April 16, 2017
Reviewed: Solar-Powered LED Security Light
When North American online retailer Deelat contacted me a few weeks ago about reviewing one of their products – I jumped at the chance.
They asked me if I’d like review one of their solar-powered LED security lights. I immediately said yes, as I’ve always been fascinated by solar-powered lights (but frequently disappointed by their performance.)
Despite my UK location, Deelat arranged for the product to be shipped to me by FedEx. It arrived promptly, just five days after being sent from Canada.
After opening the packaging and handling the product for the first time, I was instantly impressed by the build quality of both the light and the solar panel.
The set up was super-easy, and simply involved connecting the two units via the supplied power cable. The only thing left to do, was to put the units outside for testing.
Now, I have to be honest and admit that at this stage, I made a schoolboy error.
It was late afternoon, and daylight was still in full force. The light had been charging from the solar panel for several hours. However, try as I may, I could not get the light to come on. I pressed the button on the back several times, but no luck. I thought to myself: “Is the item faulty?”
Fortunately, a quick look at the instruction leaflet revealed my obvious mistake… Namely, the light only works when it’s dark!
This was proved to be correct, when the last rays of daylight faded away and were replaced by darkness. Without any action on my part, the light automatically came on.
It was at this point, that I discovered the light has an interesting and useful feature.
When it detects motion using its PIR sensor, the full 1000 lumens LED light is immediately switched on. This incredibly bright light remains on until motion is no longer detected. However, it doesn’t go completely off, as a ‘night light’ remains on at all times. To my eyes, this light is probably 15% of the full light. It’s a great feature, that provides three benefits:
- It indicates the light is charged
- It provides just enough light to visually check an area.
- It acts as a deterrent to anyone approaching your property.
You may wonder why the main light is not kept on at all times. Well, firstly, that would eat the battery life. And, secondly, the intense brightness could prove to be a nuisance for neighbours, etc.
Following the installation of the light and solar panel in my garden, I was then able to test the product for more than two weeks.
I can sum up my impressions in just one word: Amazed!
Despite living in a country with little sunshine (especially at this time of the year), the light charged faithfully every day.
The 10″ x 7″ solar panel is clearly great at capturing sunlight. Not only does the light stay on ‘night light’ mode throughout the night, but the bright light has never failed to be activated (and this is despite our dog regularly coming and going!).
A story that might interest you, involves my other half…
A couple of days after I installed the light, my wife was gardening in the late afternoon. I expected her to stop what she was doing as soon as it got dark. However, as darkness fell, there was no sign of her coming back into the house. Puzzled, I went to take a look, and found that my wife was still gardening, only this time through the illumination provided by the light! (An unexpected application, for sure.)
Anyway, if you’re wondering about the technical specifications of the product, I’ll list the essentials for you below:
- Materials: Aluminum alloy toughened glass
- Solar panel: Monocrystalline Silicon, 17% efficiency
- Solar Charging time: 11 hours by bright sunlight
- Lighting time: More than 5 nights
- Waterproof rating: IP65
In conclusion, the light is far brighter than I thought it would be. It has also impressed me by fully charging every day from the sun, despite the dull, dark days it’s been exposed to.
Our dog loves the light, as she can now see and chase birds or rodents that might stray into our garden. My wife loves the light, as she can now do ‘night gardening’! And finally, I love the light, as it adds an extra layer of security to our home, while at the same time providing a useful illumination of our patio and garden area.
In the past, I’ve tried a selection of solar-powered lights, and none have matched the brightness or battery storage of this product. So, for domestic or commercial use, I highly recommend the Deelat Solar Powered Motion Light. It’s a quality unit, at a great price ($85). And if you happen to need something bigger and brighter, Deelat also has several other solar-powered lights available. (You can view these here.)
Solar-powered lights appear to have come of age.
Forget the inferior solar products of the past, and instead, begin enjoying bright lighting – powered exclusively by the sun.
Craig J Todd – Freelance writer with a passion for tech, trends and simplicity.
Connect with Craig via Twitter.
