8 Best Solar-Powered Motion Security Lights For Your House

The best solar-powered motion security lights in this post can work without any conventional power outlets, providing lighting for your garden, patio, or driveway.

If you think about tit, motion security lights are actually one of the most natural applications of solar panels. They’re installed mostly outdoors with adequate exposure to sunlight and only required to operate at night. Thanks to this self-operating capability, you don’t need to worry about wiring or battery replacement like regular models. If you’re interested in this idea but don’t know where to start, have a look at the best solar-powered motion security lights below.

Best Solar-Powered Motion Security Lights

LITOM Original Solar Lights

LITOM is a leading manufacturer in the solar lamp industry. Its original outdoor solar lights are among the most popular of its kind, with countless knock-off brands wanting to copy their success. They are the first wide range solar security lights that come with 50% more illumination and an enhanced motion sensing angle.

These lamps have high-powered LED lights that are managed by a very energy-efficient chip to ensure a great battery life. If all the four lights are turned on and used simultaneously, the LITOM lights can cover from 200 to 800 square feet at a great angle. Each light provides a 270-degree cover thanks to its 24 small LEDs. On Amazon, LITOM sells these lights in 1, 2, and 4-light packs.

LITOM security lights have 3 modes of operation. The default mode is made for normal use while the dim lighting and the motion-sensing features can be useful if you want to turn all lights on only when they detect movement. The final model turns on the lights for at least 20 seconds after detecting any movement during the night. If the movement stops, the lights will turn off again. However, the switch used to change between those modes is located in the back of the lights, so you may have to take them down in order to switch the operation mode.

You don’t need to worry about outdoor elements as LITOM solar-powered motion security lights are certified IP65 water-resistant devices. You can expect at least 3 years of service out of these lights as this duration is also the warranty that LITOM provides, a fairly great policy for some motion security lights.

Pros

• Available in multiple packs
• Efficient
• Bright
• Extensive wide-angle coverage
• Multiple operation modes
• Long warranty

Cons

• Need to take them down to change the mode

AmeriTop Outdoor Light

AmeriTop outdoor light has a unique ultra-wide design that sets them apart from other products on this list. Each uni has three heads, producing a massive lighting output. This is mainly thanks to the 1600LM, 6000K high-brightness LEDs used in the heads. These LEDs are powered by energy from a high-efficiency solar panel, providing enough electricity to fully charge the battery within a few hours. Even on a rainy or cloudy day with insufficient sunlight, this solar panel is still able to generate a low current to charge the batteries.

The unique 3-head design gives this AmeriTop light a massive advantage when it comes to coverage. You can adjust the heads freely horizontally, downwards, and upwards. The motion sensor in each unit can detect movements within a range of 49 feet and an angle of 180 degrees. You can rotate the motion sensor and lens hoods when you want to point them into the area requiring attention. Those rotations and adjustments make the AmeriTop the most flexible product we cover in this list. Even a single unit can save you from the trouble of installing two additional lights.

This model has both motion and daylight sensors. In the Auto mode, you can set a specified time from which the light needs to turn itself on when there are living objects moving around and turn it off after a few seconds of inactivity. The motion sensor used in this light has high sensitivity, extending the range of the AmeriTop light up to 20% compared to regular products.

To protect the 3 heads of the light from harsh weather and outdoor elements, AmeriTop has covered them with robust and impact-resistance housing, enabling them not to give in even during a snowy or rainy day.

Another feature that sets this light apart from other products is the 15-foot cord. It provides users with more ways to install the light. You can fix it in all kinds of material and use it to light up your entryway, patio, driveway, parking lot, or garden.

However, some users do have an issue with the durability of this AmeriTop light. Some have their lights filled up with water after it rains, and they just stop working altogether. If this happens outside of the 30-day refund window, then you are out of luck.

Pros

• Unique design with ultra-wide coverage
• Bright
• Flexible
• Big capacity battery

Cons

• It may be filled up with water after heavy rain.

Luposwiten Solar Lights

Like most manufacturers, this German company also sells its solar lights as a pack of four. Made of 100 LEDs, each unit produces brighter lighting than regular models. And they have a better detection range and a lower price tag as well.

The built-in highly-sensitive PIR motion sensors allow the Luposwiten solar-powered motion security lights to spot movement in a 125-degree angle within a 26-foot range. To support the powerful LEDs, Luposwiten has equipped them with a high-capacity 2600mAH battery. It can last up to 50000 hours in optimal conditions.

These Luposwiten lights are very bright at 2000lm. You can assemble them easily thanks to the included mounting equipment in the box. The ABS plastic has a water resistance rating of IP65, providing enough protection against outdoor elements. However, Luposwiten only provides a warranty of 6 months, shorter than other leading brands.

