Best Solar Powered Motion Activated Floodlights
As much as we may dislike unlit nooks around our home after dark, keeping our lights on all night is simply not practical… not unless they are solar powered. And if they are only activated by motion? Even better for your energy bill! Stay with us, for we are about to delve deeper into the best solar powered motion activated floodlights.
There’s no longer any need to worry about what goes on in your pitch black front after you go to bed; with this sort of lighting, you get to reap some unique benefits:
- Catch ’em red-handed: If you happen to have cameras installed, any would-be intruder who attempts to use the darkness for cover will be instantly, easily caught on tape as soon as they trigger the sensor.
- Grid independence: You can be certain your floodlights will work even if the power goes out, since they are solar powered; and, given they only turn on when they detect movement, they are highly unlikely to run out of juice—unless you purposefully use them for longer than the battery can endure, of course.
Their main purpose, as you may have surmised, is security. However, there’s nothing to lose (and much to gain, aesthetically speaking) should you choose to use them as additional lighting when you and yours hang out in the backyard.
Factors To Keep In Mind When Shopping For Solar Powered Motion Activated Floodlights
The following are characteristics that are bound to vary between one model and another, and which should hold some weight as you shop around.
Range Of Detection
This can differ quite a bit, from 0 all the way to 72 feet. Some models will go the extra mile by allowing you to set the range yourself, in case you want to make them less (or more) sensitive.
Light Intensity
This largely depends on the sort of use you have intended for them. If your intention is merely to provide on-demand illumination whenever you step outside, then you won’t need a lot of light. For the purpose of this review, we will be focusing on flood lights, which are remarkably potent and therefore quite adept at catching (and possibly spooking off) shady characters that get too close.
The angle at which the lights can sense motion is another factor, and it can be anywhere between 120 and 270°. Several models will allow you to adjust the lamps, to narrow or widen the beam to your liking.
Light Modes
Certain models allow you to pick how they will function. Do you want them dim? Steady light? Motion detection mode? The more such options a given set has, the more versatile and useful to you it will be.
Battery Capacity
Once again, this will be mainly determined by the intention you have for your lights. If all you want is something to catch anyone who gets too close, then a 90-minute battery should suffice; if, on the other hand, you want them to stay on for long periods while you enjoy the night breeze in your patio, then the lights you pick should have an appropriately capable battery.
Weather Resistance
This one is quite important. Depending on the sort of weather predominant in your area (frequent rains, for example), your lights will require a resilience level to match. Whenever possible, check if your model of choice features an IP rating. IP44 should be the bare minimum, if rains in your area tend to be lighter. You can read more about IP rating here.
The Best Solar Powered Motion Activated Floodlights
The following models come with the required potency and weather resilience to aid you in lighting your area of choice when the situation calls for it, while being varied enough to help you in finding the one that better suits your particular needs.
LKESBO LED Solar Flood Lights
If you need a pair rather than a single, then this one has bonus points from the get-go, as the 2-pack option it also offers is priced a bit lower than if you were to buy a couple singles. The included cord runs between the solar panel and the lights, which enables you to place the panel where it will be fully exposed to sunlight without restricting where you will install the lamps themselves
Rated IP65, this item is designed to endure just about anything Mother Nature throws at it, including snow, which should afford you even wider freedom of choice in terms of placement. 3 modes available: dim, full and motion detection.
Pros:
- Opportunity for additional savings when purchasing 2-pack.
- Designed for optimal heat dissipation, for longer durability.
- Generally praised for being remarkably easy to install.
Cons:
- Motion detection known to malfunction; sometimes it won’t detect except from a close distance, and several customers have reported having to unplug lamp from solar panel so it will work.
AmeriTop Cordless Solar Lights
Per its IP65 rating, this one is designed to handle pretty much any sort of weather without breaking, and its 128 LED bulbs can throw a decent 800 lumens to the area of your choice; the maximum angle it can cover is 270°, and the lights can be adjusted to your liking.
The sensor can sense movement at a minimum distance of 16′, the maximum being 26; upon triggering, the lights turn on automatically, and shut down 30 seconds after no further activity is detected. No wires or adapters are needed, as the solar panel is attached to the lamp—which may be somewhat of a limitation, as your lights will have to be installed in an area fully exposed to sunlight for optimal recharging.
Pros:
- Solar panel is optimized for higher energy conversion, for a faster recharge even in winter.
Cons:
- Not the easiest to install, per customer impressions.
- Multiple instances reported of water seal failing and causing unit to malfunction.
- No light modes available; this makes it potentially unusable for purposes other than security.
Ring Solar Floodlight
Although the light coverage you get with this one is not nearly as wide as that offered by a great many other alternatives, this one does offer a good amount of value in a less conventional way: namely, not only can you operate it from far away via the proprietary Ring App.
This model is also certified to work with Alexa; should you want to benefit from this functionality, it is recommended to select the appropriate package, be it the one that includes an Echo device, or one that comes with the bridge that enables app functionality. Available in black and white.
Pros:
- Wonderfully easy to control from a distance; one of the very few that are also compatible with Alexa.
- Package including step lights also available.
Cons:
- Might not be worth the hefty price for customers who are not big on Alexa or app control, as the overall offer is somewhat lacking on nearly all other departments.
LEPOWER Solar Powered Motion Activated Floodlight
Black, white or brown, whichever color you prefer, this one has got an option for you. There is also certain freedom in where you place the lamp, in that you can install it somewhere away from the sunlight (if you so desire; it is IP65 rated, after all), while the sensor is placed where exposure to the sun is at maximum.
Maximum detection range for the sensor is a fairly remarkable 72 feet; if such a range means your lights may be triggered when a perfectly innocent car drives by, you don’t need to worry, as you can dial down the distance at which the sensor triggers—including all the way to zero, so you can move around without pointlessly triggering them on daytime hours.
Pros:
- Available in a variety of colors, including one which may appeal to those who would like to depart from the stereotypical black and white.
Cons:
- Unlike a great many other models, this item will trigger even in broad daylight; this may cause unnecessary battery drainage unless user dials down the sensor to prevent it.
Cshidworld Uooser Outdoor Solar Lights
2500 lumens? Check. 4 lamp panels? Check. IP rating? 67!, which means, incidentally, that this one can stay underwater at a maximum depth of 1 meter, for up to 30 minutes (not that you might ever need it, but it’s not a bad thing to have).
The range at which this one can provide light is pretty difficult to beat, thanks to its four panels; while the center one is fixed, the two at the sides and the one below can be adjusted, giving you additional flexibility in how much light you shed directly below the lamp. The variety of light modes this one offers is also a notch above that offered by the average item of its category, as you can also set the lamp to be in dim mode (instead of fully off) while no movement is detected.
Pros:
- Its 4 lamps provide a remarkably wider light coverage than many items in its category.
- Its IP rating is higher than that of almost every competitor
- Decently priced for the value it offers.
Cons:
- Some of the screws included for installation can turn out too short for the job; replacing them might be required.
We Prefer: Cshidworld Uooser Outdoor Solar Lights
Not only is it generally agreed that they are bright, we also like that this model provides an additional panel pointing downwards, which can only broaden the area you get covered. Its particular configuration does require that the entire thing be exposed to the elements (as the solar panel is mounted above), but, unlike several other models we encountered, this one showed no recorded incidents of the unit gathering rainwater within.
The related investment is, we believe, fairly easy to make as well: for a price that is relatively low, you get two pieces, which means you get to cover a pretty large area right out of the box. In summary, and in nearly every respect, this option is just difficult to beat.
