Best Overall
Westinghouse Security Light 1000 Lumens Solar Lights
Best Bang for the Buck
Nacinic LED Solar Motion Sensor (6500K, 2 Pack)
Best Upgrade
Werise Outdoor Solar Street Lights
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It ’s well known that a bright light deters would - be thief but plate dwellers either had to have wiring experience or pay a professional electrician to install outside lights until the Second Coming of solar - powered lighting . Today ’s solar flood lights open up a whole new humankind of miniature andhome security — they’re low-cost , powerful , and many are a snap to install .
In the past few years , the solar flood light source market has explode , with manufacturer proffer brighter light in smaller package . So I tested some of the top brands to see which ones go up to their repute . My ducky were theWestinghouse Security Light 1000 Lumens Solar Lightsthanks to its simplicity of facility , waterproofed rating , and overall illumination .
The best solar inundation lights for your plate will depend on the sizing of the area you want to illuminate and whether you want the brightness level to stay on or if you prefer they come on only when motion is observe . Ahead , take what else to consider when betray for solar deluge light source , distinguish the results of my hands - on tests , and find out why the follow models all earned a place in this lineup .
Our Top Picks
The adopt models had to meet very in high spirits standard to qualify for a speckle in this lineup of the estimable solar flood lights . I install each light — mounting it in a spot where I thought it was well suitable , depending on style , luminousness , and beam slant . I recorded the time of evening when it came on ( dusk - to - dawn models ) and noted its motion - detection abilities , among other trial . Each light receive point , and those products with the most points at the terminal of the testing phase angle earned a well - deserve place among this list of the best solar flood lights .
The Westinghouse solar deluge light let loose a 1,000 - lumen burnished light at a 120 - degree angle when it notice motion within about 20 feet of its detector . Once set off by motion , the light stays on for 30 seconds before turning back off . The Westinghouse flood light features a establish - in 2,000 mAh lithium - ion battery . I was capable to mount the Light Within under an eave on the east side of a garage and set up the solar dialog box ( via a 9 - infantry cord ) on the due south of the garage . The long cord allowed me to put the light where I wanted it — not just on the cheery side of the service department .
This light comes with an IPX4 wet military rank — a rating usually reserved for flashlights to indicate that they will withstand an occasional splash of water without suffer legal injury . This mean the rising tide light will stand up to some rainwater and snow but to be on the safe side , I install it under the eave for added protection .
powerful after sunset , I walked past the luminance , and it came on . It remained on while I walk nearby , but it shut off about 30 seconds after I go out of range . While it did n’t have quite the illuminance range as some of the other lights , it does allow about 30 ft of bright blanched and clear light . We nonplus a snow / sleet storm during the workweek I was testing the solar light , and this Westinghouse light was covered in a sparse level of ice for a span of days . After the ice mellow out off , it still performed well .
Get the Westinghouse solar torrent light atAmazon .
It ’s not necessary to drop a draw to take advantage of the public security of idea that a flood light ply . The Nacinic head solar photoflood light turned on when I was about 15 foot from its detector when typeset in apparent motion - detection mode . I also tested it in dusk - to - dawn modality at full saturation and then in dimmable intensity that illuminate up to full saturation when it senses movement but then dims after 20 second to low intensity . In full - strength , gloam - to - dawn mode , the Nacinic visible light stayed on for only 4 hour because the gamy - intensity light quickly wipe out the rechargeable battery . I preferred the low-pitched - intensity , motion - sleuthing mode because the battery lasted all through the night .
The Nacinic flood light feature a 2,200 mAh lithium - ion barrage . Its 288 LEDs cast 650 lumens of burnished light at a wide 270 - degree angle . The flood luminosity comes in a two - pack , and each light sport an IP rating of 65 , meaning it is completely dust - fast and will resist damage from K of weewee , such as being sprayed with a garden hose or being in the path of an impact sprinkler . It withstood sleet and trash , and did n’t seem negatively bear upon .
Those who are looking for a budget - well-disposed flood light solution may want to consider this Nacinic solar light . It offers the retentive certificate ( timewise ) if it ’s in small - intensity , apparent motion - spotting mode .
Get the Nacinic solar outpouring lights atAmazon .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
With 24,000 lumens to draw from , the Werise 400 - watt solar street light offers plenty of light for tumid areas . I was impressed by the tone of the light and the two solar control panel that power it . However , be aware that this luminousness must either be
installed on a tall flagpole
— or , as I installed it — at the gratuity of the wall , so the control panel sit high than the roofline . The configuration of the solar panels requires clearance that ca n’t be attain by install it lower on a rampart .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
This is a burnished light , and I found it easily light up an area up to 75 feet away — quite an accomplishment ! It ’s a gloaming - to - dawn light , and when it comes on — educate for a flash of blaze . But , this gamy light volume drains the muscular bombardment within a few hour . For that cause , I used the included remote control to ferment it on when I want to light up the country and then turn it back off . After a sunny twenty-four hour period , the Werise light stick around light for nearly 4 time of day on the mellow intensity setting . It comes with the selection of switch to a dimmer mode , and in that modality , it never went out . Even after a duad of cloudy days , the Light Within continued to sour in the dimmer style .
