Cheap Sunforce 82156 60 LED Solar Motion Light

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $37.14
Today's Bonus: 26% Off

Pros:

Nice, bright light better than expected.

Adjustable settings for: 1. what constitutes dusk when the light begins to motion sense; 2. how sensitive the IR detector is to movement, and; 3. how long the light remains on.

Selectable modes for auto, on, or off.

IR sensor is adjustable up / down and left / right, separate from light.

Power cord from solar cell is very long and gives you more flexibility on installation locations.

Cons:

Mounting hardware (not the units themselves) is not galvanized or otherwise weather resistant (e.g. stainless). I used a silicon based caulk to cover screw heads and seams.

Light is only adjustable up / down so getting the light to face where you want may involve mounting additional hardware.

Adjustable settings have considerable hysteresis. (I was up and down a ladder many times)

I bought three of these; two of them took considerable time (15+ minutes) to start turning off in Auto mode, even with the sensitivity and time adjustments minimized. The third worked as soon as the switch was turned. All three had been given the same amount of time to charge beforehand (5 days).

I took one star for setup because I had almost given up on two of the three purchased. The adjustment settings were initially unresponsive and the lights just stayed on in Auto mode. When they finally turned off, everything started working as indicated. The adjustment knobs are not linear, so I recommend getting a second person to perform a walking test so that the first can stay on the ladder to tweak the settings. Also recommend using some sealant on the mounting hardware to keep it from rusting. I kept picturing two years from now: we're inside and something hits the side of our house and it looks like someone is shining a flashlight in the window as one of these lights breaks away and dangles from the power cord because of cheap hardware.

Once we were able to move beyond the setup and enjoy them, these lights redeemed some stars for how bright they are and the fact that they're solar with motion detection. I truly didn't expect the intensity to be this good and to last for so long. I'm sure this will vary with the availability of optimal charging sunlight, but the performance, brightness, function, and price are well worth it so far.

FYI the solar cell mounts to a ball-joint bracket on one of the long sides. The quickest comparison that comes to mind is the rearview mirror in a car. Except the range of movement is better on the solar cell. 360 degrees of rotation, and 180 degrees of tilt. Combine this with the length of power cord supplied and you have greater latitude on where you can install everything.

Very happy with this purchase and would definitely recommend it to others. Feel free to respond with any questions or feedback. I'll try to remember to post a follow up in 6 months and see how they're holding up.

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This light is very easy to set up and seems sturdy. The light housing itself is metal instead of plastic which I prefer. I replaced included rechargeable batteries with higher rated AA mHA ones. I charged the light inside for a couple of days and mounted to the outside deck. The motion sensor is sensitive and accurate. The light is small but illuminates better than expected. It lights approximately 200-300 square foot area very well. I don't know how it will handle in the long run. Our Wyoming winters can reek havoc on outdoor products, but the product is performing very well right now. Light includes customizable control settings for motion radius, light sensitivity and illumination duration. The only con would be that the mounting bracket only allows the light to pivot up and down and not side to side, so this does limit mounting options....the only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5.

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My home has some dark areas that do not have light fixtures available, and I have a couple of small dogs that I need to keep an eye on when I let them out. Instead of hard-wiring in new exterior lights (a MAJOR project to do, or costly to pay an electrician), I decided to go the "easy" solar light path. I purchased a "standard" (non-LED) light for over $100 from a local "big box" store, and the light works fine. But since I have several areas I want to light, I wanted to explore a lower-cost alternative, so I gave the Sunforce LED light a try.

Installation was super easy. It takes just a few minutes to screw in the light and solar bracket, and you are done.

But the best part comes (of course) after the sun goes down. This one light provides a decent amount of light over a large area (much more "flood" than "spot"). I would estimate that the main lit area is around 40 feet by 50 feet, which definitely exceeded my expectations, AND it beats the pants off the $100+ light. It is not as bright as a hard-wired flood light, but it isn't too far behind.

I like this light so much that I just ordered two more; actions speak louder than words, so that tells you what I really think about the lights ... A+!

Honest reviews on Sunforce 82156 60 LED Solar Motion Light

I mounted one of these above my front door to light up the stoop at night, and one inside my 8x12 shed. They work great in both locations. Construction is sturdy, but the light only moves up and down and not right to left, so mounting options are indeed limited. I've had them up and running for about a week and so far so good. They are brighter than I was expecting.

Update (March 22, 2012): these have been going strong for almost a year now. The one on my front porch works like a champ, and the one in my shed is bright enough to illuminate the entire 8x12 space. For the money, these are a great bargain. Changed from 4 to 5 stars.

Update (May 3, 2013): they are still working as great as the first day I installed them!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sunforce 82156 60 LED Solar Motion Light

The first one I received had 4 LED's that were dead, exchange by Amazon no problem.

The replacement worked fine but water gets under the glass lens. Don't know how that's going to effect the operation of the light in the long term.

Edited on 12/4/12

After 3 month's the batteries will no longer hold a charge. Warranty period over so I'm stuck with the lights and will have to purchase a new battery pack.

Try another light these are problematic in my opinion.