Solar LED/PIR security lights - are there decent ones?!

[Nick_MSM]

I need a PIR security light on my garage/drive. The problem being the garage is about 150ft from the house and doesn't have any mains supply. Due to the nature of the garden etc it's going to cost a small fortune to get power in there. I've had a couple of cheap solar/pir lights in the garden before which were okay - for about 2 months before water ingress knackered them. Are there any decent options on the market?

[defblade]

We bought one of these, not branded "xunruixing", from our local dept store (Leekes) - after 6 months, it was still working well and we've bought 2 more since, all 3 working fine. Not massively bright, but OK for seeing the path, finding the keyhole etc. A quick google image search suggests the same thing is widely available under various brand names...

[V8RX7]

If you want a security rather than a night light - no.

I'd buy a 12v LED version and run it off a car battery, will last many months, you could top it up with a 12v solar trickle charger.

[SVS]

How about Mr Beams lights? They're battery powered, look easy to fit and were highly recommended on the BBC's recent Break-in Britain series.

[motco]

defblade said:

We bought one of these, not branded "xunruixing", from our local dept store (Leekes) - after 6 months, it was still working well and we've bought 2 more since, all 3 working fine. Not massively bright, but OK for seeing the path, finding the keyhole etc. A quick google image search suggests the same thing is widely available under various brand names...

I had one of those from Amazon. It was good but didn't go off completely and so exhausted its battery in winter nights and winter days couldn't recharge it adequately. Didn't matter in the end, though, as it failed altogether after about three weeks.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CYA1PGC?psc=...

Edited by motco on Thursday 8th October 08:44

[sidekickdmr]

V8RX7 said:

I'd buy a 12v LED version and run it off a car battery, will last many months, you could top it up with a 12v solar trickle charger.

Quite like this idea, seems a decent long term solution!

All of the solar stuff ive ever owned has been absolutely pants, but ive never had branded stuff.

I have a couple of small internal Mr Beams battery powered PIR lihgts, these are great, but only used in the cupboard under the stairs, nowhere near enough light for a driveway. (although these looks decent, use a few and the "network" should give you good coverage https://www.mrbeams.co.uk/lights/netbright-spotlig...

Edited by sidekickdmr on Thursday 8th October 09:49

[Composite Guru]

I have a few of these located around the house. Nice and bright and provide light for good amount of time.

http://www.costco.co.uk/view/p/sunforce-solar-moti...

[bogie]

SVS said:

How about Mr Beams lights? They're battery powered, look easy to fit and were highly recommended on the BBC's recent Break-in Britain series.

Ive got a couple of those, really good so far, will be happy if the batteries last a couple of years...they supply duracell with them

[j4ckos mate]

ive got a couple of these,
one in the shed one out of the shed mounted above the door.

they arent super bright, but they flood an 6x6' size area fairly well.
http://www.ledhut.co.uk/led-flood-security-lights/...

[j4ckos mate]

Cant you get one powered from the house with a super narrow beam?

also if your garage isnt powered get yourself an led to stick in the window or the wall powered by a battery on ebay, so it looks like a decent alarm on it

[Nick_MSM]

Thanks for the suggestions. The Mr Beams looks like it might be worth a shot, anything is better than nothing. The driveway is sunken at the end of the garden so unfortunately even a narrow beam light on the house isn't going to be much help.

[7heavensoon]

I bought a Mr Beams spotlight as a result of reading this thread. Many thanks for the suggestion - Nicely made bit of kit and does a great job of lighting our way to the bins in the dark!

[Timja]

j4ckos mate said:

ive got a couple of these,
one in the shed one out of the shed mounted above the door.

they arent super bright, but they flood an 6x6' size area fairly well.
http://www.ledhut.co.uk/led-flood-security-lights/...

I have also had one of these for a few months and have been impressed for lighting a small area. Good value too, think it was on offer for £9.99 when I bought it.

[LordHaveMurci]

SVS said:

How about Mr Beams lights? They're battery powered, look easy to fit and were highly recommended on the BBC's recent Break-in Britain series.

I bought a few of these, 2 external which work well & Duracell D cells last quite a few months despite the amount of light they put out.
Also have 2 internals, 1 in under stair cupboard which works really well.

[henrycrun]

Any updates ? Prepared to spend up to £100 (but only if reliable)

[8-P]

I bought some from screwfix - lap , 20 quid each maybe less. The biggest problem I have is they are on the north side of my house and it gets zero sunlight so come the winter they really struggle and run out of puff.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-solar-solar-led-bulk...

I quite like them all the same, they provide more of a warning light than a flood light if Im honest

[shedweller]

I have one of these..... Dead ace. Their garden lights are excellent too.
www.thesolarcentre.co.uk/products/Evo_SMD_Pro_Sola...

[SPR2]

8-P said:

I bought some from screwfix - lap , 20 quid each maybe less. The biggest problem I have is they are on the north side of my house and it gets zero sunlight so come the winter they really struggle and run out of puff.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-solar-solar-led-bulk...

I quite like them all the same, they provide more of a warning light than a flood light if Im honest

I have had some of these for over a year now and found them very good.

[dmsims]

With the Mr Beams lights I used a C to AA adapter and ran them on rechargeables