These are definitely meh. Would not recommend buying as my family has purchased multiple of the same model and style from Harbor Freight, and they lasted about a year before falling apart.
@Odorous issue is if you are using them under an overhang they are probably on a building with electric and you did not need them to be solar and they probably wouldn’t work well. You could have just wired in a proper halogen that could light up the entire yard with 5-10x the brightness. Or put in a standard fixture with LED bulbs. At twice the brightness
But I don’t want to light the entire woods just a minimum glow to keep darkness from achieving a full totality. I don’t want to interfere in lightning bug procreation.
@Odorous if you just want a dusk to dawn light I don’t see this fitting the bill either unless it’s on a location with no power. And then rain water filling it is an issue.
I don’t run any dusk to dawn just on when needed and if they are needed. Well. Time to light it up.
My backyard halogen is on a switch and I only need to light up the back yard a couple times a year. Motion sensors should only go off when needed with a good sensor but most hard wired ones have a mode where you can flick the switch three times to put them on. This is good when someone is coming over/trying to find your house/any reason you just want them.
And with permanent fixtures you can always change the bulb to your preferred level of brightness. Vs tossing the whole thing.
But many people may not be comfortable doing wiring or crawling around in the attic. To each their own.
A good but of info might be how you have them mounted under an overhang but still get enough recharge. Mounting/angle of the solar panels
You can adjust detection distance, time on, and brightness, I’m in. And for those that say they stop working after a year- you do have to change out the el’cheapo rechargeable batteries with a name brand.
A family member by marriage thought they only work by miraculously storing sunlight inside itself after I suggested she change the batteries on the ones that don’t work anymore.
@Odorous want what? Companies are selling products with shit batteries? When did that start? All my batteries included stuff used to come with “heavy duty” batteries at a minimum. None of that crappy alkaline stuff
@hchavers I mean. I call moron if you are looking at the sun. And its sad I have to say this but that is just in general not targeted at any specific person
@canuk@hchavers@thebumm def watched him probably twice at least. I don’t keep track of names because I don’t go to clubs. Or even have comedy clubs. But I love that Netflix has been giving lots of comics specials
@hchavers@thebumm@unksol yeah he’s my favorite comic. Seen him live even a couple times. So funny. I gotta brag that as a card-carrying member of his official fan club I even got invited and went to the live taping of his Netflix up and away mini series!! #nerdlife
I’m curious about the background image. Is that to point out the bonus feature that it will come on when someone comes along metal detecting in the dark on your property?
In my experience all the ones with huge numbers of dim LEDs are the “cheap” way to do it. The better quality ones, especially for commercial and industrial use, usually have 1 (or maybe 3 or 4) high-quality bright LEDs and a sophisticated metal heat sink assembly.
Same is true for flashlights. We all know those ones with a ton of LEDs that you can get for like $1. when you get up to the nicer ones, you have just a single LED with much superior light quality and greater efficiency-per-lumen.
@pmarin true but also the reflector and lens matters much more in a flashlight and needs a single focal point. Usually with a flashlight you are looking for a narrow beam and max throw. Completely different from a security light where you want max spread.
Still not bright enough for me but these large area flood lights can use large LED arrays to get there
@Odorous lol I used to be at max spread working security 30 hours a week plus a salary position. but I got off that years ago. Still don’t sleep right.
What’s yours? Kids+covid+work? Or just no work? Hope not kids+covid+nowork… Any if those can be a very difficult situation…l
The shit batteries in these things are always their weak spot. After that it’s that they’re not weather-proof. Take steps to address that and I’d bet this is a decent light.
Fun story - we had a smaller solar/motion-sensing light that we sort of left laying on a deck chair - our dog used to go outside and stand in front of it and give us the hairy eyeball when he wanted to go make lawn sausage…
@tarpaper maybe see below from rural king but the reviews are abysmal. they could just be a result of bad batteries and poor sealing which you can easily correct. But you might also want to look at better items if you just don’t have spare battery/sealant laying aroun
Edit: rural kings says lithium ion. That may or may not be a standard cell. Would have to see it
Harbor Freight has some for $18. that glow dim all night but brighten when approached. I have a few that are going on 3 years now(light protected from elements)with original batteries. Not that bright but good for a doorway or gate latch. Fat spiders next to them.
