Hi everyone,
I`m looking at more external lighting for the house. We currently have 3 x
300W floodlights for parties, but it`s all or nothing, and it`s a lot of
power to burn just for checking something out in the back garden. I was in
B&Q the other day and spotted some PIR floodlights that use LED`s. They
also had a solar charging unit for this. I quite like the idea of being
able to just put it on the wall and leave it turned on, so I get some light
at night but not the scary amounts I get from the current 900W of lights :-)

Has anyone used them, or seem them working in the real world? And if so,
opinions please!

Thanks in advance for your help!

--
Currently selling a load of computer parts, consoles and many other items.
Email me for a list!

Simon Finnigan wrote:
Hi everyone,
I`m looking at more external lighting for the house. We currently
have 3 x 300W floodlights for parties, but it`s all or nothing, and
it`s a lot of power to burn just for checking something out in the
back garden. I was in B&Q the other day and spotted some PIR
floodlights that use LED`s. They also had a solar charging unit for
this. I quite like the idea of being able to just put it on the wall
and leave it turned on, so I get some light at night but not the
scary amounts I get from the current 900W of lights :-)
Has anyone used them, or seem them working in the real world? And if
so, opinions please!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Just found this
http://www.solarilluminations.co.uk/...ty_Lights.html

Not LED & not cheap - how much was the B&Q light?


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

"Simon Finnigan" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone,
I`m looking at more external lighting for the house. We currently have 3
x 300W floodlights for parties, but it`s all or nothing, and it`s a lot of
power to burn just for checking something out in the back garden. I was
in B&Q the other day and spotted some PIR floodlights that use LED`s.
They also had a solar charging unit for this. I quite like the idea of
being able to just put it on the wall and leave it turned on, so I get
some light at night but not the scary amounts I get from the current 900W
of lights :-)

Has anyone used them, or seem them working in the real world? And if so,
opinions please!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Not the same thing but I got an LED spotlight to light up a gargoyle in our
back garden and it was crap. These things have a long, long way to go yet to
being an acceptable source of light. Took it back to B&Q and swapped it for
a "traditional" spotlight - excellent.

John

Simon Finnigan wrote:
Hi everyone,
I`m looking at more external lighting for the house. We currently
have 3 x 300W floodlights for parties, but it`s all or nothing, and
it`s a lot of power to burn just for checking something out in the
back garden. I was in B&Q the other day and spotted some PIR
floodlights that use LED`s. They also had a solar charging unit for
this. I quite like the idea of being able to just put it on the wall
and leave it turned on, so I get some light at night but not the
scary amounts I get from the current 900W of lights :-)
Has anyone used them, or seem them working in the real world? And if
so, opinions please!

I'd like to know as well. They seem ideal - if they work.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

In article ,
John wrote:

"Simon Finnigan" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone, I`m looking at more external lighting for the house. We
currently have 3 x 300W floodlights for parties, but it`s all or
nothing, and it`s a lot of power to burn just for checking something
out in the back garden. I was in B&Q the other day and spotted some
PIR floodlights that use LED`s. They also had a solar charging unit
for this. I quite like the idea of being able to just put it on the
wall and leave it turned on, so I get some light at night but not the
scary amounts I get from the current 900W of lights :-)

Has anyone used them, or seem them working in the real world? And if
so, opinions please!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Not the same thing but I got an LED spotlight to light up a gargoyle in
our back garden and it was crap. These things have a long, long way to
go yet to being an acceptable source of light. Took it back to B&Q and
swapped it for a "traditional" spotlight - excellent.

Yes. The spectral response of 'white' LEDs make CFLs look positively
perfect.

--
*Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:38:47 GMT, The Medway Handyman wrote:

I quite like the idea of being able to just put it on the wall
and leave it turned on, so I get some light at night

http://www.solarilluminations.co.uk/...ty_Lights.html

Maximum on time of 60 seconds from last PIR trigger. Even if you overide
that some how the 6V 4A/Hr battery fully charged with the 6V 10W lamp has
a, theoretical, run time of just 2.5hrs...

At this time of year unless the solar panel is rather large there won't be
enough light to fully charge the battery during the day. The balance might
be OK with the 60s restriction and only a few tens of activations.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
k...
Simon Finnigan wrote:
Hi everyone,
I`m looking at more external lighting for the house. We currently
have 3 x 300W floodlights for parties, but it`s all or nothing, and
it`s a lot of power to burn just for checking something out in the
back garden. I was in B&Q the other day and spotted some PIR
floodlights that use LED`s. They also had a solar charging unit for
this. I quite like the idea of being able to just put it on the wall
and leave it turned on, so I get some light at night but not the
scary amounts I get from the current 900W of lights :-)
Has anyone used them, or seem them working in the real world? And if
so, opinions please!

