In my experience, solar garden lights last about 2 to 3 years, ma. The
photovoltaic cells deteriorate and the NICAD batteries can stand only so
many charges/discharges.

I removed them and installed 12 V Malibu lights, although I had a long run
to the transformer. They actually provide enough light to see by and their
price compares with the solar lights. Be sure to use 7 or 12 Watt bulbs,
instead of 4 Watt.

--
Walter
www.rationality.net
-
"Sheldon" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jul 23, 12:46?am, Tony Tung wrote:
A couple years ago, we installed solar landscape lights. Thanks to a
fortuitous geographic location, they work relatively well (i.e., they
light up well past midnight). My problem is that they're too fragile. I
have them installed along the walkway and along the driveway, and about
half of them have been broken in half by a opening car door or a misstep.

I'm looking for a durable set of lights that don't have any cheap plastic
connectors between the post and the light. Anyone have a product to
recommend?

I have two solar lanterns set near my deck. As I quickly discovered
solar lighting is more for decorative effect than for reliable
lighting; they're not very bright and don't work well or at all when
days are cloudy... they definitely don't work when their solar panels
are covered with snow. The ones I bought (Lowes) are essentially all
metal, except for the glass portions (they're actually made very well
- brushed and heavily laquered sturdy aluminum) I don't remember the
brand at the moment... but perhaps if you didn't install them where
they could be damaged by opening car doors and being stepped on. I'm
sure that if I installed mine the same as you did yours the ones I
have would get broken too.

Okay, found the paperwork... here is the "Intermatic" model I have
(LZ1400 IH):
http://www.intermatic.com/Default.as...id=49&sid=7 6

I have the "pewter finish", two lamps came in a set, $30, still
working after four years, and no corrosion.

I originally bought them thinking to hang them from the trees at the
foot of my driveway, but then decided they would soon walk away with
passerbys, so they ended up inside a perennial bed at my rear deck.
They wouldn't have been much good as driveway markers anyway, like I
said, they are not reliable lighting. There do exist more powerful
solar lamps but they are rather costly.

I don't have a good pictu http://i13.tinypic.com/54ijslu.jpg

On 2007-07-24 02:21:16 -0400, "Walter R." said:

In my experience, solar garden lights last about 2 to 3 years, ma. The
photovoltaic cells deteriorate and the NICAD batteries can stand only so
many charges/discharges.

I removed them and installed 12 V Malibu lights, although I had a long run
to the transformer. They actually provide enough light to see by and their
price compares with the solar lights. Be sure to use 7 or 12 Watt bulbs,
instead of 4 Watt.


Actually the batteries poop out first. Typically they are Nicads which
suck. Replace once a year and you're all set.

In article ,
Johnny Borborigmi wrote:

On 2007-07-24 02:21:16 -0400, "Walter R." said:

In my experience, solar garden lights last about 2 to 3 years, ma. The
photovoltaic cells deteriorate and the NICAD batteries can stand only so
many charges/discharges.

I removed them and installed 12 V Malibu lights, although I had a long run
to the transformer. They actually provide enough light to see by and their
price compares with the solar lights. Be sure to use 7 or 12 Watt bulbs,
instead of 4 Watt.


Actually the batteries poop out first. Typically they are Nicads which
suck. Replace once a year and you're all set.

You takin' notes Sheldon?

FB - FFF (Raise a Stink)
--
Billy
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/

On Jul 26, 12:38?am, Billy Rose wrote:
In article ,
Johnny Borborigmi wrote:

On 2007-07-24 02:21:16 -0400, "Walter R." said:

In my experience, solar garden lights last about 2 to 3 years, ma. The
photovoltaic cells deteriorate and the NICAD batteries can stand only so
many charges/discharges.

I removed them and installed 12 V Malibu lights, although I had a long run
to the transformer. They actually provide enough light to see by and their
price compares with the solar lights. Be sure to use 7 or 12 Watt bulbs,
instead of 4 Watt.

Actually the batteries poop out first. Typically they are Nicads which
suck. Replace once a year and you're all set.

You takin' notes Sheldon?

Solar garden lamps cost very little, typically $15. Mine have been
working perfectly for more than four years now. Low voltage lamps are
fine too, but they do not lend themselves for setting any distance
from an AC electrical source. I'm guessing that you don't believe in
batterys because you're afflicted with CCBD (ChronicCheap *******
Disease), that all the remotes for your TVs are plug-ins, and you
start your automobile by rolling it down a hill. Are you taking
notes, Pinhead Billy.

on 8/10/2007 8:56 AM Sheldon said the following:
On Jul 26, 12:38?am, Billy Rose wrote:

In article ,
Johnny Borborigmi wrote:


On 2007-07-24 02:21:16 -0400, "Walter R." said:

In my experience, solar garden lights last about 2 to 3 years, ma. The
photovoltaic cells deteriorate and the NICAD batteries can stand only so
many charges/discharges.