The light also weathered an ice and sleet storm and kept lick finely . Some assembly must be done to configure the solar panels , but it ’s not too complex .
Get the Werise solar light atWalmart .
Photo: amazon.com
Best Motion-Activated
TBI Security Solar Lights Outdoor 216 LED
With 216 LEDs on a front control panel and two adjustable side panel , the TBI Security Solar Light put up a panoptic range of illumination . I was capable to adjust the focussing of the spark to sort out a 180 - degree slant by rotate and slant its three light heads . The manufacturer says the panels are adjustable to 355 degrees , but the greatest degree of directing illumination realistically usable is about 270 degrees — and that ’s only if the Christ Within is put in on the corner of a building . Otherwise , the building itself will block the light .
I was impress by the light ’s move sensing element — it picked up my motion from about 38 feet away . It has a powerful 2,200 - mAh atomic number 3 - ion battery and features 2,200 lumens of chroma . It is n’t a super - bright light , but it ’s sufficient for seeing while walking at Nox and it illuminates to about 40 feet away .
The TBI brightness is blackleg IP65 to put away out dust and to withstand occasional pelting — though the C. P. Snow and sleet storm did n’t adversely affect it . It worked just as well after the storm as it did before .
Photo: amazon.com
Once actuate by question , the TBI flood luminosity stay on on for about 30 irregular after I move out of mountain range of the sensor . As long as I was moving within range , it remain on . A slim downside is that region of darkness were ostensible between the light beam if I correct the sidelights outward more than 45 degrees . This was n’t a disadvantage for me , as I set the independent lighter on the heart of the terrace and positioned each of the sidelights toward two side logic gate . However , for someone who wants a solid field of elucidation , this could be a little disadvantage .
Get the TBI solar lights atAmazon , Walmart , orNewegg .
Best Dusk-to-Dawn
RuoKid 80W Solar Street Lights Outdoor, Dusk to Dawn
The RuoKid solar deluge light source get along with a large solar venire to arrest and store as much solar vigour as possible in its atomic number 3 - ion phosphate battery . It ’s designed to be
mounted on a bulwark
or a marvellous pole , and it comes with a metal magnetic pole and a bracket . With a minimum of 6 hours of direct sun , this dusk - to - dawn alluvion light remained get down up all night long . However , after a heavily overcast daylight , it only remained light up for about 5 hour .
Photo: amazon.com
The flood light emit 1,500 lumens of luminance , so it ’s an ideal choice for adding flabby illumination to large areas such as entire driveways . It ’s not streetlight - hopeful , but it ’s desirable for seeing to a aloofness of about 50 feet . With the included outback ascendance , I was able to turn off the light or pre - programme it to go off after 2 or 5 hours . The light is rated IP67 , making it among the most watertight of our weft — it is impervious to dust and it will hold out powerful jets of water .
I mounted this on a grandiloquent perch , but it could also be wax to the side of a house where it can receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight .
Get the RuoKid solar flood light atAmazonorWalmart .
Photo: amazon.com
Best for Small Area
Urpower Solar Lights Outdoor, 40 LED Motion Sensor
Each of the small Urpower solar flood luminance offers 800 lumens of warm , bright light — and when installed in the same general vicinity , such as a patio or a walkway , they create copious illumination .
I installed each of the four Urpower light on tree diagram near a small playground . When I walked within about 20 feet of the lights , they lit up and remained on as long as I was still moving in the area — eventually turn off about 30 minutes after I moved out of reach . The breadth of the loose beam from each light is about 100 degrees , so I got the good overall illumination by grouping them near one another — about 15 feet asunder .
The Urpower brightness do n’t come with many bells and whistle , but they ’re well made and quite brilliant for their size of it . When all four lights are on , they jointly throw away 3,200 lumen of light . They suffered no trouble after the snow and sleet tempest , and when they were tested in the morning before dawn , they lit up just as brightly as the nighttime before .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Urpower solar light atAmazonorWalmart .
Best Overhead Security
eLEDing Solar Powered LED Mini UFO Flood Light
The all-inclusive , circular light from the eLEDing overhead solar flood tide light clearly illuminates the ground below , unlike some solar lights that are prostrate to shining outward but not lighting up the sphere directly beneath the Christ Within .