I'd like to know as well. They seem ideal - if they work.

Anyone want to volentuer to go and get one and try it out? :-) They`d be
great IF they work, and I`m surprised nobody has put their head up to say
they`ve tried them. Either they`re VERY new indeed, or everyone who bought
one is so ashamed of their poor performance they`re hiding :-)

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
. uk...
Simon Finnigan wrote:
Hi everyone,
I`m looking at more external lighting for the house. We currently
have 3 x 300W floodlights for parties, but it`s all or nothing, and
it`s a lot of power to burn just for checking something out in the
back garden. I was in B&Q the other day and spotted some PIR
floodlights that use LED`s. They also had a solar charging unit for
this. I quite like the idea of being able to just put it on the wall
and leave it turned on, so I get some light at night but not the
scary amounts I get from the current 900W of lights :-)
Has anyone used them, or seem them working in the real world? And if
so, opinions please!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Just found this
http://www.solarilluminations.co.uk/...ty_Lights.html

Not LED & not cheap - how much was the B&Q light?

£29.99 rings a bell - a similar price for the solar charger.

It`s not for long term lighting of the garden for a party, we`ve got half of
heathrows lights mounted on the wall to do that, it`s for an additional step
between a torch and 900W of energy wastage :-) I`ve tried finding them on
the B&Q website with no joy. Ebay is giving few results, but not entirely
convinced that the 5LED model will produce a "flood of light". Why do I get
the feeling i`m going to be the Guinea pig here? :-)

Simon Finnigan wrote:

Why do I get the feeling i`m going to be the Guinea pig here? :-)

Because you're the one who has difficulty getting about your garden to check
things without a flood of light. I'd use a lantern.

Edgar

"Edgar" wrote in message
...
Simon Finnigan wrote:

Why do I get the feeling i`m going to be the Guinea pig here? :-)

Because you're the one who has difficulty getting about your garden to
check
things without a flood of light. I'd use a lantern.

Good for you. I have torches to use, but a torch is not as convenient as a
floodlight for many jobs is it?

Simon Finnigan wrote:

"Edgar" wrote in message
...
Simon Finnigan wrote:

Why do I get the feeling i`m going to be the Guinea pig here? :-)

Because you're the one who has difficulty getting about your garden
to check things without a flood of light. I'd use a lantern.

Good for you. I have torches to use, but a torch is not as convenient
as a floodlight for many jobs is it?

The lantern seems quite adequate. Good light. Stands up on its own.
Useful in the loft or under the floor when working on electrics.
I wouldn't cut the hedges or chainsaw things under that light but those
kind of jobs are best done in good daylight.

Edgar

In message , Simon Finnigan
writes
"Edgar" wrote in message
...
Simon Finnigan wrote:

Why do I get the feeling i`m going to be the Guinea pig here? :-)

Because you're the one who has difficulty getting about your garden
to check
things without a flood of light. I'd use a lantern.

Good for you. I have torches to use, but a torch is not as convenient
as a floodlight for many jobs is it?

I find daylight works best.

--
Si

"Si" $3o&m wrote in message
...
In message , Simon Finnigan
writes
"Edgar" wrote in message
...
Simon Finnigan wrote:

Why do I get the feeling i`m going to be the Guinea pig here? :-)

Because you're the one who has difficulty getting about your garden to
check
things without a flood of light. I'd use a lantern.

Good for you. I have torches to use, but a torch is not as convenient as
a floodlight for many jobs is it?

I find daylight works best.

Must be nice having daylight when you get home from work :-)

"Edgar" wrote in message
...
Simon Finnigan wrote:

"Edgar" wrote in message
...
Simon Finnigan wrote:

Why do I get the feeling i`m going to be the Guinea pig here? :-)

Because you're the one who has difficulty getting about your garden
to check things without a flood of light. I'd use a lantern.

Good for you. I have torches to use, but a torch is not as convenient
as a floodlight for many jobs is it?

The lantern seems quite adequate. Good light. Stands up on its own.
Useful in the loft or under the floor when working on electrics.
I wouldn't cut the hedges or chainsaw things under that light but those
kind of jobs are best done in good daylight.

And for wandering round, moving stuff, tidying up etc? Yes a lantern can be
good for some jobs, but it`s hardly the perfect solution to every possible
lighting requirement is it? :-)

In message , Simon Finnigan
writes
"Si" $3o&m wrote in message
...
In message , Simon Finnigan
writes
"Edgar" wrote in message
...
Simon Finnigan wrote:

Why do I get the feeling i`m going to be the Guinea pig here? :-)

Because you're the one who has difficulty getting about your garden
to check
things without a flood of light. I'd use a lantern.