I removed them and installed 12 V Malibu lights, although I had a long run
to the transformer. They actually provide enough light to see by and their
price compares with the solar lights. Be sure to use 7 or 12 Watt bulbs,
instead of 4 Watt.

Actually the batteries poop out first. Typically they are Nicads which
suck. Replace once a year and you're all set.

You takin' notes Sheldon?


Solar garden lamps cost very little, typically $15. Mine have been
working perfectly for more than four years now. Low voltage lamps are
fine too, but they do not lend themselves for setting any distance
from an AC electrical source. I'm guessing that you don't believe in
batterys because you're afflicted with CCBD (ChronicCheap *******
Disease), that all the remotes for your TVs are plug-ins, and you
start your automobile by rolling it down a hill. Are you taking
notes, Pinhead Billy.

The only thing solar garden lights are good for is to indicate the sides
of walkways, like airport runway lights indicate the sides of the runway
for aircraft. They provide very little illumination for anything other
than showing that you should walk between them. You should carry a
flashlight in case there is an obstacle on the walk.
All of the solar lights I have bought suffered the same problems. After
a few years, the plastic over the solar cells turned milky and oxidized,
and the solar cells themselves looked like they were becoming un-laminated.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

On Aug 10, 10:29?am, willshak wrote:
on 8/10/2007 8:56 AM Sheldon said the following:





On Jul 26, 12:38?am, Billy Rose wrote:

In article ,
Johnny Borborigmi wrote:

On 2007-07-24 02:21:16 -0400, "Walter R." said:

In my experience, solar garden lights last about 2 to 3 years, ma. The
photovoltaic cells deteriorate and the NICAD batteries can stand only so
many charges/discharges.

I removed them and installed 12 V Malibu lights, although I had a long run
to the transformer. They actually provide enough light to see by and their
price compares with the solar lights. Be sure to use 7 or 12 Watt bulbs,
instead of 4 Watt.

Actually the batteries poop out first. Typically they are Nicads which
suck. Replace once a year and you're all set.

You takin' notes Sheldon?

Solar garden lamps cost very little, typically $15. Mine have been
working perfectly for more than four years now. Low voltage lamps are
fine too, but they do not lend themselves for setting any distance
from an AC electrical source. I'm guessing that you don't believe in
batterys because you're afflicted with CCBD (ChronicCheap *******
Disease), that all the remotes for your TVs are plug-ins, and you
start your automobile by rolling it down a hill. Are you taking
notes, Pinhead Billy.

The only thing solar garden lights are good for is to indicate the sides
of walkways, like airport runway lights indicate the sides of the runway
for aircraft.

Actually runway lights are quite powerful, were you to actually walk
beside them on the tarmac you'd think it was daylight.

They provide very little illumination for anything other
than showing that you should walk between them.

That's all solar lamps are intended for.. thye're so one doesn't
wander off the path is all... whaddaya, a Boeing 1011?

You should carry a
flashlight in case there is an obstacle on the walk.
All of the solar lights I have bought suffered the same problems. After
a few years, the plastic over the solar cells turned milky and oxidized,
and the solar cells themselves looked like they were becoming un-laminated.

That would be delaminated.

The Intermatic brand lamps I have work fine. The solar collectors
look good as new, as does the entire unit... shows absolutely no wear
and tear whatsoever. They've been working for more than 4 years now
(rain, shine, snow, hail, hot, cold, whatever... even birds shit on
them, washes away when it rains). No one expects solar lamps to give
much light... whaddaya sneak outside at night to peep at Hustler...
they're merely to find ones way with *minimal* illumination and to add
decorativeness is all. When I need LIGHT outdoors at night I flip on
my dual 150W incandescent floodlamps and remember to wear my miner's
hat. And there do exist solar lamps that give pretty good
illumination, ie. flag spots, but they cost five times as much as the
typical $10-$15 pathway units... if mine die next week I'm ahead of
the game, cost me like $3/yr and not a cent added to my electric
bill. And Intermatic will sell the entire top cap (contains panels,
batterys, and bulb) for like $4.

The only solar garden light is good, is to show both sides of the aisle, directions to the airport runway runway lights on both sides. They provide more than anything, you have to walk between them, little light show. You must have a flashlight in case there is a barrier on the pitch.

Plastic outdoor lights are highlighted for selection of landscape design. Lots of creative designs for the square of solar lights Solar spotlights sprung up plenty of sites and online stores. To keep your landscape less obvious and touching your eyes, even though they are free to organize and Plastic solar light will make people have to be your best choice.