# How Long Do Your Solar Landscape Lights Last? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 24, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-your-solar-landscape-lights-last/632496 "2012-08-24T15:16:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-your-solar-landscape-lights-last/632496/1 "2012-08-24T15:16:55Z")
My experience is that these things die after 2-3 years-it seems that either: -the batter connections corrode and form a resistive connection –the plastic resin coating the solar cells become opaque Are there high quality ones that will last? As I say, the ones sold at places like HD and Target seem to have a very short life. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-your-solar-landscape-lights-last/632496/2 "2012-08-24T16:12:11Z")
How is 2-3 years not sufficiently long? They take a hell of a beating, being outdoors 24/7, and they’re cheap as hell. [Here](http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Creations-JB5629-Solar-Powered-Accent/dp/B002X8X8UG/ref=sr_1_1?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1345824579&sr=1-1) is an 8 pack for $14. [Here](http://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-Premium-Lights-Settings-Stainless/dp/B005Q03AM4/ref=sr_1_4?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1345824654&sr=1-4) is a pack of 12 deluxe lights with three settings for $59. Seems like you’re getting substantial bang for your buck already, even if they only last 2-3 years. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-your-solar-landscape-lights-last/632496/3 "2012-08-24T17:13:53Z")
Don’t forget that in 3ish years the solar cells have gotten better, the LED’s will be better and the batteries will have improved. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-your-solar-landscape-lights-last/632496/4 "2012-08-24T17:55:54Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > My experience is that these things die after 2-3 years-it seems that either: > -the batter connections corrode and form a resistive connection > –the plastic resin coating the solar cells become opaque > Are there high quality ones that will last? As I say, the ones sold at places like HD and Target seem to have a very short life. and the batteries deteriorate. Home Depot sells replacement batteries for many solar lights ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-your-solar-landscape-lights-last/632496/5 "2012-08-24T18:13:11Z")
Mine lasted about 12 hours. They were nice and bright all night long, but the next morning the lights didn’t work at all. So I threw them out. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-your-solar-landscape-lights-last/632496/6 "2012-08-24T20:04:32Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > How is 2-3 years not sufficiently long? They take a hell of a beating, being outdoors 24/7, and they’re cheap as hell. [Here](http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Creations-JB5629-Solar-Powered-Accent/dp/B002X8X8UG/ref=sr_1_1?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1345824579&sr=1-1) is an 8 pack for $14. [Here](http://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-Premium-Lights-Settings-Stainless/dp/B005Q03AM4/ref=sr_1_4?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1345824654&sr=1-4) is a pack of 12 deluxe lights with three settings for $59. Seems like you’re getting substantial bang for your buck already, even if they only last 2-3 years. I guess I’m frugal-my benchmark for anything I buy is: it should last at least 10 years..preferably 20-25 years!😉 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-your-solar-landscape-lights-last/632496/7 "2012-08-24T20:41:35Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I guess I’m frugal-my benchmark for anything I buy is: it should last at least 10 years..preferably 20-25 years!😉 I’d hate to see your underwear… ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-your-solar-landscape-lights-last/632496/8 "2012-08-24T20:49:26Z")
If you want something that would last a long time, go with LED wired lights. Still no bulbs to burn out, much brighter than solar powered ones, the small wattage means voltage drop isn’t as big of issue as wiring incandescent landscape lights. I’m sure they’d last 10 years.