I’ve been looking to replace the flood light in my small backyard because it makes a loud annoying buzz and puts out a cold unwelcoming light. I suppose these are not bad qualities to keep burglars away, but I’ve wanted something a bit quieter and warmer, while of course making an environmentally conscious purchase.

So I started checking out floodlights powered by their own little photovoltaic cells. I was surprised to find a pretty wide selection. SmartHome.com and SolarHome.org were two of the sites I spent some time on comparing features and prices. Both sites are pretty cluttered and a bit tough to navigate, but while SmartHome has better product information, SolarHome (as the name would imply) has a broader product selection.


Going into this, I knew was that I wanted a flood light with both motion and light sensors so it would only come on after dark and when motion was detected (these would maximize battery life). But in my research I found that I’d need to consider several other features I hadn’t expected, including, bulb type (halogen versus LED), battery type (lead acid versus nickel metal hydride,) and motion detection range. I also found that prices ranged from as low as $30 to over $800.

In the end I chose to go with an LED light for its greater energy efficiency and to stay at the low end of the price range since I had no experience with solar powered floodlights.

So I ordered a SunForce Solar Motion Light with three small, but bright LED bulbs and controls to adjust motion sensitivity, daylight sensitivity and how long the light stays on when activated. The light and small solar panel were both easy to install.

However, I’m disappointed that the casing is plastic and the 3 LED’s, while bright, don’t quite cover as much area as I had hoped.  At $50 it’s been an economical way to test out solar lighting but I think I’ll be saving up for the higher quality, and yes, more expensive ($809!) SunWize LED Floodlight System. You can find that one at SolarHome or Ecofly.biz.