I bought two of these from the reject shop but it was only 12 led. They turn on at dusk as a path light, when the motion sensor is triggered it operates at full brightness as a security light.
This works out to $8.57 each.
Price for single item $11.15(tmart.com)
More Bargains Here(tmart.com)
so they stay permanently on? how dim is the standby mode?
The pic above shows it in the dim mode just after it detected 'dusk'. When they go full brightness they're actually difficult to look at close range… they're that bright! I bought a few for tricky paths & stair cases and the constant dim mode is a great way of lighting up the path ahead. I've now got neighbours and passers-by asking where they can get some. Hmmm, maybe I could 'Broden' these ;)
Bought some based on your feedback. Thanks!
@nightelves: No worries, I'm sure you'll like them :) Oh and I forgot to add another great benefit… I've found they don't even need much sun exposure either! Some of mine get a good few hours of non-stop direct sun exposure and work perfectly yet another couple I have only get the smallest amount of direct sun and still work just as well which is yet another 'plus'. Pretty amazing for such a small panel on such an inexpensive product. Confirmed it even has an 18650 Lithium inside!
I got 2 of this, but not sure how to switch between different modes.
The manual said it has 3 modes, and one of them is it can turn off and automatically turn on when people approaching which is what I need.
Did you just turn on the switch and leave the light there?
How do I get rid of the dim mode?
@nightelves: Relatively, yes. They're rated at IP64 which translates to "Protected from water spray from any direction, limited ingress protection" which I believe now that I've taken one apart and had a look. The solar panel on top is glued down to the top of the case with only a small hole in the centre for the wires to pass through to the inside of the case. Removing the panel for my Street Library project was the hardest part as it was glued so well so no water would be able to get in there. The small PCB is mounted directly underneath the panel high up out of the way of any collected water or moisture build-up inside the case. The LED panel is glued to the lower front and is encased in resin so that's unlikely to be affected and the 18650 battery is mounted to the inside of the rear panel and probably wouldn't really be affected by water anyway (although not ideal). So yes, definitely water resistant :)
@leoh: I don't think you can on this particular model. The switch is simply an on-off push-button switch and once switched on it will always glow dimly after Dusk then brighten with movement. The constant dim light isn't everyone's cuppa tea but is perfect for many others so it all depends on what you want to achieve.
@SteveAndBelle: Curious as to your Street Library concept. How does that work? Seems cool & interesting.
@harley: Yes, it's a great concept and has been working really well. More info here: https://streetlibrary.org.au/ The more the merrier! Originally for Portland (of course ;)
@leoh: Not sure, but I think the three modes are: off, on low, on high and as long as it is turned on its automatic which "mode" it is in.
@SteveAndBelle: Does that translate into surviving a heavy rain/storm? Would love to put them along out footpath and at the front pedestrian gate.
@jayz: Yep. The only component in them that could be instantly killed by water is the PCB and it's mounted up high and out of harms way. No guarantees of course but I can't see how heavy rain would come close to affecting these.
Love the street library!
How far does someone need to be before the sensor goes off? I've been looking at getting a couple of these, but between the house and the footpath outside it's a good 2-3 metres, so wasn't sure if it would work properly.
2m should be OK, 3m might be a push. Different angles of detection trigger different sensitivities so it's worth experimenting to get the best results for your particular needs (ie. try temp mounting them at different heights)
Thanks mate. I just had a look at the website and it says about 2.9m. Will def give them a go, especially at that price!
that street library thing looks awesome! what a great concept!
Do they have an on/off switch or are they permanently on?
The little black dot to the left of the white PIR detector dot in the pics above is a rubber capped push button switch allowing you to easily turn them on & off.
Perfect! Thanks man I've been looking for something like this. Solar lights are great, but they don't get the power during the day to function all night unless they're really dim. Motion activation is the answer, but I hate stumbling into a dark space to be greeted by ultra bright lights. Makes me feel like I've been 'spotted' lol
bought a set based on every ones comments.. thanks OP…
Going to see how good they are at scaring the roos off my nature strip this summer. One per fence post should make for a good deterrent I hope.
I'd guess that after 2-3 weeks, the Roos will become accustomed to their location. Best not to fix them permanently in place, but to rotate them around the location IMO.
This way they will be unsure of things and ensure they stay clear.
You may be right… they tend to get use to the Christmas lights on the fence… but I'm hoping the sudden change from dim to bright might perpetually work. Failing which, there's always the claymores…
U never know, u might end up attracting them… hopefully they won't run at them tho ;-)
Thanks OP. $41.74 with my Coles MC. Don't forget Cash rewards as well.
Showing $42.86 on mine.
Note that one thing the page does not mention is the battery size. Small battery will only be able to light up a few times at night.
I have opened one before, the battery is the size of a AA and is soldered.
It's an 18650 Lithium battery and has plenty of power to keep it running dim all night plus dozens and dozens of high-brightness bursts with motion detections plus as already commented they don't even really need much sun exposure to charge either! Sounds impossible I know but these aren't the cheap & crappy 'toy' lights we've all had before, they actually work far better than you'd expect for the price!
The pics suggest they can be used above the garage door? Are they seriously that bright that they can light up the driveway area or at least part of it? Have been burned before with, as you say, "toy" like solar lights.