This dusk - to - dawn luminosity turn out to be one of my favorites because it did n’t shine lighter in my eye from where I installed it — above the threshold of a garden shed . It bring home the bacon 500 lumen of white light , which is sufficient for lighting up the area of about 25 foot in a semicircular pattern . A frosted short back helps soften the light — make it more of a clean glow than a coarse beam . I notice it well suited for instalment over service department doors , side - entry doors , or even on a wall or a improbable fence dominate a path .
The eLEDing illumination tender a combination of modes — it can be set to come on at dusk and stay on , or it can be set to illume up only when it observe motion . I encounter it worked well when set to movement detection because the battery ran out in less than 4 hr on the evenfall - to - dawn style . The eLEDing light turned on when it detected motion about 15 feet away and stayed on for about 30 seconds after I moved out of compass . The light comes with an IP65 rating , and it was not affected by the nose candy and sleet tempest we experienced .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the eLEDing solar flood light atThe Home Depot , Amazon , orWayfair .
Best for Walkway
Otdair Solar Security Lights, 3 Head Sensor, 2 Pack
The guiding heads on the Otdair solar flood lights allowed me to illuminate a pavement about 35 fundament retentive from ending to end by spacing the two light equally on the rampart nearby . While 550 lumens is n’t tiptop - smart , when the head of the light were directed to illuminate the sidewalk , it was leisurely to see where I was walk . I was able to adjust the heads upward or downward to channelise the light .
These are motion - detection - only light , making them well suitable for both protection and light nighttime areas for safety intent . When I was about 25 feet away , each light turned on and stayed on for about 30 seconds after I walked out of range .
The lightness install easily with screws , and they have an IP65 rating — they were not damage by a snow and sleet storm .
Photo: homedepot.com
When tested in the morning before aurora , both lights still detected move and lit up .
Get the Otdair solar Inner Light atWalmart .
Also Consider
Tin Sum Solar Energy 300W LED Solar Flood Lights
The Tin Sum Solar Energy alluvion light is advertised as being 24,000 lumen but liken to the other light I tested , I ’d gauge it ’s closer to about 4,500 lm . Still , it ’s a nice light that come on when the sun set up and stays on until the rechargeable barrage is depleted . It never remained on until dawn for me , but it did stay put on for 6 hours follow a gay Clarence Shepard Day Jr. when it welcome a full burster .
I establish the alluvion luminosity on a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree overlooking my dogs ’ play M entrance , and I had no problem seeing the gate clearly at night from a window in the house — about 150 feet by . Before , however , I had to carry a flashlight when take in the dogs out and bringing them back in — with the Tin Sum Solar Energy flood light , I did n’t need to carry any extra light .
I found the practiced way ( for me ) to apply the light was to turn it on and off via the include removed control . I would switch it on as I went to the bid yard and leave it on while the dogs were in the yard . I would alternate it back off when we went indoors . I had to be within about 20 feet of the sensor for the remote control to work . The Inner Light is range IP67 , and it defy the nose candy and sleet storm we had without any problems .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Tim Sun Solar Energy flood Light Within atAmazon .
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Solar Flood Lights
When select the good solar flood lighting , there are a few canonical things that savvy shoppers think about . According to Dara Greaney , the CEO and father ofLEDLightExpert.comwith 8 years of experience as an lead light source expert in San Diego County , California , says shoppers should “ consider how they are extend to climb the light and what they want the spark for . Customers also have to choose between dusk to daybreak setting , movement sensors , or using a remote . ” He also lend , “ the more lumens a product has , the good . ”
I was also looking for a figure of other factors that bespeak quality when testing solar photoflood lights . I carefully inspected each light right out of the package to determine whether it moderate durable materials and to see if it was well made . Each was rat on a scale of 0 to 4 , with 4 being the good rating .
The examination process involved mounting the lights on a non - moving target , such as a building or a tree , and mention how easy it was to install . Again , points were return for square installation and whether all of the supplies needed for installation were included in the package .
Photo: amazon.com
After the sparkle were mount , I test their various way — some were purely fall - to - dawn models while others boast question detection . Some were adaptable to either . I mark when the dusk - to - dawn model came on after dark . I essay those with motion sensor by seeing how near I demand to get before the detector observe my presence and make out on .
I recorded how long it took for the lights ’ rechargeable batteries to run out , and I examine all additional routine , including the use of remote controls and on - light modification . While solar flood lights are not complex items , they do vary quite a bit in loudness and designing . During examination , we experienced sleet and a blizzard that depart the lights covered in a thin layer of chicken feed for almost 48 hour , so I could see whether the inclement weather impacted their public presentation .
After testing , I add up the points for each lighting and then determined the case-by-case awards depending on their strongest power point . Along with their incontrovertible facet , I note their downsides so our reader could make a well - informed buying choice .
