Solar Garden lights ? (1 Viewer)

Charlie

Free Member
May 16, 2015
3,211
3,639
Herefordshire / Worcestershire borders .
Funster No
36,385
MH
Auto Sleeper Kemerton.
Exp
Im a newbie
Gaffer wants a couple of those solar garden lights. There are no lights here at all ! No street lights and no neighbours close by which we both really love but hell is it dark at night !

There are loads on Ebay and Amazon but I don't want to by cheap junk so wondered if anyone has any they can recommend ? Only want a couple on the fence posts and one or two in the lawns so don't mind spending proper money for proper kit . I cant make head nor tail of the power battery numbers on the few who even supply them,

Cheers !
 

Autowbars

Free Member
Dec 1, 2012
500
297
Yorkshire
Funster No
23,853
MH
Lunar Roadstar 800
Exp
Since 2010
Buy some 12v led trailer marker lights in white,
Wire them up to a 12v plug, transformer which many homes have from redundant computer etc equipment.
Switch on when required.
I have them wired up along my fence in the rear garden, brill, in both ways.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Charlie

Charlie

Free Member
May 16, 2015
3,211
3,639
Herefordshire / Worcestershire borders .
Funster No
36,385
MH
Auto Sleeper Kemerton.
Exp
Im a newbie
Buy some 12v led trailer marker lights in white,
Wire them up to a 12v plug, transformer which many homes have from redundant computer etc equipment.
Switch on when required.
I have them wired up along my fence in the rear garden, brill, in both ways.

Thanks.. Prefer just to pop a couple on the fence and a couple in the lawn and be done with it...
 

Chris

LIFE MEMBER
May 5, 2010
21,006
274,532
Funster No
11,412
MH
None
Exp
10 years
In my experience , solar lights are rubbish.

They give off no real light and soon pack up altogether.

The only one I have which is good is a motion detector spot light at the end of my garden which is quite bright, but that's only because it doesn't come on very often.
 

Carol

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 2, 2007
14,042
111,433
North Wales.
Funster No
519
MH
A class
Exp
18 years s Motorhome (33years caravans)
Think I have to agree the only way is to renew them as they fail which they usually do in the end and strangely it does not seem to make any difference how much you pay not much in it.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Cal54

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 25, 2014
3,778
61,426
Southport, UK
Funster No
31,130
MH
Leisuredrive Renoir
Exp
Since 1996
My advice would be to go with cheap ones and just change as necessary. You can pick up any shape etc and colour changing ones which are very relaxing. £2.99 each will normally last a couple of years from our experience.
 

FJmike

Free Member
Jul 17, 2014
972
1,046
Swindon
Funster No
32,455
MH
A Class
Exp
over ten years
Same as Carol buy cheap and replace once a year. I bought some expensive solar lights and they didn't last as long as the cheap ones.
 

Hollyberry

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 24, 2011
5,518
42,265
New Forest.
Funster No
16,134
MH
None.
Exp
4yrs
I 've bought cheap ones in the past, lasted a year. My neighbour bought more expensive ones from a garden centre and they're still bright after 2 years at least.
I replaced my cheapie a with dearer ones from local garden centre so I'll have to see how long they last --- looking pretty at the moment as they're the colour changing ones.
I can't see what would make them vary as all made in China :(

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Shrimp

Funster
May 27, 2015
3,962
32,897
Bedfordshire, UK
Funster No
36,573
MH
Hymer B584
Exp
Long time
Mostly the cheap solar lights are ok-use them until they don't work & replace-usually effective for about 12 months.
I did find some, string of lights, with a separate panel, they are still going at 2 yrs old, got from a garden centre but can't remember what the makers name was & as we are in France & the lights are in UK......! The other way to go, string of lights again, you can get some that are battery-not solar-operated, they come on for 6 hrs off for 18(I think) on again for 6 hrs & so on.
 
