Smart Solar Stuff » LED lights

3 of the Best Solar Security Lights

Caimin — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:50:43 +0000

Fulcrum LED Solar Porch Light

There are so many solar security lights to choose from it can be hard to make an informed choice. Here are three best sellers that come recommended for ease of use and installing – and of course bright, reliable light.

First, there’s the Fulcrum Motion Sensor LED Porch Light, available in white, silver and bronze. This motion sensing security light is designed for both indoor and outdoor use and because of the six bright LED lights within each unit it has a much wider lighting area than most LED lights.

The motion sensor can detect movement with a 25-foot range and stays on until no motion has been detected for more than 30 seconds. Each Fulcrum lighting unit is self-contained – no need for wiring – and the whole unit can be angled round by 100 degrees to shine into otherwise difficult to light parts of the garden or yard. Mounting the unit is no more complicated than two screws.

Dorcy LED Solar Security Light

Next on the recommended list is the Dorcy LED Wireless Flood-Lite – in many way it’s similar to the Fulcrum but a little more sophisticated.

The main difference is that the light unit comes with a four-way swivel allowing it to shine into deeper, darker corners around the outside of your home. The beam is brighter too, with a range of 350ft. There are actually two levels of brightness available so you can prolong battery life. The manufacturers say the Dorcy should run for a year without needing a change of batteries.

Like the Fulcrum, the Dorcy is simple to attach and you can set the motion sensor to switch off the security light after 30 seconds or two minutes.

Maxsa Innovations Solar Panel Light Kit

Lastly, the MAXSA Innovations Dual LED Security Spotlight – another motion activated security light, the Maxsa unit has two swiveling lights that give excellent lighting over a very wide area.

The motion sensor on this solar security light is another notch up the sophistication scale because you can adjust the reaction sensitivity to keep the light off if a passing squirrel wanders through your garden but activate the light if a vehicle pulls up.

Because the solar panel is separate and not built-in to the main light, installation is a little more involved but nothing too major and it does have the advantage that you can angle the solar panel exactly in the direction that works best, regardless of the direction the two lights are pointing.

Final Verdict: If you’re looking for the cheapest solar security light go for the Fulcrum Porch Ligh, for simplicity and a bright light beam at a good price go for the Dorcy Flood-Lite and for the brightest light with the biggest coverage area we reccomend the MAXSA Dual LED Security Spotlight.

Solar String LED Lights To Brighten Up Your Garden

Caimin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:43:29 +0000

Solar Star LED Lights

These cool solar star lights can cheer up any garden with their bright white LED solar lights. Not only are they weatherproof but they can be shaped to fit around trees, bushes and other things in the garden adding a bit of welcoming light to your outdoor area.

They come with their own small solar panel that can be driven into the ground a little way from where you want to hang the outdoor lights. Then, after a day of solar charging, when the light fades they automatically turn themselves on.

Each solar star light string measures 23ft / 7m in length and you can even buy a double pack if you feel like going a little crazy. Each engery saving LED light will provide up to six hours of solar powered light per night. In winter, when a full solar charge might not be possible, regular rechargeable batteries can be used as a power supply for up to fifteen night without needing a recharge.

Indoor Solar Lighting with Flexible Solar Tube Lights

Caimin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:48:57 +0000

Here’s a quick tip if you need a little bit of extra light indoors – flexible solar tube lights. These handy little solar gadgets come with a clip and a gooseneck with a light on the end.

Just attach the clip to a solid surface – the edge of a table, window ledge or the side of a display frame and you’ve got yourself a little extra indoor solar light for very little hassle.

They’re ideal for lighting display cabinets at exhibitions or other venues where you may not have total control over the indoor lighting. Not enough daylight to solar charge? Just recharge the batteries in the normal way.

Solar Powered Courtesy Light

Caimin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:47:54 +0000

If you need some extra lights in a dark front door entrance, garage or poorly lit area of the garden or the outside of your house you might want to consider this solar powered courtesy light.

This cute solar powered gadget senses when motion is detected nearby and powers up the light. It turns itself off again automatically after one minute.

Because it’s solar powered, no tricky electrical wiring is needed and it’ll work even in areas outside where non solar lights would be difficult or expensive to install. When fully charged, the LED light gives off almost as much light as a normal 60W light bulb and will light a similar sort of area.

Spotlight on Solar LED Lights

Caimin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:31:45 +0000

One of the biggest trends in solar lights these days is the use of LED lights. Yes, LED is like the lights in those early calculators – but thankfully the light from LEDs these days is a lot brighter.

LED lighting technology is still relatively new and therefore still quite expensive. No doubt the price will come down as they become more commonplace but for the now when you come to buy them you may well find solar LED lights to be twice the price of normal outdoor & garden lights.

What’s up with that? Is that a rip-off?

No. Bear in mind that led bulbs can last 15 years or longer that normal light bulbs. Better still, they typically use 60 -70% less electricity. If you have solar LED lights, of course, your electricity cost savings will go up to a pleasant 100%.