What to Consider When Choosing Solar Flood Lights
Once instal , solar flood lightness do n’t cost a dime bag to maneuver — their built - in solar panels gather energy from the Dominicus and put in it in their interior batteries until nighttime . Solar flood tide lights can be installed just about anywhere , although they ’ll allow for the brightest light if they ’re located in verbatim sunshine during the day . Beforeselecting solar lightsfor your property , consider the pursuit .
Light Brightness and Coverage
The intensity of visible radiation is measured in lumen and the higher the lumens , the brighter the light will be . For comparison , a standard 100 - watt incandescent bulb ( which is no longer sell ) produces about 1,600 lumen , while an indoor dark - visible light get about 20 lumens . Most solar flood lamp lights will state the lumens in the mathematical product ’s description .
The breadth of the beam also plays a character in the brightness level ’s overall brightness : the narrow-minded the beam of light , the bright it will seem . torrent lights typically cast light over a 50- to 280 - point arc outwards from the Inner Light itself , so a Christ Within can illuminate a narrow walkway orlight up an entire backyard .
As Greaney suggests , solar flood luminousness should “ be used primarily for condom and should be placed in areas with no access to power . Some of these areas may include 2d entranceway , by trash tin , parking lots , any sphere basically that is a security department worry . ” Though most solar flood lights are most potential being used for keeping residential areas dependable , “ solar lights can also assist customers and employee get to their railway car safely . ”
Dusk-to-Dawn vs. Motion Detection
Dusk - to - dayspring flood lights come on when the Sunday set in the eve , and they abide on all dark , or until their internal battery charge is exhaust . They are an excellent option for those who desire to shed light on a prop with continuous light .
The downside of dawn - to - gloam solar lights is if the previous daylight was sunless or rainy , their batteries may not charge to maximum capacity . If this fall out , the flood light may rest on only a few time of day before it dim and drop dead out .
Motion - detectionflood lights turn over on only when they smell motion , and they stay on for a predetermined amount of time , commonly 20 to 30 second , before turn back off . Because movement - detecting light uses less battery power , it is more likely to function all dark long .
Battery Type and Capacity
Solar flood brightness level come with rechargeable lithium - ion electric battery that point with daytime and use the salt away energy at night to power the light . The assault and battery are build in and are rated by their capacity in milliamp - hr ( mAh ) .
The higher the military rank , the big the battery ’s capacity . Most solar flood lights come with evaluation ranging from around 2,000 mAh to 3,600 mAh .
Charging and Runtime
Solar flood lamp light need ample sunlight to appoint , usually 6 to 8 time of day for a full accusation . Once level , the battery will power the light for 3 to 8 hours , depending on whether the flood light runs endlessly or turn on only when it discover move . twilight - to - dawn solar Light need large - electrical capacity batteries .
They also usually have oversize solar panel , which enable them to draw and salt away as much solar vigour as potential during the twenty-four hours so they can remain on all Nox long .
Bulb Types
Virtually all of today ’s solar flood lights feature bright light - emitting diodes ( LEDs ) that cast intense spark beams without heat up up or draw a lot of mightiness . This is why light-emitting diode are a utter pick for providingintense security lighting .
Ingress Protection Rating
The extent to which an out-of-door lightness resists legal injury from debris and moisture is bonk as its ingress security ( IP ) evaluation , which is a two - digit number .
FAQs
Solar flood lights are still relatively unexampled to the outside firing market place . Still , with perpetual advance in light-emitting diode applied science , they proffer a commodious alternative to hardwired deluge lights , and you may install them nigh anywhere the sunshine shines . If this is your first time give away for a solar flood twinkle , you in all likelihood have some questions .
Q. What is the brightest solar flood light?
The undimmed solar outpouring light in this lineup is theWerise solar light , which provides a very bright 24,000 lumens of stark white light .
Q. How long do solar flood lights last?
A solar flood visible light ’s useful spirit will alter based on the lineament of its grammatical construction and the conditions it ’s reveal to , but on average , most users should be able to get 50,000 hours of light out of a high-pitched - quality solar flood brightness level .
Q. How can I make my solar flood lights last longer?
set up the light where it still receives verbatim Lord’s Day re but where it ’s protected from the rough weather , such as in a sheltered slur under a roof eave . You ’re expert off investing in a high-pitched - quality light rather than stress to prolong the life of a tattily built version . In increase , if the light offers motion - sleuthing manner , by using that mode , it will only unhorse up when someone come within range , which will keep the battery from running down .
Meet the Tester
Glenda Taylor is a product tester and writer specialize in the mental synthesis , remodeling , and material estate diligence . She and her married man own a general contracting troupe , and Taylor is feel in both residential and commercial-grade construction software . She tests a wide range of power tools as well as other home advance , house , and lawn - and - garden intersection .
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