Jan 28, 2008
10,104
18,259
Dovercourt, Harwich, UK
Funster No
1,353
MH
Renalt burstner
Exp
7 years campers before that
most of those ive seen have a 40mm sq panel which just about powers a single led via a couple of aaa batteries ok for decoration but useless as a source of light
 

Ivory55

Free Member
May 23, 2012
6,017
14,534
North West Norfolk
Funster No
21,175
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
Since Feb 2012
Would it work with string lights up the guy ropes connected to a small car battery with a small solar panel, ie 20 watts.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Charlie

Charlie

Free Member
May 16, 2015
3,211
3,639
Herefordshire / Worcestershire borders .
Funster No
36,385
MH
Auto Sleeper Kemerton.
Exp
Im a newbie
Following the advice I picked up some cheap ones in Home Bargains. I go in there to pick up the huge amounts of bird food we put out in our gardens as we both love to see the birds coming into the garden. They were less than 3 quid each and the boss loves them ! Just a subtle light and though these things are not my bag they do give a nice effect...

Thanks all !
 

Anthea M

Free Member
Deceased RIP
Oct 18, 2015
9,501
165,134
Sheffield
Funster No
39,598
MH
Hobby
Exp
Since 2009
Charlie sounds like you have both settled in to your new home well! That's great after all the trauma . Enjoy!
 
OP
OP
Charlie

Charlie

Free Member
May 16, 2015
3,211
3,639
Herefordshire / Worcestershire borders .
Funster No
36,385
MH
Auto Sleeper Kemerton.
Exp
Im a newbie
Charlie sounds like you have both settled in to your new home well! That's great after all the trauma . Enjoy!

Thank you ! I cannot find the words to tell you how happy we are ! We are right out in the sticks and it's so quiet ! Ok there is much work to do but that's what I do anyway buildings. I can't imagine what it would all cost if we had to employ someone to do it all but all we have is the materials and the specialist services like gas ( LPG) and plumbing and electrical which I won't touch. We both feel instantly at home. Again it's not possible to put into words how one can feel comfortable . At ease. And we'll just plain right if you know what I mean. (y)(y)

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Aug 10, 2012
834
881
cambridge
Funster No
22,344
MH
Globecar
Exp
since2001
Hi Charlie
Not solar but it is led:) related

For years my back yard has been lit with a ' sonopac' sodium 70w flood on a dusk to dawn switch

Just replaced it with a warm white led flood light , 20w, from screwfix, fantastic
Wouldn't go back to the yellow sodium and it runs at a 1/3 of price.

Enough light to walk around, but not too bright(y)
 
Dec 12, 2010
5,367
21,177
Cumbria
Funster No
14,651
MH
C Class
Exp
since 2011
We've had a string of solar fairy lights around the pizza oven for a few years now. They packed in after about 18 months so I took the panel apart and replaced the battery. It's AA size but 3.2 volts not the usual 1.2 volts, cost 3 or 4 quid off ebay and has lasted almost 4 years and is due replacement again now as only the green leds light up (lowest voltage drain I think)
 
Aug 6, 2013
11,941
16,527
Kendal, Cumbria
Funster No
27,352
MH
Le-Voyageur RX958 Pl
Exp
since 1999
Hi Charlie
Not solar but it is led:) related

For years my back yard has been lit with a ' sonopac' sodium 70w flood on a dusk to dawn switch

Just replaced it with a warm white led flood light , 20w, from screwfix, fantastic
Wouldn't go back to the yellow sodium and it runs at a 1/3 of price.

Enough light to walk around, but not too bright(y)
I don't know whether it's of any interest (to you or anyone else with sodium lighting) but the sodium tube can be replaced with a metal halide tube of the same wattage, uses the same control gear, but gives off a white light.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Aug 10, 2012
834
881
cambridge
Funster No
22,344
MH
Globecar
Exp
since2001
I don't know whether it's of any interest (to you or anyone else with sodium lighting) but the sodium tube can be replaced with a metal halide tube of the same wattage, uses the same control gear, but gives off a white light.
hi tony, thanks for the info:)
when ever I looked at metal halide they were always a lot more money
I have replaced the sodium floodlight with this <Broken link removed>

I had no great expectations, but WOW, it is better than the sonpac and at 20w vs 70w!
Gently lights a 100' garden with warm white and then some, for the application , very pleased
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top