Yep, above a Garage Door would be fine and would throw enough light on the driveway but don't expect these to emit as much light as a 100W floodlight. They really are very good and perform far beyond their purchase price in MY opinion but you've also got to have realistic expectations too. Maybe consider buying one for $11.15 and trying it out then buy more later? Pretty sure these will only get cheaper with time.
just put all 5 of them above the garage
Pics or it didn't happen :P
We have a couple of different sensor lights but we usually have to deliberately move them to a full day's sun of charging maybe every 3rd weekend because the "usual charge rate" in the place we leave them is obviously not that much. The ones we use outdoors are a single 14500 3.2V LiFePO4 inside, one bright SMD LED style.
Should get another $2 off with code:
SMN1
edit:nup, seems to be only a single code thing
for some reason the coupon code area is greyed out for me - even after logging in…any ideas?
Are you purchasing the single item or the five pack? The coupon code area is also greyed out for me and I'm trying to purchase two of the single item.
Darn, just bought it with the other code.
nope i tried with the single light still grayed out
code doesn't work for promo items, I was told by the rep when I chatted..
How are they attached? It looks like a 5th hole on the back for a screw head?
on the top there is a hole so you can just use any nail or screw suitable depending on the wall type.
or use double tape if you think its strong enough
I'd prefer the same light but it turns off rather than stay dim all night
Me too, but according to user Leoh's comment further up it seems to have this mode, just a question of how
nah, dim is better you can recognise there is a light there.
if off, and then turn on with brightness like this item, might causing heart attack to cats and rats.
its very bright. will be brighter than whatever your expectation is (for $10 stuff)
is it seriously that bright? might put some in the shed but then can I detach the solar panel and put it on the roof (with some extension wire)
yeah for $10 this one is bright. neighbours impressed
Thanks. Bought this based on everyone's review to try at the house's back entrance where we can't extend the electricity line.
Don't you mean 'glowing' reviews? :p
clearly he wasn't bright enough to think of the pun
just kidding sween64! I come in peace. just a bit of light banter =)
Watt LED you to believe anyone wanted banter?
let's just agree to diss a CREE, ok?
(these puns are so crap, I need to go to the loo, men!)
Is this too bright to install one on every step on a deck?
definitely way toooo bright
Yes, this was my mistake :) I assumed I'd need a heap of them but they're seriously bright so one for each step is way OTT!
Cheers, I think I can 4 other places for them then :)
got one already, need more but 5 maybe too many.
Thanks
Only two things could make this better - a way to tune the brightness of the light, maybe make it ramp up instead of coming on suddenly, and the second thing is a separate solar panel module that you could mount on the roof
You can get those, they're a totally different product and more expensive
i have one with separate solar panel, from bunning.
… and a third thing I'd like would be the choice of Cool or Warm light for different purposes. I find a warm light much more inviting so that would be great for the dim mode on entrance paths but of course each to their own. Removing the panel on these is relatively simple… you just have to slowly & carefully pry it off with a flat bladed screwdriver but you then need to have some basic soldering skills to extend the wire. Took me about 3 minutes to do this for the Street Library above however I'm used to tinkering with stuff like this :)
thanks OP, ordered.
didn't think i needed 5 of them, but BARGAIN!
i know you might forget, but if you get them and want to sell 2 msg me please (in some distant future)
where abouts are you based?
sydney cbd. i work in the sydney cbd 5 days a week, just next to apple/microsoft store
I always like products that have a description written boldly on the front of them, incase one forgets…
Does anyone know if these need to be in direct sun to charge properly? Many pictures have them under eves…
As per my comments above, the ones I have in areas of limited sun exposure work just as well as those with direct sun exposure. I'd say as long as you didn't mount them too high up they should be OK. No guarantees of course but this is one of the many things I was pretty impressed with.
Pity they look so crappy.. Would be nice if they had a more aesthetically pleasing design or a stainless steel model.
Have a look around… there are at least 5-6 different designs available however don't expect the fancier designed to be as cheap!
Try coupon code M3 for a further 3% off.
Does this needs to be in direct sunlight ? I have areas where I won't get direct sunlight but would be shady. Not sure if this is a good fit for that.
don't fix it there. just a small hook or something to hang it onto and take to for a sunbath once in a while to fully recharge the battery.
OK, I wont repeat myself over & over. Please read the comments and reviews above for enlightenment.
Thanks - read it just now :-)
Will try single one 1st, thanks OP
Excellent - was looking at Arilux but the positive comments have swayed me.
I bought the Aldi shed light and I am not impressed.
http://www.tmart.com/30-LED-Solar-Powered-Panel-Motion-Senso…
Woah woah, that could be too bright!
Sweet just what i was after.
How do you guys stick these to brick and uneven brick facades?
You'd need a masonry drill bit and some masonry anchors.
You'd also need a hammer drill to drill and an impact driver to fasten the anchors
It's not hard, just a matter if you have the tools.
As for uneven faces, you may need to use a spacer, a plastic cylinder for each mounting point would do.
I've had success with PVA glue, and masking tape to hold it on until the glue dries
any suggestions for a sensor light that is not solar powered? Need a battery one for inside at the bottom of a set of stairs
Maybe wait until someone wants to sell these for $7.55 again: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/328682 They appeared earlier today but for $12.47: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/330741
nice. thanks
Thanks, guess I've just bought some motion sensor security lights.
Awesome lights :) Just disassembled one of my spares (after realising I only needed a single unit due to their crazy brightness) and installed it into the roof space of a Street Library. Works perfectly too… dim light when the sun goes down but when someone opens the door and reaches in it goes full brightness: https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/67715/52330/street_lib…