Good for you. I have torches to use, but a torch is not as
convenient as a floodlight for many jobs is it?

I find daylight works best.

Must be nice having daylight when you get home from work :-)

It is, and it's also nice being able to alternate that with several
hours daylight before I go to work. However at my age, on balance, I
think I'd rather be stuck with the problems everyone else has, & in
another few years I will.

--
Si

Simon Finnigan wrote:

8------

And for wandering round, moving stuff, tidying up etc? Yes a lantern
can be good for some jobs, but it`s hardly the perfect solution to
every possible
lighting requirement is it? :-)

Your problem. Your money. Your choice.

Edgar

On Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:32:04 -0000, "Simon Finnigan"
wrote:

it`s for an additional step
between a torch and 900W of energy wastage

If its anything like the LED "solar floodlight" a neighbour has its
between a small candle and one of those torches you used to be able to
buy which used one battery and had a bulb with a glass blob at the end
to "focus" the light.

It is possible to tell the "floodlight" (more a damp fog than a flood)
is on without having to use night vision goggles, but only if you look
directly at the light.

If you stand outside with your eyes closed for 30 minutes, and have no
other light sources within several miles to ruin your dark adaptation,
then when you open your eyes you can detect white painted dustbins and
similar large objects up to a range of nearly 2metres from the light.

And just to finish off the lantern I use is a Uniross CH8858.
It's discontinued now but I imagine there's still something like it.

Edgar

In article ,
Peter Parry wrote:
On Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:32:04 -0000, "Simon Finnigan"
wrote:

it`s for an additional step
between a torch and 900W of energy wastage

If its anything like the LED "solar floodlight" a neighbour has its
between a small candle and one of those torches you used to be able to
buy which used one battery and had a bulb with a glass blob at the end
to "focus" the light.

It is possible to tell the "floodlight" (more a damp fog than a flood)
is on without having to use night vision goggles, but only if you look
directly at the light.

If you stand outside with your eyes closed for 30 minutes, and have no
other light sources within several miles to ruin your dark adaptation,
then when you open your eyes you can detect white painted dustbins and
similar large objects up to a range of nearly 2metres from the light.

The interior lighting in my old car consists of two 6w bulbs in fittings
mounted on the door pillars. So not enough light to do anything by. No
room for larger bulbs - they melt the lenses. Don't ask how I know.
So I decided to make up some LED replacements. Didn't want that horrible
blue look so got some ones described as warm white. Which turned out to be
an even more horrid shade of green...

--
*You sound reasonable......time to up my medication

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:41:10 +0000, Peter Parry wrote:

It is possible to tell the "floodlight" (more a damp fog than a flood)
is on without having to use night vision goggles, but only if you look
directly at the light.

The site that was posted earlier also does LED floods with a goodly number
of LEDs. Of cousre you still have the issue of runtime from a battery and
how to charge that in the 6hrs of daylight you get at this time of year.

Commercial LED lighting has certainly taken a big leap in the last year or
so with devices with 1W or more ratings.

If you stand outside with your eyes closed for 30 minutes, and have no
other light sources within several miles to ruin your dark adaptation,
then when you open your eyes you can detect white painted dustbins and
similar large objects up to a range of nearly 2metres from the light.

Not if it's cloudy. It will be dark, real dark, can't see a thing dark, no
matter how dark adapted your eyes are. Star light is ample for moving
about without bumping into things but it doesn't penetrate cloud well,
neither does Moon light... Most places in the UK probably have more than
enough sky glow though, we don't. It's actually a bit unnerving standing
outside knowing your eyes are open but not being able to see anything.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

"Edgar" wrote in message
...
Simon Finnigan wrote:

8------

And for wandering round, moving stuff, tidying up etc? Yes a lantern
can be good for some jobs, but it`s hardly the perfect solution to
every possible
lighting requirement is it? :-)

Your problem. Your money. Your choice.

And funnily enough that`s why I`m asking for advice about a potential
solution to this. Having someone doing a scratched record impression
telling me that lanterns are the solution to all the worlds ills is hardly
productive is it?

--
Check out my items on ebay, including a Nintendo Wii!
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZscousesifin

"Si" $3o&m wrote in message
...
In message , Simon Finnigan
writes
"Si" $3o&m wrote in message
...
In message , Simon Finnigan
writes
"Edgar" wrote in message
...
Simon Finnigan wrote:

Why do I get the feeling i`m going to be the Guinea pig here? :-)

Because you're the one who has difficulty getting about your garden to
check
things without a flood of light. I'd use a lantern.

Good for you. I have torches to use, but a torch is not as convenient
as a floodlight for many jobs is it?

I find daylight works best.