[EDIT: this was supposed to be reply to previous post, but I guess I clicked the wrong thing, sorry…]
Never heard of Rural King until last week; I was driving across the country (literally) and saw one in a new building near an otherwise-abandoned strip mall by I-70 in Missouri. I think it just opened; there were big banners outside and lots of fun looking equipment in the parking lot. It looked like a happenin’ place! Seriously; I wish I had one of those near me.
I got mine today. Fastest I’ve ever received an item!
That being said…
The mounting screws are GARBAGE. Tried two of them and the both stripped out before they were halfway in. Replaced with wood screws and mounted to the side of my house 12’ up on the corner with no normal outside lighting. Waited until just now to see how it illuminated my back yard and it’s actually pretty well lit up. The sensor detected me at a pretty good distance.
On auto it only stayed out up for about a minute.
The instructions direct me to “Fig. 7” but there’s not a Fig 7. So there apparently isn’t a LUX / TIME / SENS option on these.
I didn’t see a way to tighten the solar panel mount so hopefully I won’t have to trek back up on the roof after every wind event.
Again, save yourself the stress and use wood screws or any real screws as opposed to the Chinesium ones supplied.
@hockeyham You didn’t have to charge it for 3 days? There are adjustments for lux, time, sensor on the bottom of the light. And I have been running into a lot of chinesium phillip head screws lately, the slightest pressure and stripped. I’m just throwing them out and use a decent brand name screw.
Mine arrived today, quick delivery, and my first impression was I overpaid. I hope I’m wrong. The single page copy machine manual states 1 year warranty with no address or contact info which leads back to my first impression. Let’s hope I am totally wrong and it gives years of service. Anyway, now charging for 3 days as stated in “Operation”. In all my years of buying from Meh this is my first meh purchase.
So, does Meh just not have any refund policy for items that don’t work at all? I get that the stuff they sell is mediocre, but sometimes I get things that just don’t work, and when I email I get no response.
Yeah, this isn’t water proof. Quite the opposite… you can’t have the light angled down (as most flood lights are) without getting moisture and water seeping in, rendering this ineffective, at best.
Also the solar panel doesn’t articulate well… the cheap plastic ball-and-socket doesn’t handle much movement, so you can’t angle the panel correctly to optimize sunlight exposure unless you just are lucky that you’re installing it on a surface that’s already angled for full sun.
Very disappointed in this. A waste of money and 2 hours spent messing with this only for it to be a dud.
Specs
What’s in the Box?
Price Comparison
$44.99 at Amazon for Similar
Warranty
1 Year Limited Warranty; StorageAid
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, Jun 29 - Monday, Jul 3
These were not the fireworks I was expecting
@Woody1 That’s true. Why get these security lights when fire works?
@DoctorOW @Woody1
/giphy rimshot
Is this declaring our independence from big power, while still lighting up the night?
These are definitely meh. Would not recommend buying as my family has purchased multiple of the same model and style from Harbor Freight, and they lasted about a year before falling apart.
I have a couple of the $18. HF ones going on 3 years and still working with original batteries. Probably stop working now that I’m buying more.
But can it detect John Cena?
@muzztime , Yes it will detect John Cena. But it will not detect Chuck Norris!
@muzztime Yes, the spotlight always finds John Cena, although you’ll still be unable to see him.
If I get enough of these can I put them in my tv to make it HDR?
@flehm a highly doubtful return? Sure
The past two deals have been quite illuminating.
@awk Wasn’t yesterday a steamer?
/giphy huh
@stinks Sounds like you missed a day. I suspect alien abduction. Check for anal probes.
/giphy anal probes
@awk ah the motion detection light bars. Sometimes you drink to forget.
/giphy drink to forget
I really want the helicopter.
I flew in those helicopters (CH-53E) as part of my previous day job. Good times.
@seespotbark Very cool. And thank you!
Is this the same light?
https://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-82080-80-LED-Solar-Motion/dp/B00FDQPCR2/
That one has different contols. 2 presets. This one looks to be 3 dial adjustments.
Poor quality. They fill with water in rain.
I mount then under overhangs to keep out of direct rain and have no problem.
@Odorous issue is if you are using them under an overhang they are probably on a building with electric and you did not need them to be solar and they probably wouldn’t work well. You could have just wired in a proper halogen that could light up the entire yard with 5-10x the brightness. Or put in a standard fixture with LED bulbs. At twice the brightness
But I don’t want to light the entire woods just a minimum glow to keep darkness from achieving a full totality. I don’t want to interfere in lightning bug procreation.