Pros

• Super bright with 2000lm of brightness
• High-capacity battery
• High-quality ABS plastic

Cons

• Short warranty

Lemontec Solar Lights

With a slightly different design, this huge Lemontec unit consists of 62 LED lights and a wider shape to provide a bigger coverage. When you buy from Amazon, the lights have already been charged and ready to work out of the box. The batteries can hold power for a few weeks even if you forget to charge them.

The light coming out of these LEDs has a cool and bright white color. You can switch between 3 smart functions, just like most solar-powered motion security lights. If you put it in the second setting, the unit will maintain a constant dim light until it detects any movement, when the light will suddenly bright up for a few seconds. On the other hand, the Always On mode keeps the lights on until you manually turn it off, usually in the morning.

This dimming mode is really useful when you want to take your dog out with you before bedtime. If the lights are on the always-on mode, you will have to move constantly to keep the lights on while your dog is doing his business.

If you use it for just safety purposes, you will be surprised by the amazing ambiance it provides. Not only you can keep an eye on your backyard or driveway, but also add an attractive touch to your house with the beautiful light display of these Lemontec solar lights. These lights have also proved useful in other circumstances, such as if you want to deter coyotes from your house. The dimming mode won’t disturb your sleep at all.

Some customers wish that Lemontec included a template in the box so they could drill the holes and mount the lights easier. This is a small yet useful addition that many manufacturers have made for their products and gained many praises from their users. While it’s not hard to make a piece of paper yourself, a stock cardboard template would be much better. Or Lemontec could just provide a mounting bracket and remove the need to drill holes all together.

Pros

• 3 smart modes
• Big range
• Powerful LEDs lights
• Huge battery capacity

Cons

• No mounting bracket or cardboard drilling template

Aootek Solar Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights

This 182-LED light is one of the best-selling models of this category, coming with a 15.3-inch solar sensor. Like the LITOM lights, they also have three operational modes. The Security mode allows the lights to turn on and turn off automatically if something is moving under their sensors. The second one turns on all the light permanently during the night, while the final Standby mode only brightens them when there is movement detected.

The motion sensor has been upgraded to have a better PIR motion inductor. With this improvement, the Aootek motion sensor lights can spot any movement within its 120-degree angle and a range of 26 feet.

The built-in 2200mAH lithium-ion battery is what stores energy the solar panel has converted during the day before using it to turn on the lights at night. It gives enough power capacity to power the bright and energy-efficient LEDs. The high efficiency also comes from the 1.2W solar panel that has a 20.5% conversion rate.

The entire unit is well-built and can last for a long time. Made from heat-proof and IP65 rated materials, these lights can act as a security device for around your home, garden, patio, porch, and pretty anywhere you can install it. It can stand up against outdoor elements pretty well. Each pack from Aootek contains a solar panel and 2 lighting units.

Pros

• Multiple function modes
• 120-degree coverage
• High-capacity rechargeable battery
• Highly efficient solar panel

Cons

• No warranty
• Only available as 2-unit packs

Sezac Solar Security Lights

Another model that comes with 3 working modes and high-sensitivity sensors is the Sezac product. The default mode will light up its LEDs whenever the sensor detects human movements within the range. The strong light mode can light up your entire area all night while the dimming mode functions just like other products we have discussed.

The sensitive sensor has a ball head shape and can sense movements up to 16 feet. The casing of the lights are rated at IP65, preventing damages caused by rainfall or dust. You can comfortably place them on the walls, in your backyard, driveway, or your garden.

The solar panel needs around 10 hours to fully charge the 2000mAH lithium-ion batteries. The best part about these Sezac solar security lights is that you can charge them using a conventional electric outlet when there is no sunlight. Remember that Sezac doesn’t sell these security lights as small packs. You can only buy it as 6 or 10 units at a time.

Pros

• 3 working modes
• Big range
• Big battery capacity
• Can be charged without sunlight

Cons

• No warranty
• Only available as big packs

Baxia Technology BX-SL-101 Solar Lights

Following the design of the infamous LITOm solar lights, this model from Baxia is also available as a pack of 4 lighting units. Compared to the Aooteck lights, the sensor in these Baxia units can only detect movements within a shorter range, from 3.3-5.5 feet. Whenever the sensor sees something in this range, all the lights will turn on automatically and turn off after 30 seconds.

Each unit is equipped with 28 high-power LEDs with a view angle of 120 degrees. Baxia uses the same kind of technology, Passive infrared sensor (PIR), but their products don’t have extra functions and operation modes like most other competitors. This means no Always On or Dimming modes for those in need – something you should take into account before paying for those solar lights.

