Slightly OT - Solar powered patio lights

[ChuckD]

We're looking for some solar lighting ideas for around the inground. Our pool's in Upstate NY and gets full sun. I realize you can't expect light to read by via solar but some quality accent lighting around the perimeter of the pool and to illuminate surface changes would be nice. The one's I've tried were poorly made and never amounted to much more than a candle each in output.

C.

[mlh]

I bought a set of 15 Westinghouse glass and stainless solar lights from Ebay last summer and mounted them in the post caps of our aluminum fence. While they aren't real bright, they are great for a soft background light. They were perfect for what we wanted.

[ChuckD]

Funny you should mention those.
While I was searching around the net for ideas, I came across those on Amazon and they had great reviews. I think I'm going to pick a set up.
Thanks!

C.

[sevver]

I bought a set of 15 Westinghouse glass and stainless solar lights from Ebay last summer and mounted them in the post caps of our aluminum fence. While they aren't real bright, they are great for a soft background light. They were perfect for what we wanted.

That is a good idea, my Mom lives behind me, and I would like to light up the alley for our travels between houses, and putting the lightes into my fence tops would potentially work out well, and being solar, it would be fine. Even if it were not super light, all I would need is any light at all.

[ChuckD]

Hey, I just wanted to update this in case someone else can benefit. I went with the Westinghouse and they're pretty great. I say 'pretty' because of the 15, 5 were pretty dim after a full day in the sun. Further exposure seems to have brought their brightness up some but they shut off too soon. So for kicks I swapped out the batteries (standard AA rechargeables) with some quality rechargeables I use for the camera. That made all the difference. So I'm now going to replace all the cheepo brand batteries with some Powerex 2100's.

I give this product 4 out of 5 stars. The quality of light is the best I've seen and very useful. The batteries must be how they made them so affordable.

ChuckD

[Simmons99]

I saw this on HGTV's "I Want That!". They are solar globes that you can just put in the pool. DH and I were thinking about getting a couple.

http://www.grandinroad.com/jump.jsp?...&keyword=solar

[ChuckD]

Well, there you did it. I'm a 'light addict' and can't get enough. Find me at Home Despot in the lighting section. I've got to see one of those floaties Very cool!

I see where the site you posted has the 'Europa II" lights which are the Westinghouse lights I got. Except I got 15 for $110 on Amazon while Grandinroad has 6 for $89.

ChuckD

[mshumack]

I tried the solar lights about two years ago. They were great for the first year. Now none work well. It may have been a cheap brand - I got them at one of the box stroes. The batteries don't hold a charge and the solar panels are all clouded up with moisture. I also repalced the batteries at least once which helped for a while. They always seemed to dim to light the sidewalk. Okay for just showing the direction (rough location) of the sidewalk.

I'm going to install low voltage lighting soon. There is a website (forum) for low volatge lighting that is very helpful. Sorry I can't remeber the website.

Mainlesson learned - what ever you buy, spend the extra money for quality stuff.

[ChuckD]

I tried the solar lights about two years ago. They were great for the first year. Now none work well. It may have been a cheap brand - I got them at one of the box stroes. The batteries don't hold a charge and the solar panels are all clouded up with moisture. I also repalced the batteries at least once which helped for a while. They always seemed to dim to light the sidewalk. Okay for just showing the direction (rough location) of the sidewalk.

I'm going to install low voltage lighting soon. There is a website (forum) for low volatge lighting that is very helpful. Sorry I can't remeber the website.

Mainlesson learned - what ever you buy, spend the extra money for quality stuff.

Then I think you'd be pleasently surprised at these. I too went with something I picked up at a Target, 10 for $50 IIRC. They had a kind of amber color light which at best was about the brightness of a candle. These give off a bluish color much like those fancy-schmancy HID headlights you see. I believe they each have two LEDS as well (thus two batteries per light). Plus the housing is real glass and stainless steel.

[Simmons99]

Chuck - I don't know where else you can get those globe lights - that is just where HGTV said they were. I'm sure you can find them cheaper. $30 each is a little steep - but they are cool looking.