Out at the gate I use a 0.5 watt led bulb that is a tad bit brighter than I like. But it’s ok.
@Odorous if you just want a dusk to dawn light I don’t see this fitting the bill either unless it’s on a location with no power. And then rain water filling it is an issue.
I don’t run any dusk to dawn just on when needed and if they are needed. Well. Time to light it up.
My backyard halogen is on a switch and I only need to light up the back yard a couple times a year. Motion sensors should only go off when needed with a good sensor but most hard wired ones have a mode where you can flick the switch three times to put them on. This is good when someone is coming over/trying to find your house/any reason you just want them.
And with permanent fixtures you can always change the bulb to your preferred level of brightness. Vs tossing the whole thing.
But many people may not be comfortable doing wiring or crawling around in the attic. To each their own.
A good but of info might be how you have them mounted under an overhang but still get enough recharge. Mounting/angle of the solar panels
“Security lights”
So you get more than one of them?
@thechinglish 80 to be exact.
You can adjust detection distance, time on, and brightness, I’m in. And for those that say they stop working after a year- you do have to change out the el’cheapo rechargeable batteries with a name brand.
A family member by marriage thought they only work by miraculously storing sunlight inside itself after I suggested she change the batteries on the ones that don’t work anymore.
@Odorous want what? Companies are selling products with shit batteries? When did that start? All my batteries included stuff used to come with “heavy duty” batteries at a minimum. None of that crappy alkaline stuff
I call oxymoron, unless you are looking at the sun.
@hchavers I mean. I call moron if you are looking at the sun. And its sad I have to say this but that is just in general not targeted at any specific person
@hchavers @unksol What did Brian Regan ever do to you?
@thebumm do not recognize the name but I love stand up comics and he’s on Netflix. I’ve probably watched his special. I’m bored might rewatch
@hchavers @thebumm @unksol the big yellow one is the sun! The big yellow one is the sun!
@canuk @hchavers @thebumm def watched him probably twice at least. I don’t keep track of names because I don’t go to clubs. Or even have comedy clubs. But I love that Netflix has been giving lots of comics specials
@hchavers @thebumm @unksol yeah he’s my favorite comic. Seen him live even a couple times. So funny. I gotta brag that as a card-carrying member of his official fan club I even got invited and went to the live taping of his Netflix up and away mini series!!
#nerdlife 
/youtube this little light of mine
I’m curious about the background image. Is that to point out the bonus feature that it will come on when someone comes along metal detecting in the dark on your property?
In my experience all the ones with huge numbers of dim LEDs are the “cheap” way to do it. The better quality ones, especially for commercial and industrial use, usually have 1 (or maybe 3 or 4) high-quality bright LEDs and a sophisticated metal heat sink assembly.
Same is true for flashlights. We all know those ones with a ton of LEDs that you can get for like $1. when you get up to the nicer ones, you have just a single LED with much superior light quality and greater efficiency-per-lumen.
@pmarin wait a second. A $24 solar floodlight is manufactured using cheap components? Say it isn’t so!
@pmarin true but also the reflector and lens matters much more in a flashlight and needs a single focal point. Usually with a flashlight you are looking for a narrow beam and max throw. Completely different from a security light where you want max spread.
Still not bright enough for me but these large area flood lights can use large LED arrays to get there
I’m at max spread maybe I should go work security.
@Odorous lol I used to be at max spread working security 30 hours a week plus a salary position. but I got off that years ago. Still don’t sleep right.
What’s yours? Kids+covid+work? Or just no work? Hope not kids+covid+nowork… Any if those can be a very difficult situation…l
The shit batteries in these things are always their weak spot. After that it’s that they’re not weather-proof. Take steps to address that and I’d bet this is a decent light.
Fun story - we had a smaller solar/motion-sensing light that we sort of left laying on a deck chair - our dog used to go outside and stand in front of it and give us the hairy eyeball when he wanted to go make lawn sausage…
@Pufferfishy the ghost poop is coming unless you act now. Woooooo…
Most useful item I’ve seen on Meh, but I’m apparently too late. Somebody cancel their order or find some more!
@tarpaper maybe see below from rural king but the reviews are abysmal. they could just be a result of bad batteries and poor sealing which you can easily correct. But you might also want to look at better items if you just don’t have spare battery/sealant laying aroun
Edit: rural kings says lithium ion. That may or may not be a standard cell. Would have to see it
@unksol Good to know, thanks. It looks like the FleaBay also has similar items for cheap, so not missing the deal of the century in either case.
