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Editor’s note: This article was tested in late 2023, and until we return to this category, these products will remain our top recommendations for 2024. Please stay tuned for 2024 updates.
It’s no secret that bright lights deter thieves and burglars, but before the advent of solar lighting, homeowners either had to have experience with electrical wiring or pay a professional electrician to install outdoor lighting. Today’s solar floodlights open up a whole new world of lighting – they’re affordable, powerful, and many are easy to install.
The solar floodlight market has exploded over the past few years, with manufacturers offering brighter lights in smaller packages. So I tested some leading brands to see which ones live up to their reputation.
The best solar floodlights for your home will depend on the size of the area you want to illuminate, as well as whether you want the lights to stay on or whether you only want them to turn on when motion is detected. Then find out what else to consider when buying solar floodlights, read my real-life testing results, and find out why the following models all have a place in this range.
When choosing the best solar floodlights, savvy shoppers will consider some basic things. Dara Greaney, CEO and founder of LEDLightExpert.com, an eight-year LED lighting expert in San Diego County, California, says buyers should “think about how they will install the fixtures and what they want them to be used for.” Customers will also have to choose between a dusk to dawn setting, a motion sensor, or using a remote control. He also added: “The more lumens a product has, the better. ”
When testing solar floodlights, I also look for some other factors that indicate quality. I carefully inspected each lamp in the package to determine if it was made of durable materials and was well made. Each item is rated on a scale from 0 to 4, with 4 being the highest rating.
The testing process involves placing the light on a stationary object, such as a building or tree, and determining how easy it is to install. Once again, I would like to note the ease of installation and the fact that all consumables necessary for installation are included in the package.
After installing the lights, I tested their different modes: some were strictly dusk to dawn, while others had motion detection. Some people can adapt to both. I noticed when the dusk to dawn pattern appeared after dark. I tested the motion sensor device to see how close I had to get before the sensor detected my presence and appeared.
I recorded the time it took for the flashlight’s battery to drain and tested all the additional functions, including using the remote control and adjusting the light. Although solar floodlights are not complicated, they vary greatly in intensity and design. During testing, we encountered sleet and snowstorms that left the lights covered in a thin layer of ice for almost 48 hours, so I could see if the harsh weather affected their performance.
After testing, I totaled the scores for each fixture and determined individual awards based on their strongest features. Apart from the positive aspects, I also point out their disadvantages so that our readers can make an informed purchasing choice.
The following models must meet very high standards to rank among the best solar floodlights. I installed each light – placing it where I thought it would work best based on style, brightness and beam angle. I recorded the time it appeared (dusk to dawn pattern) and recorded its motion detection capabilities among other tests. Each floodlight is assigned a score, and the product with the highest score at the end of the testing phase earns a well-deserved place on the list of the best solar floodlights.
When the Westinghouse solar floodlight detects movement within 20 feet of the sensor, it emits 1,000 lumens of intense light at a 120-degree angle. Once triggered by motion, the light stays on for 30 seconds and then turns off. The Westinghouse floodlight is equipped with a built-in 2000 mAh lithium-ion battery. I was able to install under eave lighting on the east side of the garage and solar panels on the south side of the garage (using 9′ wire). The long cord allows me to place the light where I want it, not just on the sunny side of the garage.
This flashlight has an IPX4 water resistance rating, which is typically assigned to flashlights, indicating that they can withstand occasional splashes of water without damage. This means the floodlight can withstand rain and snow, but just in case I installed it under the eaves for extra protection.
After sunset I walked past this lamp and it lit up. It stayed on while I was walking nearby, but turned off about 30 seconds after I left the area. Although its illumination range is not as good as some other flashlights, it provides bright white and clear light up to about 30 feet away. In the few weeks that I tested the solar lights, we had a snowstorm/sleet and the Westinghouse lights were covered in a thin layer of ice for several days. It still works well after the ice melts.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the peace of mind that floodlights bring. In motion detection mode, the Nacinic LED solar light turns on when I am about 15 feet away from its sensor. I also tested it in the dusk-to-dawn mode at full intensity and then with the variable intensity light, which comes on to full brightness when it detects motion but dims to low intensity after 20 seconds. In full brightness mode, from dusk to dawn, the Nacic lights only stay on for 4 hours because the high intensity light quickly drains the battery. I prefer low intensity motion detection mode because the battery lasts all night.
