Best Malibu 8301-9300-01 Cast Metal Bollard Light, Black Deals

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Note: I bought an array of different Malibu lights to review BEFORE buying many of one single design and I suggest this for everyone. Since all lights are different when you turn them on at night, wire each one up and then see which looks best on your property. (Get the testers from a local store and return them; Amazon has great prices for the final purchase)

** Finish, Quality and Look ** The lamp is finished in black and made of metal and glass. Although the lamp is just about 8" tall, the glass part is thick and makes this a pretty heavy item (not that it matters, I guess, but the build quality is high). I think it's best suited to walkways and pathways, as it would disappear quickly among any tall plants, possibly even mature groundcovers.

** Light Pattern ** The light pattern is really impressive and just fades away (versus a distinct light pattern, etc.) It kind of floods an area instead of lighting it; the light bulb is in the bottom base of the column, so the glass top disperses it quickly. I found the light a bit annoying because of that glass piece, which becomes a shining focal point (you don't see the light it casts, but rather that one spot on the lamp since it's so darn bright).

I think this is a great lamp for areas you walk, but since the design spreads light wildly and doesn't focus it at all, a backyard setting would look more like the pedestrian walkways of mall. Oh yeah, that's rightthis "bollard" lamp's physical design looks very commercial-property oriented, so it may only match like a really "ultra-modern" looking home's exterior design.

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I have about twenty of these lights in my front yard, and overall, I'm pretty happy with them. They light up an area about two feet in diameter with soft, warm light without being obtrusive.

The only problem I occasionally have is with the base it's open to the ground below. What this means is that, especially during cooler months, ants will build their mounds around these lights because they're warm, and will also build them inside the lights themselves. Lights don't typically work very well when they're full of dirt and insects, so it'd be nice if the base was solid.

Best Deals for Malibu 8301-9300-01 Cast Metal Bollard Light, Black

I have several of these throughout my front and back yards and they provide a very attractive and pleasing effect with their 360 degree soft lighting pattern.

However, the base has openings where the spike is attached, and this design flaw will eventually lead to corrosion of the bulb holder, often leading to failure within only 2-3 years. I now follow one reviewer's suggestion that low-expansion spray-insulation foam be applied to the openings before assembling and putting the fixtures into the ground; just trim away the excess foam below and above the openings after it has hardened with a razor blade.(Make sure you cover the pin holes for the MR11 bulb in the socket itself with masking tape before you spray the foam and wipe away the excess foam from around the base with acetone before it hardens.) This prevents moisture damage to the socket and has worked very well so far.

One thing I would definitely suggest is to invest in 3 watt Cree LED MR11 bulbs versus the 20 watt incandescent bulbs these come with. If you shop around, you can find these bulbs in either bright white (6000 Kelvin) or softer yellow (3000 Kelvin) output for about $4-6 each. If you don't need high-output, you can find 1 watt non-Cree bulbs for even less. These are well-worth the initial cost. As they consume very little power, you save a lot of money on your electrical bills. I have about 30 assorted Malibu lights around my yards and have shaved about $20 a month off my electrical bill! In addition, you can use a much cheaper and smaller-rated transformer (44 or 88 watt)aand still have plenty of lights. They also have a much longer service life than incandescent bulbs.

However,regardless of what you do, the cast aluminum spike itself will eventually corrode to the point where a small blow to the fixture will break it off the spike. Plan on an average life span of 6-7 years.

Honest reviews on Malibu 8301-9300-01 Cast Metal Bollard Light, Black

I have a lot of long sidewalks and landscaping and I wanted a nice accent light. I had used various brands in the past and did not want anything that was made of plastic. I wanted it to look nice, stand up under outdoor conditions for long periods of time and be made of metal. These bollard lamps were attractive and made of die cast metal. They use a 20 watt halogen BI-pin bulb assembly that supplies ample light and makes the unit look attractive at night.

They have a black matt finish that is corrosion resistant and after 3 years they still look new. The lens is clear glass and makes the lamp look attractive. The lens is a large chunk of glass with an inverted cone to dissipate the light in a uniform circular pattern. This lamp is meant to provide low-profile lighting along sidewalks or the edges of gardens or landscaping.

I have about 16 of these operating and they provide a nice professional lighting effect for your home. They were easy to install and I do not have any complaints with the lights. Several people have seen our lights and asked where we purchased them and have installed the same lights.

I recommend them to you.

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I now have ten of these lights in my front and back yard and have never had a problem. As long as you use the right size transformer, these lights with last for a long time.