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Solar motion detector lights get sold as the easy fix for a dark side return or an unlit gate — no cable run, no consumer unit space, no electrician. That's true, up to a point. But I get called out often enough to fix or replace solar PIR lights that failed within a year or two of fitting, so it's worth being straight about where they work and where they don't before you spend the money.
It's a self-contained light with three parts built into one unit: a small photovoltaic panel that charges a battery during the day, a PIR (passive infrared) sensor that detects movement, and an LED lamp that the sensor switches on. There's no mains connection at all — the whole thing runs off the battery, which is why it's so easy to fit yourself with a couple of screws or a stake in the ground.
The honest comparison is brightness and reliability versus convenience. A mains-powered LED floodlight with a PIR sensor, wired properly through an RCD-protected outdoor circuit, will consistently put out far more lumens and hold that output through winter, rain, and short days. A solar unit is limited by panel size and battery capacity — most of the ones I see fitted on 25-mile-radius Kent homes are genuinely useful for a path or a shed door, not for lighting up a driveway or acting as a serious deterrent.
If proper security lighting is the goal, it's worth reading our guide to LED flood lights and motion detectors before you commit to solar.
Yes, but expect less run-time. Short daylight hours and low sun angles in a Kent winter mean less charge going into the battery each day, so the light may run for a couple of hours rather than all night. Cleaning the panel and making sure it isn't shaded by a fence, hedge, or gutter matters more here than most manufacturers let on — a panel that's even partly shaded for half the day will struggle from October through February.
It earns its keep on a shed, a bin store, a side gate, or a detached garage — anywhere there's genuine motion traffic but running a cable would be disproportionate to the job. It falls down as a primary security measure: intruders know solar units are dim and short-lived, and a flickering, fading solar light can end up looking more neglected than secure. If you already have a PIR outdoor light and it's misbehaving rather than underpowered,
If you already have a PIR light — solar or mains — and it's not triggering properly, our troubleshooting guide covers the common causes before you replace anything.
Standalone solar units are genuinely DIY-friendly — no wiring means no Part P notification, no isolation, no risk of working near a live circuit. Where I do get called in is when a homeowner or landlord decides the solar option isn't cutting it and wants a proper mains-fed circuit run to the same spot instead. At that point it's an outdoor cable job — SWA to an external, weatherproof fitting, on its own RCD-protected way — and that's electrician territory, not a bracket-and-screws job.
We cover the full scope of that work on our external electrical installation page, including outdoor lighting circuits for homes, commercial premises, and care homes.
Solar units are cheaper upfront and cost nothing to run, but the batteries inside them typically need replacing every 1–2 years and the unit itself often needs replacing within 3–5, especially in an exposed spot. A mains-fed LED floodlight costs more to install because of the cable run and electrician's time, but the fitting itself will comfortably outlast several solar units, and the running cost on an LED is negligible. For a genuine security application, mains usually works out better value over five years — for a low-traffic path or shed, solar is the sensible, proportionate choice.
No. Because they're standalone battery units with no connection to the fixed wiring, they fall outside Part P notification requirements. That only changes if you're running a new mains circuit to power a light instead.
Almost always one of three things: the battery has reached the end of its life (typical for units 1–2 years old), the panel isn't getting enough direct sunlight, or the PIR sensor sensitivity needs adjusting. Our PIR troubleshooting guide walks through the fixes.
For deterring casual intruders on a low-traffic access point, they can help. As a standalone security measure for a driveway or the front of a property, they're generally not bright or reliable enough — a mains-fed LED floodlight is the better tool for that job.
Yes — that's exactly the situation they're designed for, and it's the strongest argument for choosing solar over running a new cable to a spot that doesn't otherwise need mains power.
For landlords, mains-powered fittings tend to be the lower-maintenance choice long-term, since there's no battery for a tenant to report as failed. Solar can still make sense for a detached outbuilding on the site where running a cable isn't practical.
If you're weighing up solar against a proper mains-fed circuit for security lighting, get a second opinion before you buy. We cover Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, and Crowborough for homeowners, landlords, commercial premises, and care homes, and we'll tell you honestly which option suits the spot you've got.
Call Karen and the team on 01892 531728
Email: karen@brightsparkelectrician.co.uk
We were very pleased with the recent electrical work which was carried out in a professional manner by your electrician and will certainly use your company again when future needs arise. Also I would be happy to recommend your services to any of our friends.
Just to say a big thank you for the work that your electrician carried out at my mothers house. He was very professional and a clean worker and the finished job was a complete success. It is very comforting to know that when a tradesperson attends the property of a elderly customer that they feel safe and happy. Once again, Thanks Keith
I would highly recommend Karen and her team for any electrical jobs you have. From the moment I first emailed my enquiry the service was super quick (I appreciate this depends on their other jobs at the time). We received a quote that was clear with the works to be done and price was reasonable. On the day the electrician (Joe I believe) turned up on time, did a fab job and even tidied up after himself. The old ceiling lights we had were a little tricky to get off and pulled some of the plaster off too, but he filled it in and made it as good as new.Great job from beginning to end. Thank you Bright Spark
Thanks for Louise's great work - very happy!
Karen was amazing I can not recommend her highly enough she went over and above my expectations and was indeed a bright spark to my day and helped with love ❤