The Nacinic floodlight is equipped with a 2200 mAh lithium-ion battery. Its 288 LEDs emit 650 lumens of intense light at a wide 270-degree angle. This floodlight comes in a pack of two and each light is IP 65 rated, meaning it is completely dustproof and can withstand damage from water jets such as spray from a garden hose or impact sprinklers placed on a walkway. It has withstood sleet, sleet and ice without experiencing any ill effects.
Those looking for an affordable floodlight solution may want to consider this solar lantern from Nacinic. It provides maximum safety (over time) in low intensity motion detection mode.
The Werise 400W solar street light has a brightness of 24,000 lumens, providing sufficient illumination for large areas. I was impressed with the quality of the light and the two solar panels that powered it. However, please note that the lamp must be
Or, when I installed it, it was installed at the tip of the wall so that the panels would sit above the roof line. The configuration of solar panels requires a certain clearance, which is not possible when installing them low on the wall.
This is a bright light and I found that it could easily illuminate an area up to 75 feet away, which is quite an accomplishment! This is a glow from dusk to dawn, and when it lights up, prepare for a flash. However, such high light intensity will drain the powerful battery within a few hours. So when I want to light up the room, I turn it on and off using the included remote control. After a sunny day, the Werise light remained on for almost 4 hours in high intensity mode. It has the ability to switch to a dimmer mode in which it never turns off. Even after several cloudy days, the lighting continues to dim.
The light also withstood ice and rain storms and remained operational. There is some assembly required to set up the solar panels, but it is not too difficult.
The TBI Security Solar Light features 216 LED lights on the front and two adjustable side panels to provide a wide range of illumination. I was able to adjust the direction of the light by rotating and tilting the three light heads to illuminate them at a 180 degree angle. The manufacturer claims that the panels are adjustable to 355 degrees, but the actual maximum available directional illumination is about 270 degrees, and that is if the fixtures are installed in the corners of the building. Otherwise, the building itself blocks the light.
I was impressed with the light’s motion sensor—it picked up my movement from about 38 feet away. It is equipped with a powerful 2200mAh Li-ion battery and 2200 lumens of brightness. It is not a very bright light, but it is bright enough to be seen while walking at night and can light up from about 40 feet away.
The TBI lantern is IP65 rated, making it dustproof and able to withstand occasional rain, although snow and sleet have not adversely affected it. This works just as well after a hurricane as before.
The TBI floodlight was triggered by motion and remained on for about 30 seconds after I moved out of the sensor’s range. It stays on as long as I move within range. One small drawback is that if I adjust the parking lights outward more than 45 degrees, there are noticeable dark areas between the beams. For me this was not a disadvantage as I installed the main light in the center of the patio and directed each side light towards the two side doors. However, this may be a minor drawback for those who want consistent lighting.
The RuoKid solar floodlight is equipped with a large solar panel that captures as much solar energy as possible and stores it in a lithium ion phosphate battery. It is intended for
Or a tall pole with a metal pole and stand. With at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, this spotlight stays on all night long from dusk to dawn. However, after a heavy cloudy day, it only lasted about 5 hours.
The floodlight produces 1,500 lumens of light, making it ideal for softly illuminating large areas, such as entire driveways. It is not as bright as a street light, but can be seen from about 50 feet away. Using the included remote control, I can turn the light off or program it to turn off after 2 or 5 hours. The light is IP67 rated, making it one of our most water-resistant options – it’s impervious to dust and can withstand powerful jets of water.
I mounted it on a tall pole, but it can also be mounted on the side of the house where it will receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Each small Urpower solar light provides 800 lumens of warm, bright light, and when installed in the same location, such as a patio or walkway, they provide plenty of illumination.
I installed four Urpower lights on a tree near a small playground. The light comes on when I get within about 20 feet of it, stays on while I’m still moving within range, and eventually goes off about 30 minutes after I move out of range. The beam width of each light is about 100 degrees, so I get the best overall illumination by grouping them close together (about 15 feet apart).
The Urpower flashlights don’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but they are well made and quite bright for their size. When all four bulbs are turned on, they emit a total of 3,200 lumens of light. They had no problems after snowstorms and sleet, and when tested before dawn, they were just as bright as the night before.
