[Closed] Outside Security lights - does quality differ?

No, they are all shite, budget to replace every other year.

Newey and Eyre do a "pro" version, I fit them as a matter of preference these days and never had a problem with them.

An added bonus is that they use a clip for the front cover/glass assembly so you don't end up with a steel screw corroded fast into the alloy casing.

markenduro: Yep that's pretty much what I've been doing, but wonder if there's an alternative, hence my post. They always seem to go at the most inopportune moment, and when it's so cold i can never feel my fingers!!

Whatsit: Where would i sourse a Newey and eyre?
Would that be a local 'trade' electrical supplier?
cheers
Q

Yep, they're a wholesale electrical supplier find them in your yellow pages.

B&Q ones with a load of sealant round the holes and joints.

Dunno what the brand is but the police did one of them things where they tour estates where a lot of breakins occur and offer free security kit. A guy turned up, did a survey, installed a security light, half a dozen locks, some bars for the back door and a security device for the front door (like a chain but it's a latch which is much tougher). All for free.

The security light is great and shows no sign of ingres. All an absolute bargain.

The survey was quality stuff too. He (having presumably seen many break in sites), knew exactly what was weak in our house. The back door was his main concern. he talked at some depth about my bikes. The expensive ones are in a steel cage which he rated as 'excellent' and the cheap ones are in a locked wooden shed which he rated as 'laughable' but he thought my idea of making the cheap ones more attractive than the expensive ones a sound idea.

He even suggested that making the cheap bikes easily accesible effectively protected the house because leaves would go for the bikes rather than risk breaking into a house (which he intimated is something they'd rather avoid due to the growing liklihood of having to tackle an angry and armed householder *1*).

*1* Personally, I've always felt safer keeping weapons in the bedroom and do so *2*.

*2* A light pair of flails under the bed, a bokken behind the door.

Mine had been working fine until yesterday morning when the light was on and didn't switch off. Previous owner had left instruction leaflet, followed that and they still wouldn't switch off. No sign of corrosion. No name of manufacturer on leaflet.

Seriously, are they really that rubbish that they need to be replaced yearly?

we sell one at work what take a sd card.
when it trips it stars to take pics or some footage.
pretty nifty.

I spent £5 on mine from B&Q, lasted 8 years until I had to change the bulb and ended up changing the whole thing as it was a bit rusty.

8 years flawless use for £5 seems good value to me.

cinnamon_girl try switching off the supply for 10-15 seconds and then back on again, some of those floodlights have a manual mode which is brought into play by switching the mains supply.

And it's every other year btw. 😕 Usually caused by the coting on the aluminium being rotted off from within due to the extreme temperatures these things get up too.

reducing the lamp wattage helps with longevity, you can get 150/200/300w lamps instead of the overkill 500w lamps they come with.

Whatsit - yes, I've done that as per the instructions. It has a sensor mode and timing mode and neither seem to make any difference. There is no rust on either and there are no extreme weather conditions here in the South although some may disagree!

cinnamon_girl - Member
Whatsit - yes, I've done that as per the instructions. It has a sensor mode and timing mode

the switching mech' seems to get a bit upset at times - try turning off the supply at the supply box/fuse box thingy for a few minutes then follow the instruction to get it in the right mode if doesn't automatically reset after the power has been back on for a few minutes - turn power back on with any switch in t he circuit on and don't touch it for a few minutes

Mine had been working fine until yesterday morning when the light was on and didn't switch off

i've got the same problem, but have gone through 2 units in 6 months, was going to post a thread to see if anyone could 'shed light' (scuse the intentional pun) on the matter.

i have 2 lights, the one that keeps going wrong (occasionally stays on all the time when activated, or does'nt work at all) is wired from the first light that is fine. was'nt sure if it was the wiring that was causing the prob.

Just make sure they're well sealed and they'll work fine for years, our first one lasted ~9 years and it was a plain old B&Q one when they first came out as general items.

Not convinced theres any point for security (I mean surely its just giving a burglar more vision, at 4am no-ones going to be looking out anyway) but they're really helpful for finding your own way I agree lol

Just bought a solar / led one on Ebay. Made in China but the exact same model seems to sell all over the place for a wide range of mark ups. I'm not holding out hope for the ultimate quality but it'll be interesting to see how good it is.

Hi All,
seems like I'm not the only one here who has problems!
If your B&Q lamp lasted for more than a year you have done well, let alone 8 years!! I've gone through 2 in about 6 months, til this last one seems to have gone on a bit longer.

Cinnamon girl: Welcome to the club!!!! Yes they are rubbish, hence my post. Obviously some people have had better experiences, but they were the lucky ones.

Whatsit up there ^^^^ suggests Newey and Eyre, so I'll take a trip into a good electrical suppliers soon as I can. Been a bit bogged down with salting roads in an attempt at going to work today.
( now got floods with all the mel****er, and more on way????)
I also take the hint about 500W being overkill, so will try and get a lower wattage bulb fitted.

hey ho......thanks for the advice all.
cheers
Q