off overstock 15 for 4 lights

 

[drmarkr]

I know, I know, just go low voltage. Well, I have lv lighting for the walk way. But I have several dark areas around the yard I want to shed some light on. I like some solar lights to mount to the fence. There has got to be someone that makes quality solar lights. All the big box stores have are 5 dollar specials. At $5 I know I'm getting junk. They don't have to be super bright, and I do not want motion lights.

Anyone have good experience with any?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

To my observation, there's a reason they're on the $5 special table....

 

[mrodgers]

Surely solar technology has come far enough that there are some decent quality self contained units available somewhere.

More like solar technology has come far enough that they can have a small enough cell to put on a landscape light to sell for $1 at Walmart and people will buy them even though they don't produce any usable light and just barely glow for an hour or 2 after dark.

 

[vette-kid]

To my observation, there's a reason they're on the $5 special table....

hence the reason I'm not buying those.

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L10YX7Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have a couple of the above. Had them about a year and they still work fine. They are motion activated though so not exactly what you are looking for. They do not last all night but I know they work 5-6 hours after dark at least.

 

[drmarkr]

hence the reason I'm not buying those.

My point was, of course, that they're all junk. Not anything worth your money out there...at least nothing I've seen.

 

[mgilde13]

I bought mine at Fleet Farm for around $20 each. I don't have any pictures of mine but they have a rechargeable AA battery that lasts about 2-3 years before it needs replacing. I've had mine up for 6-7 years, have replaced the batteries once and they stay on almost all night long.

 

[Brian_WK]

You said you don't want motion but if you want them to work all night and have usable light when you are around you are pretty much going to have to have to have large solar panel and battery and pretty small light.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FXOMB0A/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Those are what I use only get about 4 hours direct sunlight a day and they always turn on the bright light when the dog or I walk past them . They have a constant little light that doesn't do much except locate the light that turns on at dark. When motion is detected they light up the pathway decently like a small flash light. They are going on a year old this month.

Brian