Harbor Freight has some for $18. that glow dim all night but brighten when approached. I have a few that are going on 3 years now(light protected from elements)with original batteries. Not that bright but good for a doorway or gate latch. Fat spiders next to them.
For those of you who missed this, Rural King has these on sale for 24.95.
@cranky1950 I believe you mean this
https://www.ruralking.com/solar-motion-light-1000-lumens-sml-02
Never had anything shipped from them but I do like the local store.
[EDIT: this was supposed to be reply to previous post, but I guess I clicked the wrong thing, sorry…]
Never heard of Rural King until last week; I was driving across the country (literally) and saw one in a new building near an otherwise-abandoned strip mall by I-70 in Missouri. I think it just opened; there were big banners outside and lots of fun looking equipment in the parking lot. It looked like a happenin’ place! Seriously; I wish I had one of those near me.
Plus it’s just a great name.
No you don’t. They rarely have anything that’s in the flyer. Always sold out.
Wow. Fast ship.
Anyone took a look at the batteries? Is it LiPo or 2 aa style nickel or similar rechargeable
It’s a single anonymous 18650 1500mah 3.7 volt
I got mine today. Fastest I’ve ever received an item!
That being said…
The mounting screws are GARBAGE. Tried two of them and the both stripped out before they were halfway in. Replaced with wood screws and mounted to the side of my house 12’ up on the corner with no normal outside lighting. Waited until just now to see how it illuminated my back yard and it’s actually pretty well lit up. The sensor detected me at a pretty good distance.
On auto it only stayed out up for about a minute.
The instructions direct me to “Fig. 7” but there’s not a Fig 7. So there apparently isn’t a LUX / TIME / SENS option on these.
I didn’t see a way to tighten the solar panel mount so hopefully I won’t have to trek back up on the roof after every wind event.
Again, save yourself the stress and use wood screws or any real screws as opposed to the Chinesium ones supplied.
@hockeyham You didn’t have to charge it for 3 days? There are adjustments for lux, time, sensor on the bottom of the light. And I have been running into a lot of chinesium phillip head screws lately, the slightest pressure and stripped. I’m just throwing them out and use a decent brand name screw.
Adjustments under motion sensor.
Yeah I saw it the next day I was pressed for time installing it and was cussing up a storm at the lousy screws.
So far so good and the brightness is perfect for that side of my house.
I did not have to wait the three days it came right on when I tested it.
Mine arrived today, quick delivery, and my first impression was I overpaid. I hope I’m wrong. The single page copy machine manual states 1 year warranty with no address or contact info which leads back to my first impression. Let’s hope I am totally wrong and it gives years of service. Anyway, now charging for 3 days as stated in “Operation”. In all my years of buying from Meh this is my first meh purchase.
Too many clouds today so I took out the battery and am charging it with a charger. Feeling less meh about my purchase.
So, does Meh just not have any refund policy for items that don’t work at all? I get that the stuff they sell is mediocre, but sometimes I get things that just don’t work, and when I email I get no response.
nevermind - i figured it out
@jamieschwesnedl What exactly was wrong? I have mine plugged in and exposed to the sun for over a week but have never seen it lit.
@jamieschwesnedl I am having the same issue. Bought two. Exposed to sun 3 days still not working unless the solar panels are exposed to sunlight.
@jamieschwesnedl @oleydad Any tips? Mine is not working.
@jamieschwesnedl Would you please share what you figured out? I have had mine charging for over a week now and still no success.
@jamieschwesnedl what was the solution?
Mine is not holding a charge out of the box. Bad battery? I’ve contacted Meh support and they say will get back to me within a week…meh
Yeah, this isn’t water proof. Quite the opposite… you can’t have the light angled down (as most flood lights are) without getting moisture and water seeping in, rendering this ineffective, at best.
Also the solar panel doesn’t articulate well… the cheap plastic ball-and-socket doesn’t handle much movement, so you can’t angle the panel correctly to optimize sunlight exposure unless you just are lucky that you’re installing it on a surface that’s already angled for full sun.
Very disappointed in this. A waste of money and 2 hours spent messing with this only for it to be a dud.
After reading a bunch or crappy reviews here, I’m glad my order was canceled