Solar lights

[gvw]

Anybody have experience with solar lighting? I would like to install two solar lights on top of my entry gate posts- however not sure how where to go for info or materials??

 

[ronjhall]

gvw
I’m not an expert on solar lighting but have done some investigating what would be needed to provide a light for up to 14 hours. A light that will stay on that long needs larger solar panels and batteries. There are several available that are used for marine application. I have a set of 4 Brinkman lights that are solar powered. This time of year they will only stay bright about 8 hours.
By doing a search on Google you will able to find a lot of information on the different solar lights that are available.
All the ones I found that would stay lit for a full night in Michigan during the winter cost over $200.00 each. They do not look like some thing that I want to put on a post to mark my driveway.
Here is one site that I have looked at. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.premierfloats.com/>Click Here</A>
Hope someone else on TBN has some information to add. I would also like to add some Solar lights to my landscape.

 

[njrqs]

I have a few solar garden lights around here.

They don't illuminate much, if anything, but it looks pretty having the lights around.

They range from $15 to $25+ here. Aus $.

Sure beats wires and the price of cable is [censored] expensive here.

Cheers

 

[gws]

Do you want to have lights on top your entry gate or do you want to light your entry gate. Two very different issues. If its just to have a lights to show where the pillars are then most of the higher end patio style lights should work.

If your looking to acutally light the area then a larger panel, battery will be needed.

 

[hwp]

I have been wanting to instal driveway marker lights for my 400 foot driveway but have yet to find anything I really liked. I have been thinking about solar lights but they seem really expensive, expecially the ones that will stay lit for more than a few hours and may get no more than 10 hours of daylight in the middle of the winter (like now!). So, I am curious to see what unfolds in this thread.

 

[heehaw]

k-mart put some solar lights on sale last year, so i bought a couple..they do not furnish any usable light, but they do mark the walkway, and they have stayed on all night so far, at least they are still on when i go out sometime @ 6am..
heehaw

 

[hwp]

Thanks Heehaw:

I am not looking for something with usable light so much as something to mark the location of the driveway which is about about 400 feet in length, is semi-eliptical and has a centre island flower garden towards one end. I don't care if they don't stay on all night but I would like them to stay on from dusk until midnight. At this time of the year in our part of the world, that is about 7 hours, with not much more daylight hours to recharge the cells. I think I will need about 30 units and I am thinking of mounting them on 3 inch pipe, probably thickwall PVC, three feet into the ground and three feet above ground, something that won't rust or need painting and can be easily repaired or replaced if damaged. I know they will be a nuisance to mow around. The ones I have seen tend to run about $US500 to$US800 each which is why I haven't done anything as yet. So far I have chosen not to go the traditional trenching route as it presents a number of problems including boring under the existing driveway in at least three locations.

 

[gvw]

GWS - really looing for more top of post decoration that will be esthetically acceptable but less than yard/area lighting - this needs to be a feel good light rather than a basket ball court light - I expect solar panel + battery pack + two lights all of which I'm clueless on - the system will have to be of sufficient power to light the gate area to notify all that there is a gate there - may go further with system and operate a gate opener - such as the "Mule" system - so that is part or the system