Are battery/Solar powered external lights any good yet?
Posted by Visible-Variety-2152@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 11 comments
I've got a metal lamppost the previous house owner left. its mains and wired in, and for the couple of weeks it worked it was great for lighting up a patio area maybe 5m x 5m so people could go and sit outside.
But I suspect its either letting water in, or the wiring isn't amazing, and I've disconnected it until I have time for a proper look. But its starting to rust, and so sooner or later I need to replace it. But Im lazy, and cant think of anything I want to do less than pull up half a patio in search of a cable, then maybe end up replacing it and blah blah blah.
So what else do people use? I have some really bright rechargeable work lights, which I suppose I could rig up when we're outside (but Im going for "pleasant evening in the garden", not "building site", but the "garden lights" we have dotted about are solar, and are fine for a little area, but not a larger space.
So what are people doing? Is it possible to get something that looks nice, is bright, and is either solar or rechargeable?
Top-Cat-a@reddit
The cheaper solar lights don't seem to have a long lifespan but since they don't cost much then you can simply regard the task of having to replace them as an annual/bi-annual gardening chore.
I have some mains powered PIR lights but I also back them up with solar lights with large panels which can be mounted separately to collect the maximum amount of sunlight.
If you're willing to pay for it, you can get a 'street lamp' style solar light with an enormous solar panel which outputs a lot of light and which you could probably mount on your existing pole.
Just try entering "solar street lamp" on the Amazon site for a range of examples.
sc_BK@reddit
Not the answer you're looking for as you don't want the work, but you can "make" your own solar light that works well.
I've got a solar panel on an outbuilding, that goes via a cheap charge controller, into an old 12v battery. From that you can run whatever 12v DC lights you want. The charge controller even has an output for a light to come on at dusk.
I've got a genuine streetlamp, on a pole about 2.5m up, that I've wired up for 12v, and also has a PIR on it. So it lights up when you walk near it at night. All powered by the solar, and it's been running for years.
steadvex@reddit
I have a Phillips one that seems brilliant, even has user replaceable batteries and a seemingly oversized solar panel.
However I've had some cheap ones and they tend to last 6 to 12 months at best, Alwyas let water in and fail.
chease86@reddit
Might nit be what you're looking for but we have a few of those security lights that run entirely off of solar and they're nice and bright without being blinding, could be an option if you can find some that fit in with the garden.
Visible-Variety-2152@reddit (OP)
We have a couple that are... OK... without being amazing. Think this would work if there was more house bordering the patio, but the far end is far enough from the house that it doesn't quite work unfortunately...
ASY_Freddy@reddit
Not really, not if you want them to be bright for a long period of time.
Regarding your existing light, it's more likely the fitting than the wiring which is an easy change and wouldn't need the patio dug up
Your other option is a gas powered lamp/heater
Visible-Variety-2152@reddit (OP)
I did go out and look at it just now, and quite honestly it could be any or all of the wire, the external socket (because although the wire goes under the patio, its terminated at a plug - presumably because then its not "perminent"), or where the external socket comes inside, all of which look... weathered. What it needs is a dry few days, some time off work and some patient testing. What its getting at the moment is rain, six day weeks and shouted at. The biggest problem being that its on the same ring as the kitchen sockets, so any experimentation has to be done at specific times....
I did run the idea of a gas heat/light past the Keeper of The Royal Purse, but the answer was "between you, the kids and that stupid dog, you'd burn the <...> house down". So, that sounds like plan B?
Alas_boris@reddit
Run some festoon lights from the nearest plug socket (either external, or in the house) out towards, and round the patio area.
It gives a much nicer atmosphere than sitting under 'the big light' of a single source .
Hammer in to the ground, or fix to external walls a few short sections of timber, then you can fix longer bits of timber with hooks on on to these to act as supports (and you can then remove the larger bits during winter, or when you don't want to leave the lights out).
Visible-Variety-2152@reddit (OP)
Aside from having to google "festoon" I like this as an idea - there's a house/ conservatory / fence on three sides of the patio (and a rusty lamppost on the other side that would make a fine prop for some lights). As a "big light hater" inside, this sounds like just what I need...
Difficult_Bad1064@reddit
With the solars being cheaply made they don't tend to last very long. If you fix them well so that the weather and animals won't damage them then you'll still need to do maintenance like cleaning the panel and replacing the battery. Even then sometimes you lose random leds.
I'd only use solar as a temporary solution. If you intend to stay in the property several years then definitely hard wire it.
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