Thread: Halloween Solar Powered Lights

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Hi everyone - I was at target yesterday and they have several brands of solar powered orange net lights, string lights, etc. Has anyone tried these? They are about $20 for the net, $15 for 24 string.

I haven't tried them yet...but am curious as well. I may pick up the string lights to try. But am interested in hearing if anyone else here has already tried them.

Girlfriend bought some of the last of some multi-colored ones that aren't Halloween but were near there. She bought for Christmas. We're going to test those out will report back.

Actually, the ones she got are bulbs, not LED. Won't cross-apply. If they work well, I'd be interested at half the price. $15 is a lot for only 24 lights.

I got some 2 yrs ago on clearance. When i set them up last year only two of the three sets worked since one had been stored with the switch turned to on. I put out two sets and as long as they gotnlots of sun on the panel theynstayed lit fornat least a few hours. If it was obercast, they didnt stay lit very long. I do love not having to have them pugged in and more cords, but drawback is where u can have them(enough sun) as well as not as bright and u have to put solar panel in a conspicuous area.

I use a bunch of solar LED spot lights to light some of my tombstones and scarecrows and I'm fairly happy with them. They work best when they have gotten a full day of bright direct sunlight but I can cheat charging them up by leaving them under a halogen or other very bright light [100w+] for several hours. I put them out on the back yard to light the trees over the summer then move them to my graveyard on Halloween. I store them in the garage over the winter. I've used them for 3 years now and they always work when I pull them out of storage. It's about 11pm now and the spots are still on; it got dark eough to trigger the lights at about 6pm so I get easily 3-5 hours from them. regular electric lights give a better, brighter and more reliable light but if you cant have cords running all over or have too few outlets solar can be a possible solution for you.

I think the website said the batteries are replaceable. They are AA Nicad 900 milli-amp-hour if I remember right. If the solar panel could charge them, you could use higher amp-hour batteries as well. I don't think the solar panel they put on them is much though (and I've designed large solar systems before). Maybe I'll tear into it if I can get some specs on the draw on the LEDs and that panel.

You should be able to pop new batteries into your dead one though and have it good as new. I'd stick with the same Nicad though, but maybe a larger capacity Ahr rating.

I have a purple string. I like that they go on every night,(I would forget if I had to turn them on or plug them in every night!) but they go out sometime after I go to bed, I'm not sure how late they stay lit. I'm going to get a solar spot, to try to light up my reaper.

They have 2 solar "flood lights" at target for $29. I am going to try them out too. Can you change these LED's out for another color?

Originally Posted by matrixmom

They have 2 solar "flood lights" at target for $29. I am going to try them out too. Can you change these LED's out for another color?

See if you can find them cheaper at a home improvement store. i get mine from Menards, a regional home improvement chain, and I have found them on sale for around $10 for 2. I also have 2 sizes and the larger more expensive [2 for $25 IIRC] spot lights are a bit better.

I don't know if you can change the LEDs or not, but you can cover the lens with colored cellophane or tint it with a stain.