Solar Lights

[carrust]

Has anyone tried solar lights for illuminating a door entrance, the ones that are wall mounted above a door.

[woofgang]

Fine in the summer, less so in winter or prolonged dull weather. The kind that charge off ambient light work better.

[carrust]

Cheers woof. I was hoping not do any wiring from the mains.

[douglas9401]

That sounds like the very thing I'm looking for woofgang. Do you know of a UK supplier?
Ta.

[Ann]

I use battery powered ones that work on sensor movement, I have them in an open porch (so not entirely out in wet weather) also use them on the landing to light the way to the bathroom!

[woofgang]

douglas I have been hunting for the ambient light charging lights without success. They used to be quite easy to find, not sure what has happened.

[ummmm]

Weird.

[ummmm]

I said 'weird' because I couldn't see any of the answers, just user names.

[douglas9401]

I've had no luck either, woofgang. I've ordered one with a small, remote solar panel from LED Hut online. It has great customer reviews.
I'll try to remember to put a few words up here when it arrives

[janbee]

Excellent in the summertime. Not now though. It's a very weak and short lived light.

[murraymints]

get a battery operated sensory light.lots on AMAZON

[Old_Geezer]

I'm confused. Are folk suggesting that solar lighting has a sensor that gets ambient light instead of that from the sun, and rejects it for charging ? All the light hitting a sensor is used surely ?

I've yet to come across one light chargeable lamp that works as well as it is needed. They're ok for show but not for practical use. Otherwise mains wired ones would be a thing of the past.

[thugulike]

Absolutely useless. i now hang a basket of plants from the bracket and they emit more light than the solar light ever did. It was an expensive one too

[woofgang]

some lights can't get enough light to charge the battery from daylight, they will absorb what they get but it won't put a big enough charge on the battery for the lamp to run long after dark. The ones that are sold as charging in ambient light are more efficient at storing energy from what light they do get.

[Prudie]

Unless they have improved dramatically in the last few years I think all solar lights are rubbish - if you want them to look pretty in the garden fine (for one summer only) but they don't light any of the surrounding area.

[trt]

I have just ordered a solar security light for my daughters, back garden and the reviews were excellent, even for the winter.

I wonder if the seller wrote the reviews themselves?

[woofgang]

trt, it happens....

[douglas9401]

I installed the light and collector this afternoon and am pleased to report complete satisfaction.
I had to extend the connecting cable by a couple of metres but we now have PIR controlled light at a previously dark doorway. A bright cluster of LEDs charged by the sun for a total of £10.83 delivered.
If the solar panel's waterproof I'll be 100% satisfied.