solar post light recommendations please

[newbury]

I'd like to get a couple of solar post lights (like these) and set them out in planters made by filling feed tubs with dirt etc.
But it seems prices and quality are all over the spectrum.
Anyone here have any? And can you recommend some?

 

[texas42]

Check out Outdoor Solar Store
a little pricy but good quality
I have two, very satisfied

 

[3Ts]

What are you trying to accomplish? If for decoration or a late evening nite light, they'd probably work ok. If you are after a yard light to light up an area - not so much. All the solar lights i've seen even with glowing reviews don't put out much more than nite light levels and don't last through the night.

I don't have these particular lights, but I would not expect them to put out as much light as the picture shows. Even at the high setting, 200 lumens isn't very much and you'll only get that with new and fully charged batteries.

 

[newbury]

What are you trying to accomplish? If for decoration or a late evening nite light, they'd probably work ok. If you are after a yard light to light up an area - not so much. All the solar lights i've seen even with glowing reviews don't put out much more than nite light levels and don't last through the night.

I don't have these particular lights, but I would not expect them to put out as much light as the picture shows. Even at the high setting, 200 lumens isn't very much and you'll only get that with new and fully charged batteries.

I'm trying to:
Put lights/planters on the ends of my ~100' driveway, like markers in a fog. Nite light luminance (50lm) would be fine.
Put a couple of movable lights/planters on the ends of my concrete porch.

I've got several of the large "protein tubs" that I've used filled with soil and used as a base for 9' diameter patio umbrellas. Set on HF 1000 lb. Capacity Hardwood Dollies they move easy.
Amazon (link) has similar but I don't trust Amazon or Home Depot reviews.

 

[dodge man]

I have a couple of solar lights by the walk in door by my shop. They put out a decent amount of light. In the dead of winter on a cloudy day, they last an hour tops. During the summer on bright days, they go all night. Just based on price of the ones you are looking at they would perform about like what I describe above. Seems obvious but they need to be out in the open to work the best.

 

[kenmbz]

I use these :

https://www.amazon.com/InnoGear-Upgraded-Waterproof-Landscape-Spotlight/dp/B07BDHFCRH/ref=asc_df_B07BDHFCRH/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241978090930&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2193970046427629845&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007196&hvtargid=pla-449932663570&psc=1

I take them apart and seal everything up with silicon and if you want them to last all night, put them on low. I have a few that are almost 4 years in the outdoors as tree uplights and one which is on it's last legs on low for the house marker.
I put them every 20-30 feet up the driveway.
I even took one apart and use it to light the address sign on our mailbox, on low.

On high, they last a few hours in the winter and a bit more in the summer.

YMMV - and these things change all the time, last set I bought in October and seemed about the same quality.

 

[JasperFrank]

I do not know of a high quality solution for you. All our solar lights only last two years. And they are not repairable.

 

[5030]

Wife buys them at HF when on sale and the HF ones have replaceable batteries too. All Chinese and no choice.

 

[newbury]

I use these :

https://www.amazon.com/InnoGear-Upgraded-Waterproof-Landscape-Spotlight/dp/B07BDHFCRH/ref=asc_df_B07BDHFCRH/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241978090930&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2193970046427629845&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007196&hvtargid=pla-449932663570&psc=1

I take them apart and seal everything up with silicon and if you want them to last all night, put them on low. I have a few that are almost 4 years in the outdoors as tree uplights and one which is on it's last legs on low for the house marker.
I put them every 20-30 feet up the driveway.
I even took one apart and use it to light the address sign on our mailbox, on low.

On high, they last a few hours in the winter and a bit more in the summer.

YMMV - and these things change all the time, last set I bought in October and seemed about the same quality.

Thanks, can you provide any more details on "take them apart"? Easy or breaking plastic?

 

[kenmbz]

Unscrew the cover over the LEDs and make a bead with silicone and then fill in any open spaces.
Not too hard

 

[newbury]

Unscrew the cover over the LEDs and make a bead with silicone and then fill in any open spaces.
Not too hard

Thanks, ordered a 4 pack.

 

[newbury]

Followup
The 4 pack of InnoGear arrived.
They look fairly sturdy. I looked for a pipe I could stick them on, but could not find a fit.
I planted one outside on a cloudy day.
It seemed to last about 6 hours.
So I found my silicone Conformal Coating opened up the remaining 3 lights and "painted" the few contacts on the circuit board.
Of note - there was a double dab of probably silicone RTV type stuff on the contacts. On 1 of the 3 lights I opened the "dabs" fell off.
I then deployed them where I wanted them by the drive.
The first one I had put out lasted from about 1910 to 0300 after a full days sun.
The second one went from 1910 (sunset) 0645 (dawn) after a full days sun.
The other 2 have not yet got a full days sun and are stuck where they get some shade during the day.

 

[kenmbz]

Followup
The 4 pack of InnoGear arrived.
They look fairly sturdy. I looked for a pipe I could stick them on, but could not find a fit.
I planted one outside on a cloudy day.
It seemed to last about 6 hours.
So I found my silicone Conformal Coating opened up the remaining 3 lights and "painted" the few contacts on the circuit board.
Of note - there was a double dab of probably silicone RTV type stuff on the contacts. On 1 of the 3 lights I opened the "dabs" fell off.
I then deployed them where I wanted them by the drive.
The first one I had put out lasted from about 1910 to 0300 after a full days sun.
The second one went from 1910 (sunset) 0645 (dawn) after a full days sun.
The other 2 have not yet got a full days sun and are stuck where they get some shade during the day.

Make sure to silicone around the ring that covers the leds, it just unscrews and the gasket is not good enough to keep them sealed for very long.

Hope these work long term for you.

 

[oosik]

I learned thru experience. I set out two pair of solar yard lights. They were about 18" tall. They all ( four of them ) lasted about three years. The weather got to them.

I wanted a GOOD solar light. I got a solar marine marker light. From Julian A. McDermott Corp. Ridgewood, New York. I purchased it - 7/16/2014. It sits on a tripod across and down the length of my lake. The tripod and light are on a high rock bluff - overlooking the lake. Twice a year - I go down and clean the solar pannel. Its a 3"x3" square incorporated into the top of the light.

Nine years and the light still shines bright - sunset to sunrise.

As I look out the window - I can see it. It's some 930 feet from where I'm sitting right now.

It is a commercial duty marine light. It has never failed and it was not cheap. $235.

That works out to about $26 per year.

 

[mikester]

If you have a costco membership get it there, they have a pretty good returns policy on disposable products.