Solar Powered Motion Detectors: Pros & Cons

The benefits of having lights controlled by motion detectors in, and around your home are numerous, however, when it comes to Solar Powered Motion Detectors, there are a few things to consider. On this Hub, we’ll go over a few of the more important things to keep in mind when deciding if a Solar Powered Motion Detector is right for you.

Solar Powered Lights are obviously better for the environment, as they draw their energy from the sun. As long as the solar panel is exposed to a few hours of direct sunlight a day, everything works fine. Here in Florida, we’re far enough south, that this isn’t a problem, however, if you live up North, where the position of the sun changes over the course of the year, you will need to account for this when mounting the light.

Some models come with detachable solar panels that can be mounted independently of the Motion Detector and light. In some cases, this will require purchasing additional mounting fixtures. It can also require running wire from the panel to the light, so make sure you do some additional research if you think sunlight may be an issue.

Although there are a few exceptions, generally Solar Powered Motion Detectors are not near as bright as traditionally installed floodlights running off of a main electrical line. This is just the nature of the beast when it comes to Solar Powered Lights. This may, or may not, be an issue for you, depending on what the lights are intended for in the first place.

If security is your primary concern, you may want to rethink the whole Solar Powered option in general. As I said before, there are some exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, they’re just not going to be able to throw the kind of light that most people are looking for in a security light.

However, if you’re looking for a strategic lighting fixture to; say light up an outside path, or doorway, then Solar Powered lights are a great alternative. They are also well suited when used in addition to other lighting fixtures, however you’ll want to be careful when placing multiple motion detectors near each other, as most have a “dusk to dawn” setting that will prevent them from coming on if there is too much light present. This is a power saving feature that can easily be disabled, but it’s something you’ll need to keep in mind.

Durability can also be an issue with Solar Powered Motion Detectors. As with anything else in life, the more variables there are, the more opportunities there are for things to go wrong. When you have a lighting fixture, a motion detector, and a solar panel all thrown into the mix, that leaves three possibilities for things to go wrong. You’ll want to make sure that you look into it’s weather resistance and, just incase, the warranty.