Tom's Guide Verdict
This set of two solar spotlights does the job. You can place them in the ground or attach them to a wall or fence to light up dark areas. They can also be used to illuminate a decorative feature in your yard.
Pros
- +
Easy to assembly
- +
Option to secure to wall/fence
- +
Bright white light
Cons
- -
Not particularly decorative
Why you can trust Tom's Guide
Color: Black
Lights included: 2
Rated brightness: 96 PCS
Modes: 2 light levels
Estimated solar battery life: 8-18 hours
Luminous flux: 250 lumens
Size: 7.3 (L) x 5.9 (W) x 3.7 (H) inches
Waterproof: IP 65
These T-Sun LED spotlights aren’t as fancy as some of the lights in our best solar lights guide, including the mesmerizing Otdair flame torch lights, but they serve a different purpose. Where some garden lights are designed to create a soft ambient vibe within an entertaining space, such as Brightech’s Ambience Pro LED Outdoor String Lights, which can be draped across fencing, a trellis, or a pergola; others have more practical purposes.
Spotlights tend to light up dark spaces, whether a pathway, step, or yard entrance, and they act as a security and safety feature. However, they can also illuminate features within your yard, such as a decorative flower bed or magnificent tree.
T-SUN Solar Spotlights: Price and availability
I tested a pair of T-SUN LED Solar Spotlights with 4 LED lights on each spotlight. The set of two is available at Amazon for $30. Although there is the option to purchase a single light for $17 or a pack of 4 for $62. Plus, if you’d prefer something a little more lively than white light, you can buy green, yellow, purple, or color-changing versions.
You can also buy a single spotlight at Walmart for $18.
T-SUN Solar Spotlights: Design
The design of these spotlights won't blow you away, but they are not designed to be seen. There job is to illuminate rather than be illuminating. Having said that, they are not unattractive, and I like the softness of the circular light area, rather than seeing harder lines that are more common in flood lights, such as the Aootek Solor Outdoor Flood Lights.
And just like many of the other solar lights, they are made of black plastic. This makes them super easy to clean and also prevents unsightly rust, but it can make them prone to cracking, especially when inserting them into hard ground.
T-SUN Solar Spotlights: Set-up
The T-SUN Solar Spotlights came in a brown cardboard box without company branding. You’ll find an instruction leaflet inside, which is generic and relates to several different versions of the spotlight.
However, they are not difficult to set up and can be used at ground level, or wall-mounted. If installing it in the ground, you’ll need to attach the spike to the light that's already connected to the solar panel. The angle of the solar panel can be adjusted with the cog at the side of the unit, which is easy to turn and will allow you to aim the panel at the sun for maximum energy absorption.
If you turn the spotlight over, you'll notice an on/off switch on the reverse. However, if you are operating the switch in the daylight you won't be able to tell whether it is on or off. Simply place your hard over the solar panel and you'll be able to see. If it's on, the spotlight will glow!
You can also adjust the brightness level by using the on/off switch. It has two options for the brightness level, which you'll discover by pressing the switch once or twice. And since these spotlights give off a very bright light on the maximum option, you might sometimes prefer to use the lower setting, which also has the benefit of using less energy and keeping the spotlights alight for longer.
If your ground is hard, I’d recommend loosening the soil beforehand, or placing the spike into the ground and then attaching the upper light section. This will avoid putting undue pressure on the light and potentially damaging the unit.
I intended to use the spotlights in the ground, but they can be wall-mounted, and the screws are included. In this scenario, you won’t need to attach the spike.
T-SUN Solar Spotlights: Performance
I was setting up these spotlights during a very overcast day, so I positioned them where the solar panels could gain full access to sunlight — when it decided to appear! I wanted to place them near a tree to light it up as a feature, but apart from overhanging branches, I had the problem of a few bird feeders being close. With this in mind, I regularly checked on the solar panels and cleared them of any bird droppings that landed to ensure that the sunlight had free access to the panels.
The lights give off a powerful white light, which is perfect for a spotlight when you want to use it to illuminate steps or pathways for safety. With several different solar lights in my yard, the difference in color tone was marked. Brightech’s Ambience Pro LED Outdoor String Lights have a much softer, warm glow. While, Otdair’s Solar Flame Torch Lights have a soft, yellowy flicker.
T-SUN Solar Spotlights: Durability
I positioned these spotlights in the ground during the winter, and they’ve been subject to some harsh weather conditions. Heavy rain, freezing temperatures, and high winds — they’ve had everything thrown at them. They’ve stood up well and continued to work as when I first placed them outside. Although during duller days, as expected, they keep alight for a shorter duration than following a sunny day.
However, as with any other type of solar lights, just be careful when placing them into hard ground, as you could damage the plastic spikes.
T-SUN Solar Spotlights: Verdict
These solar lights won’t create a talking point, but they are a practical outside light that can be used in two ways. They can provide added security or safety, illuminating a dark or unsafe area in your yard, such as an outbuilding or step. Plus, they can also be positioned to light up a feature in your garden, such as a flower bed, decorative tree, or shrub, which is how I choose to use them. These spotlights also give off a strong white light, so if you’d prefer something softer, these aren’t the lights for you.
Camilla Sharman has worked in publishing and marketing for over 30 years and has covered a wide range of sectors within the business and consumer industries both as a feature, content, and freelance writer.
As a business journalist, Camilla has researched articles for many different sectors from the jewellery industry to finance and tech, charities, and the arts. Whatever she’s covered, she enjoys delving deep and learning the ins and out of different topics, then conveying her research within engaging content that informs the reader. In her spare time, when she’s not in her kitchen experimenting with a new recipe, you’ll find her keeping fit at the gym. In the pool, stretching at a yoga class, or on a spin bike, exercise is her escape time. She also loves the great outdoors and if she’s not pottering about in her garden, she’ll be jumping on her bike for a gentle cycle ride.
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