Solar Powered Lights For The Garden, Are They Any Good In The Dark Winter Nights.

[RATTER15]

I have no external lights at my home and I don't really want the expense of installing mains lights around the garden, but the walk from the car to the front door can be hazardous without some lighting so I am considering solar lights.
What should I look out for?

[Old_Geezer]

I'm not overly impressed. But maybe someone has found a model worth getting. IMO best for decoration only, not functionality. Maybe a motion detection mains lamp by the front door is a better bet ?

[trt]

I have 4 Ratters, & bought my 2 daughters 2 each for their homes, and are brilliant.

Mine are motion detection & cost about £8/9 each, will get back to you when I find name model etc.

[trt]

These are the ones I bought from 2 years ago, and still going strong, but lots to choose from.
They are from China, or Hong Kong & Free P&P.

https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20170221171053&;SearchText=16+LED+Solar+Power+Motion+Sensor+Garden+

You can find same on Amazon for more than double the price

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[RATTER15]

Old_Geezer. (Maybe a motion detection mains lamp by the front door is a better bet ?) I would need more than one as the front door faces away from where I park the car and it would be a nightmare running cabling to the outside, especially to the second light that I would require. trt, I will have a look at those in a bit more detail, they look like they may work. They dont really need to give off a lot of light, just enough so I can see the path to the door.

[wolf63]

Can you not just use a torch or a miners lamp with the light on the front.

:-)

[ummmm]

I'd use a torch. You can get quite good ones key ring size.

[waterboatman]

I got two solar powered, motion sensor lights in Lidl. About £7 each, if I remember correctly. They would give you all the light you need without blinding you.

[Gizmonster]

I was also going to suggest a torch.
If it's only needed when you're walking from the car, you could leave a torch in the car (or get a small one on your key ring) so it's always at hand.
We've got a wind-up torch, so running out of batteries is not a problem ;)

[woofgang]

Ratter the thing I don’t like about solar lights is you can’t rely on them. On a bright day, even in the depths of winter, they will work. If you have two or three dark days in succession, then they don’t. Can I suggest you look at battery powered lights, either with a pir or a timer or a dawn dusk sensor? If you use rechargeable batteries they won’t cost too much to run

[Chipchopper]

I find solar lights excellent for defining the edge of a path and steps, giving just enough light to see my way.
Obviously they work better if the area receives plenty of sunshine.

[trt]

## If it's only needed when you're walking from the car, you could leave a torch in the car ##

Then when you keep forgetting to take the torch back to the car on a sunny day, you could just buy a solar light!

[horseshoes]

Agree with Ummmm. Get a keyring torch. I have one; it's a little metal LED one and its REALLY bright. You'll get be for just a few pounds on eBay, or in lots of shops.

[RATTER15]

Thanks guys but I have loads of torches, I want the path illuminated with lights.

I will get a few and see how it goes.

[ladybirder]

Ratter you should be fine if you get sun most of the day in the relevant area. Unfortunately I found out after I had bought some solar lamps for my back garden that I didn't get enough sun to keep them going for very long, and that was in the summer. In the winter - nothing. So for me they were a waste of money.

[besto1ernesto]

Solar lights are a great option