Yesterday I purchased a solar light to put out over the pool

[madokie]

to light it up and it looked like it puts out enough light to make a good desk lamp and so I brought it in and sure enough it is the light I've been looking for, now to transform it into a desk lamp. Be simple enough to take it out in the mornings and let it recharge all day. I have a window that does fine during the daytime hours and this maybe will do for the nighttime hours. It is one of what they call a spot light with three LEDs and three nicd batteries. It was still burning just as bright as last night this morning when I took it back outside to recharge.

I really like the white light that leds produce.

For what its worth.

[sui generis]

1. The LED's are very harsh on your eyes though

Especially if you're staring into a bright monitor. Check around - there are "natural" color LED's that won't cause as much eye strain, and will run for many hundreds of hours on a couple of AA batteries for desk lighting.

[madokie]

5. I'm not sure I agree with that but we'll see if maybe I'll agree after a few days, huh

I see it as a softer light though than incandescence are and so far my experience with cfl are they are too bright for my desk or not bright enough, haven't found that happy mediam. This LED one seems to be it but thats only using it for one night so far. :-) so we'll see.

[PearliePoo2]

2. what brand is it?

I've had lots of little solar yard lights over the years and the technology has really gotten better.
One thing I find is that the batteries eventually poop out and won't hold a charge as when they were new and need to be replaced every couple of years.
In fact..thanks for the reminder, I need to go swap out a few batteries now.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

6. Please elaborate.

We are about to purchase solar landscape lighting for our courtyard at our condo complex. We are going to need about 30 of them. Any info on brands or tech stuff would be most appreciated. We are looking for commercial grade products with a 20+- year life. I know the batteries won't last that long but the fixtures need to.

[madokie]

7. Other that what I've said so far I know nothing that would be of any good for you

We have a trail from our place over to our sons and we purchased, again from chinamart, some new ones this year that are bright enough to bring one in the house for light the next time power goes out rather than lighting candles. I couldn't tell you the brand other than made in china and purchased at the local chinamart, IE walmart. Sorry, I wish I could help further. I commend you all for doing this though.

[PearliePoo2]

8. neat business

Over the years I have shopped with a great retail business. They are very personable, you talk to a REAL person who actually uses the stuff they sell. They stand behind all of their products too.
They will help you while on the phone actually troubleshooting any problems you may have.
The name of the company is Backwoods Solar Electric Systems in Sandpoint Idaho.
Their phone is 208 263 4290. Call them and tell them what you need and see if they have it.
www.backwoodssolar.com

[trof]

9. The more you buy, the cheaper they are. Check Lowes.

[skids]

13. I can narrow your search to under 15% of the products...

...Insist on NiMH batteries (or Li if they even make those.)

Most of the products are still using NiCd. Highly inferior.

For spots I've found this particular one is nice. Runs off three 900 mAh NiMHs. Buy it, pop out the 900 mAh batteries and substitute in 3 more modern 2800 mAh NiMHs, and you'll have a light that during the summer can accumulate charge on really sunny days to make it through a cloudy day or two.

http://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-LED-Solar-Spot-Light/dp/B000J153TI

(Mine's actually slightly different -- round solar panel housing -- but I can tell by the frame this is the same make.)

[Orrex]

3. Here's a dumb question

Why am I thinking that it was difficult to achieve white LEDs for a while? I'm not sure where I encountered this claim, or if I came up with it on my own, but it's been rattling around in the back of my head as though I actually heard it somewhere.

[madokie]

4. I've read that too, many times so I think its not a figment of your imagination

I've spent a small fortune on leds for lamps and always was I disappointed up until this one. I bought it at chinamart. Its a malibu brand and it cost 19 bucks and change

[skids]

12. It was...

...but what you know about LEDs goes quickly obselete. The field is developing at breakneck pace. They now have production quantity LEDs available that are more efficient than CFL bulbs. The world will look very different in a few short years when it comes to lighting.

[jpak]

10. I have a couple of these on my porch and one over my front door

$19.95 each at Home Despot

They work great - and don't attract bugs...

When I get ambitious, I'm going to modify one as a night light for the bathroom.

:thumbsup:

[madokie]

11. I've been thinking of doing the same thing

I'm looking at a flashlight that I bought that has 51 leds in it that the switch went south on and using the leds in this one for an even brighter computer desk light. I never hardly ever stay up past a few hours past sundown so the time limit shouldn't be a problem, as it stands now this one with the three nicd batteries is still burning, what seems to be as bright, from yesterday. For some reason I just love LED lights. I have several and one of my favorites is a 32 led that will light up the whole back yard enough to see if there is a critter out there, the four or two legged kind.

The latest ones we purchased, four for 16 bucks, for the trail over to the kids house is bright enough so as the next time we have a power outage I'll go out and retrieve a couple of them instead of lighting lamps or candles.