I finally admitted my neighbor was right about those cheap solar path lights

I spent $60 on fancy copper ones from the hardware store that died after one winter, while his $15 Amazon set from 3 years ago is still going strong in our alley here in Portland. Has anyone else had cheap stuff outlast the expensive version?

2 comments

2 Comments

miles27717d agoMost Upvoted

...but you're missing something important here. Portland weather is rough on any outdoor gear, but the real difference is often in the battery quality, not the housing. Those expensive copper ones look nice, but the batteries inside are usually the same cheap NiMH cells that fail in cold weather. The cheap Amazon sets often use a different type of battery that handles our damp winters better. I've had the same issue with a fancy solar fountain versus a basic one from the grocery store. The expensive one quit after one season, the cheap one is still bubbling away in my backyard after four years. It's not about the metal, it's about what's inside the little compartment.

mark67617d ago

So @miles277, which cheap set actually uses those different batteries?