Must be nice having daylight when you get home from work :-)

It is, and it's also nice being able to alternate that with several hours
daylight before I go to work. However at my age, on balance, I think
I'd rather be stuck with the problems everyone else has, & in another few
years I will.

I do actually get daylight either before or after work, but it`s not much
use if it`s for work that I need help with, as most of my friends still work
normal office hours.

--
Check out my items on ebay, including a Nintendo Wii!
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZscousesifin

On Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:43:33 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

Not if it's cloudy. It will be dark, real dark, can't see a thing dark, no
matter how dark adapted your eyes are.

I was talking about when the lamp was on :-)

wrote:

On 14 Dec,
"Dave Liquorice" wrote:

Not if it's cloudy. It will be dark, real dark, can't see a thing
dark, no matter how dark adapted your eyes are. Star light is ample
for moving about without bumping into things but it doesn't penetrate
cloud well,
neither does Moon light... Most places in the UK probably have more
than enough sky glow though, we don't. It's actually a bit unnerving
standing outside knowing your eyes are open but not being able to see
anything.

You must be one of the darkest places in England. When cloudy I would
think the skyglow from Carlisle and Tyne/Wear/Cleveland would be
noticable. It certainly was in North Northumberland within 50 miles of
Newcastle.

Thick fog may be another matter.


Clouds - Mist - Thick fog. They're all the same there.

Edgar

On 2007-12-15 05:19:48 +0000, Owain said:

Simon Finnigan wrote:
I find daylight works best.
Must be nice having daylight when you get home from work :-)

The 6am starts are a bit of a bggr though.

I can't believe there are some drunks going home as I am going to work.

Owain

Keep in mind that you are in Scotland, Owain.

With daylight hours so much shorter than the rest of the country, it
isn't so surprising.

In article ,
Owain wrote:
Simon Finnigan wrote:
I find daylight works best.
Must be nice having daylight when you get home from work :-)

The 6am starts are a bit of a bggr though.

I can't believe there are some drunks going home as I am going to work.

A few years ago I worked on one of those live Saturday morning kids
progs. Made at the Ch5 headquarters off Tottenham Court Road. So was
driving through the West End at about 5am. Seeing people queueing up to
get into clubs.

--
*Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
k...
Simon Finnigan wrote:
Hi everyone,
I`m looking at more external lighting for the house. We currently
have 3 x 300W floodlights for parties, but it`s all or nothing, and
it`s a lot of power to burn just for checking something out in the
back garden. I was in B&Q the other day and spotted some PIR
floodlights that use LED`s. They also had a solar charging unit for
this. I quite like the idea of being able to just put it on the wall
and leave it turned on, so I get some light at night but not the
scary amounts I get from the current 900W of lights :-)
Has anyone used them, or seem them working in the real world? And if
so, opinions please!

I'd like to know as well. They seem ideal - if they work.

Bought one and tried it out today. £35, 16 LEDS at a total of 1W IIRC. And
as to the important question, is it any good?

It depends what you want! :-) It is possible to read by it, but it`s
certainly not a bright floodlight by any deffinition I`d use. I can see the
dangerous stuff waiting to be tripped over on the patio a lot more clearly,
but you`re not going to have a party by the light from one. If you want it
to let you open doors, unlock padlocks and similar then yes, it will do the
trick. Not amazing, but a fair start for the first one i`ve seen, and I`m
sure they`ll get better with a bit more work and more LED`s. If anyone has
any more specific questions, please ask me ehre or by email, i`ll do my best
to help.

--
Check out my items on ebay, including a Nintendo Wii!
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZscousesifin

On 2007-12-15 20:36:58 +0000, Owain said:

Andy Hall wrote:
I can't believe there are some drunks going home as I am going to work.
Keep in mind that you are in Scotland, Owain.
With daylight hours so much shorter than the rest of the country, it
isn't so surprising.

According to the news, a party in Easterhoose last night resulted in
one man being attached with a machete and another man being run over by
a car. That's a pretty good party.

Owain

But that's Glasgow, isn't it? See you Jimmy and all that?

On Sat, 15 Dec 2007 09:13:08 +0000, Edgar wrote:

Most places in the UK probably have more than enough sky glow though,
we don't. It's actually a bit unnerving standing outside knowing your
eyes are open but not being able to see anything.

You must be one of the darkest places in England.

I think we probably are.

When cloudy I would think the skyglow from Carlisle and
tyne/Wear/Cleveland would be noticable.

You can spot the small orange bump on the horizon from Carlisle if you
know where to look. Teeside can put up quite a glow but that depends on
cloud height and visibilty, it varies greatly.

Clouds - Mist - Thick fog. They're all the same there.

B-) Know the feeling, at least this winter has been generally bright,
clear and crisp. I detest temps a degress or so above freezing and hill
fog, the cold and damp just creeps into you.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail