Driveway Lights

[Chris Parks]

I want to install some LED/solar lights in our driveway, not decorative lighting but lights that are functional in giving good light so visitors can see where they are walking. They need to be self powered as a 240V supply is not feasible and preferably with either remote control or self switching when needed. There are lots out there but buying on the internet or even from a shop means they can't be tested and I was wondering if anyone has done this before me and can throw some light on the problem so to speak.

[rwbuild]

Don't get any of the self contained solar powered ones, get 12V that run off a power supply and bury conduit in the ground to run the cable.
The self contained ones only last about 12mths

[Pat]

Ray, the conduit idea wont fly at Chris', it's a concrete driveway at a 45° angle. Walking up or down in bright light is an adventure, at night, I'm not that brave or foolish any more

[rwbuild]

Sounds like a case for a funicular carriage

[Chief Tiff]

I’ve had a couple of THESE fitted for a few years now, I think I’ve replaced one set of rechargeable batteries in one of them at some point.

[rrich]

We have some solar powered lights at the end of the sidewalk leading to the front door. They are more decorative than functional.
A few items of note.
1 ~ They use NiMn hydride batteries. They are a bit bigger than normal AA NiCad cells and last a lot longer. I don't know if Li-Ion batteries are available for solar devices but they would be better.
2 ~ The ones that I used are intended for a deck and designed to mount nicely on 4x4 (really 3½x3½) fence posts. Because they are on low brick pilasters, I cut a concrete block topper (18 x 6 x 1) or garden stepping stone to 3½ x 3½ and just put the lights on the top of the pilaster.
3 ~ During our winter there is not enough sun light to allow the lights to illuminate all night. Although it could be the batteries as they have been in place for over 5 years.

One other thing. If your driveway isn't wide enough for 2 vehicles, the lights being low to the ground will get run over. Our driveway is wide enough to park 3 vehicles but SWMBO takes her half out of the middle.

[rustynail]

We used to have an old Scotsman as a next door neighbour. During a drought he fed his cattle on paper and cardboard. Most of the cardboard was from reject Benson and Hedges gold cigarette packets. When you drove up his driveway at night the gold flecked prairie cakes would glow back at you from the headlights.

[BobL]

Don't get any of the self contained solar powered ones, get 12V that run off a power supply and bury conduit in the ground to run the cable.
The self contained ones only last about 12mths

Sounds about right. SWMBO has bought many of those self contained ones over the years and 12 months is about the most I have seen one last.

The neatest system I have seen is at a friends farm down south. Their gravel drive is about 150mm long, with the first twisty steep ~50m section under dense trees, which they light up using LEDs. The system is powered by a car battery charged by a decent size solar panel and a motion sensor.