Solar lights for front garden

Minibiker · 13 Nov 2020 at 19:09

Hi all

I was cleaning the front garden this afternoon and as it got darker I thought to myself, 'the front could do with so sprucing up' I'm thinking solar powered lights so I don't need to wire anything up

Does anyone have any recommendations for decent ones

Cheers

Doug2507 · 13 Nov 2020 at 19:28

In for this as well. Just finished our back garden and needs a few solar glow balls to brighten it up!

bazzabear · 13 Nov 2020 at 19:56

It would be interesting to hear if, these days, solar lights can be genuinely decent. Back when I was looking at them a few years back, they were universally terrible.

Maundie · 13 Nov 2020 at 20:27

We got a load at the start of lock down for £3 each from Asda, during the summer they were great still running at 5 or 6 in the morning but at the moment they've gone off by 8. Obviously they haven't got in at the moment but you don't need to spend a fortune on them.

NoobCannon · 13 Nov 2020 at 21:23

We have bought loads over the years, the missus likes the back garden to like some
Kind of cheap light show. We hAve had them ranging from £2/3 to £30, they never last very long, prob get a summer out of the more expensive ones.

Derek W · 14 Nov 2020 at 10:15

I got some of the bollard type solar lighting from Home Bargains a while back £3.99 each with a ribbed bollard design. Sturdy enough to be planted into my border next to my box hedge. Usually I've found solar lights to be good for two or three years max before the elements take its toll on the light / solar panel. Did have a pack of six spike solar lights for £24.99 from a local hardware store. As above only lasted two to three years so opted to buy cheap ones as they did the same job.

Bug One · 14 Nov 2020 at 10:23

Don't expect them to last longer than one winter.
I've not found any that are genuinely water resistant and hardened to the elements.

Best to buy now in the sales, but save putting them outside till the spring.

rodders · 14 Nov 2020 at 10:35

As above, they never last. So buy cheap and expect to replace.
I bought the electronic components once and started repairing or making new boards, which I don't really think was cheaper, just something to do lol.

AshB1989 · 16 Nov 2020 at 17:58

I bought some solar security LED lights for around a tenner each. They're insanely bright and going into their second year.

Bug One · 16 Nov 2020 at 18:42

Got a link. There's a million of those and every one I've tried hasn't been worth the money or effort.

koooowweeee · 16 Nov 2020 at 20:08

Problem with solar lights is they don't get enough light in winter so don't work that well.

tedaC · 17 Nov 2020 at 17:08

If its security solar lights you are after. The brand mpow are meant to do really good ones. I did some research before I bought my father some last year and says they are still working great.

robj20 · 17 Nov 2020 at 17:09

Bug One said:
Don't expect them to last longer than one winter.
I've not found any that are genuinely water resistant and hardened to the elements.

Best to buy now in the sales, but save putting them outside till the spring.

I've had some Mpow ones off Amazon for over 5 years now still going strong.

Duke · 17 Nov 2020 at 17:18

Another vote for the Mpow ones. Although as others have said they won't be bright during the winter due to cloudier days and it being dark earlier so they're on earlier in the evening. During the spring/summer they are great though.

Semple · 18 Nov 2020 at 08:32

Another vote for mpow.

As above, i rarely get full night coverage during the winter. It's dark by 5pm until about 7:30am now.

My mpow ones are set to always on dim, and motion sets to max brightness.

My other unbranded ones are set to always off, and motion sets to max brightness - these last all night as they'll only get activated a few times during the night.

Doug2507 · 18 Nov 2020 at 08:34

robj20 said:
I've had some Mpow ones off Amazon for over 5 years now still going strong.

And you've left them out the whole time?

robj20 · 18 Nov 2020 at 08:40

Doug2507 said:
And you've left them out the whole time?

Yep, 2015 I bought them been out and on use the whole time. I actually want some more now.

Doug2507 · 18 Nov 2020 at 09:26

Superb. Off to the rain forest....

Duke · 20 Nov 2020 at 14:10

Worth mentioning on the ones I've had over the years you can usually replace the low capacity AA battery inside with higher capacity, i.e. normal rechargable ones.

kinetic747 · 20 Nov 2020 at 14:29

The Mpow lights are great, I've got a couple I've had for several years still going strong, and also a couple of the newer ones.