The wide, 360-degree beam of eLEDing ceiling solar lights clearly illuminates the ground below, unlike some solar lights that tend to shine outward but do not illuminate the area directly below the light source.
This dusk to dawn light is one of my favorites because it doesn’t shine in my eyes where I have it installed – above the garden shed door. It provides 500 lumens of white light, which is enough to illuminate a semi-circular area of about 25 feet. The matte tint helps soften the light, making it look more like white light rather than a harsh beam. I find it ideal for mounting on a garage door, side door, or even on a wall or high fence overlooking the driveway.
The eLEDing light offers different combinations of modes: it can be set to turn on at dusk and stay on, or it can be set to only light up when motion is detected. I found that it works best when set to motion detection, as the dusk to dawn mode drains the battery in less than 4 hours. The eLED light came on when it detected motion from about 15 feet away, and stayed on for about 30 seconds after I moved out of range. The light is IP65 rated and was unaffected by the snow storms and sleet we experienced.
The directional heads of the Otdair solar spotlights allowed me to illuminate a path about 35 feet long from end to end using two evenly spaced lamps on a nearby wall. While the 550 lumens aren’t particularly bright, it was easy to see where I was going with my head lighting up the sidewalk. I was able to turn my head up or down to direct the light.
These lights are designed for motion detection only and are ideal for security and nighttime security lighting. Each light comes on when I’m about 25 feet away and stays on for about 30 seconds after I move out of range.
These lights are easy to install with screws and are IP65 rated so they won’t be damaged by snow and sleet.
The Tin Sum Solar Energy Floodlight is advertised as 24,000 lumens, but compared to other lights I tested, I estimated it was closer to 4,500 lumens. However, it is a good lamp that turns on when the sun goes down and stays on until the battery dies. It never worked until dawn for me, but on a sunny day it worked for 6 hours when fully charged.
I mounted a floodlight in a tree overlooking the entrance to my dog’s play area, and the gate is clearly visible at night from the house window about 150 feet away. However, I used to have to carry a flashlight with me when walking the dog and coming back, and with the Tianxin solar spotlight, I don’t need to carry any additional flashlights.
I found that the best way (for me) to use the light was to turn it on and off using the included remote control. I turn it on when I go to the playground and turn it on when the dogs are in the yard. I turn it off when we enter the house. I need to be within 20 feet of the sensor for the remote to work. The light is IP67 rated and withstood the snow storm and sleet we encountered without any issues.
Once installed, solar floodlights don’t cost a penny to operate—their built-in solar panels collect solar energy and store it in internal batteries until nightfall. Solar floodlights can be installed almost anywhere, but they provide the brightest light when there is direct sunlight during the day. Before choosing solar lights for your home, consider the following.
Light intensity is measured in lumens: the higher the lumen, the brighter the light. For comparison, a standard 100-watt incandescent light bulb (no longer sold) produces about 1,600 lumens, and an indoor night light produces about 20 lumens. Most solar floodlights list the lumen in the product description.
The width of the beam also affects the overall brightness of the light: the narrower the beam, the brighter it appears. Floodlights typically project an arc of light from 50 to 280 degrees outward from the light source itself, so the light can illuminate a narrow passage or illuminate an entire backyard.
As Greene suggests, solar floodlights “are primarily used for security purposes and should be placed in areas where there is no electricity. Some of these locations may include second entrances, dumpsters, parking lots, and essentially anywhere there are safety concerns. While most solar floodlights will likely be used for safety in residential areas, “solar lights can also help customers and employees get to their vehicles safely.”
Dusk-to-dawn floodlights turn on in the evening when the sun goes down and stay on all night or until the internal battery runs out. They are an excellent choice for those who want to fill their home with constant light.
The downside to solar lights that run from dawn to dusk is that their batteries may not charge to maximum capacity if it was cloudy or raining the day before. In this case, the floodlights may only remain on for a few hours before they dim and go out.
Motion detection floodlights turn on only when motion is detected and remain on for a predetermined amount of time (usually 20-30 seconds) before turning off. Because motion detection lights use less battery power, they are more likely to stay on all night long.
Solar floodlights have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that charge in daylight and use the stored energy to power lights at night. The battery is built-in and has a capacity in milliamp-hours (mAh).
Post time: Sep-13-2024