The batteries included in those units also have a smaller capacity (1200mAH). They need 8 hours of charging time from the built-in solar panels to get full before lighting the LED lights all night.

The good news is that these cheap solar lights are still rated as IP65 water resistance. The build quality is acceptable for the price tag, and they seem to withstand dust and heat pretty well too. Baxia even provides a full refund window of 30 days and a 180-day limited guarantee period, which can assure a lot of customers when they want to try out these solar-powered motion security lights.

Pros

• IP65 water resistance; heat proof and dustproof
• 30 days of full refund
• Affordable

Cons

• No dimming or always-on mode
• Smaller batteries
• Slightly shorter range

LEPOWER Solar Security Lights

LEPOWER has selected a similar design to that of the AmeriTop light. It’s a 3-piece fixture outdoor lamp that can detect motion within the 72-foot range and 180-degree angle. Together, these heads provide 1600lm at a temperature of 5500K.

Powering these powerful lights is the 2400mAH battery that needs around 8 hours of sunlight to be fully charged. Since the solar panels of this LEPOWER lamp are made from amorphous silicon, they can provide a weak charging current even if there is no strong sunlight.

This solar-powered motion security light is very easy to install, even if you are not familiar with solar lights. The included mount is highly adjustable, so you can position the heads in pretty much any way you like. Even the motion sensing unit also benefits from this god-like level of adjustability. With its maximum sensitivity, this security lamp can brighten up an area for at least 2 minutes until it no longer detects any movements.

Pros

• Unique 3-piece design
• Highly flexible
• Super bright
• Long warranty and refund period

Cons

• Not always work at a long distance.

How to Choose The A Solar-Powered Motion Security Light

As these products are made specifically for security purposes, we have to be extra cautious about their specifications and features. Rather than blindly believing in marketing gimmicks, you should have a close look at these factors.

Sensors

Motion sensors in these lights play the most important part of the product. They help the light turn on in a reliable manner when there are movements within the range and turn off after a few seconds to preserve the batteries.

There are plenty of sensor types when it comes to motion detection. Active sensors use microwave signals to monitor the region and analyze the feedback to determine whether there is something moving in it. On the other hand, photosensors detect the presence of various kinds of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, ultraviolet light (UV), and infrared light (IR). They are also known as dusk-to-dawn sensors and are commonly used in solar floor lights.

While those sensors might work just fine and have been used in many products, you might want your motion security light to be equipped with a Passive infrared sensor (PIR). These electronic sensors can capture and measure the amount of infrared light within its field of view.

This mechanism does a great job of detecting any object emitting heat energy via electromagnetic radiation. The advantage is that it doesn’t pick up signals from random, non-living objects like leaves or tree branches in your garden, which is also the main reason most motion detector manufacturers have switched to this kind of sensor.

Range

The second consideration that is not any less vital to the operation of a solar-powered motion security light is the range of the motion sensor above. This range determines how big of an area your security light can cover. Models with a huge range can see and spot animals or people even when they are still far away. With this advantage, you can keep tabs on anything moving around your house and get alerted as soon as possible. This also discourages strangers and thieves from breaking in.

Two numbers are commonly used to indicate this range: the angle of the field of view and the detection radius. The sensor is designed to cover this range and turn on the lights if it detects something. Most security lights can cover from 180 to 270 degrees, which you can choose depending on how you want to install the lights.

The radius can be as short as 10 feet and as far as 70 feet – a perfect choice if you want to guard a huge garden but not necessary for most people.

Bulbs

There are various kinds of bulbs used in solar-powered motion security lights: LED, incandescent, and fluorescent, in which LED lights are the most popular. They are energy-efficient and able to last for up to 50000 hours.

On the other hand, both incandescent and fluorescent bulbs are not the most eco-friendly choices out there, especially when you already choose a solar-powered product. They need to be replaced more often and consume much more energy to produce the same amount of lighting. LEDs are usually a bit more expensive, but the extra cost is minimal, and in the long run, they actually save you a lot of money in terms of both replacement and energy costs.

The number of LED lights needed in each unit depends on how bright you want your security light to be. The more lights it has, the brighter it is.

Battery

Since these eco-friendly security lights don’t use conventional electric outlets, they must rely on batteries to store power that solar panels have converted from sunlight. Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) and nickel-metal hydride (Ni-HM) batteries used to be popular, partially in AA and AAA batteries. They are light and cheap to make, making them a decent choice for low-power products.

Since then, lithium-ion batteries have become the new norm of energy storage for security lamps. They can hold up more energy, last longer, and require less maintenance.

Conclusion

The best solar-powered motion security lights in this article all take advantage of “free” sunlight as their power source. Thanks to battery and solar panel advancements, they can find the energy to power themselves while still providing enough lighting and protection for your house.