Has the quality of PIR LED lights improved over the last 18 months?

[mart]

Some months ago I recall reading a thread on here on the subject of PIR LED lights. I'm specifically referring to the poor quality of sensors failing that several members commented on.

There are lots of these light available, and different designs appearing quite frequently, in places like TS and S fix.

I recall how some members were explaining that it was not so much about the cost of replacement, but more about the time and pain in the harris of geting the ladders out etc, which I fully understand.

I'm keen to change mine from halogen to LED. Has the market sorted itself out, or are we still having to tolerate poor quality?

 

[Maker]

I'll let you know in a couple of years, I just replaced ours yesterday.

Three 10w cheapies from B&Q, think they were about a tenner each, all started strobing within a year. I assumed it was the driver had failed but I bypassed the PIR module when I took them down and was surprised to find the leds and power supply still worked perfectly.

Of course with no heatsink, the led started smoking before it desoldered itself. I didn't know it was well known that the sensor should fail.

New ones are these (Or very similar), I'm hoping spending a bit more, and having a brand name on them, means they'll last longer. Switchable colour temperature inspires some confidence that it's a higher quality item, much nicer bracket than the cheapies too. Time will tell, hopefully if they do fail it's within three years.

 

[Craig-SM]

No, cheap or expensive they've all failed way sooner than they should have. I’m currently using some that an electrician client has recommended on the basis that he’s not had to replace one of these yet.

Outdoor and Garden Lighting at Low Trade Prices | National Lighting

Browse our enormous range of outdoor and garden lighting. From PIR porch lights and floodlights to keep your home safe, to decking kits and spike lights to add atmosphere to your garden. We also offer a great range of commercial weatherproof battens as well as bulkheads and marine-grade outdoor...

www.nationallighting.co.uk

 

[8ob]

About two years ago I bought a few of the battery/solar charged LED pir lamps and put them up around the yard, About £25 a unit from places like Costco, no failures or flat batteries and they are quite busy lamps.

Bob

 

[Anguz]

Just fitted 6 100w hi bays... 100 quid each, 5 year warrenty.... time will tell if they are better... certainly bright

 

[J1nx]

Best bet is to make them as easy to swap out as possible, stick a Wiska 206 right next to the lamp and 3 Wago’s, changeable in 2 minutes bar getting the ladder out! Id Also consider doing the same with a separate PIR sensor, can suit placement better sometimes and your only replacing the one part, works well for multi lamp setups also.

These PIR’s aren’t cheap but I have found them reliable Amazon - PIR

 

[Blobber]

I have used various makes and they are all a bit hit and miss still, most of the time I use a separate PIR as J1nx says, got one particular version with combined PIR from screwfix that lights up whenever the tumble dryer fires up which is an irritation and due to be changed! I also tend to go for the 20/30w versions spread about rather than 1 big jobbie

 

[dobbslc]

I've had a load of them fail, even if you spend a bit more money they're still all the same old ****e.

 

[Morrisman]

I bought a fairly pricey solar powered one, for the back yard last year. It lasted about 6 months then started ‘strobing’. I didn’t even know that was a thing, but reading this just now it sounds quite common.

I assumed the battery was running down, but lots of messing about, cleaning, checking the angle of the solar panel..... still no good. I guess I should have returned it, Screwfix I think, but never got around to it with all the covid dramas going on.

 

[Tangledfeet]

No, cheap or expensive they've all failed way sooner than they should have. I’m currently using some that an electrician client has recommended on the basis that he’s not had to replace one of these yet.

Outdoor and Garden Lighting at Low Trade Prices | National Lighting

Browse our enormous range of outdoor and garden lighting. From PIR porch lights and floodlights to keep your home safe, to decking kits and spike lights to add atmosphere to your garden. We also offer a great range of commercial weatherproof battens as well as bulkheads and marine-grade outdoor...

www.nationallighting.co.uk

That's good to know, thanks for posting that link; our OSRAM PIR LED's, as the OP has probably read on here elsewhere, have been woefully unreliable - albeit the LED's rather then the PIR itself failing.

 

[J1nx]

I recently bought some of the Vtac brand with Samsung LED’s being as they are cheap but recommended on another post on here, they seem OK so far, but, if you are sensitive to flickering they obviously use a low frequency PWM driver and it drives me insane. Waving a hand in the light looks like a 90’s rave!

 

[Chris Snow]

Have used a few Vtac from CPC with success.

Always bought separate PIR's. More flexible and with a 3 position switch you can do pir-off-on

 

[RonA]

Some months ago I recall reading a thread on here on the subject of PIR LED lights. I'm specifically referring to the poor quality of sensors failing that several members commented on.

There are lots of these light available, and different designs appearing quite frequently, in places like TS and S fix.

I recall how some members were explaining that it was not so much about the cost of replacement, but more about the time and pain in the harris of geting the ladders out etc, which I fully understand.

I'm keen to change mine from halogen to LED. Has the market sorted itself out, or are we still having to tolerate poor quality?

Had several with built in sensors fail. Bought the lamps without sensors & fitted separate stand alone sensors, had one in operation on my drive for over 5 years now, still working fine.
RonA

 

[Migmac]

That's good to know, thanks for posting that link; our OSRAM PIR LED's, as the OP has probably read on here elsewhere, have been woefully unreliable - albeit the LED's rather then the PIR itself failing.

I recently bought some of the Vtac brand with Samsung LED’s being as they are cheap but recommended on another post on here, they seem OK so far, but, if you are sensitive to flickering they obviously use a low frequency PWM driver and it drives me insane. Waving a hand in the light looks like a 90’s rave!

It was the sensor on ours that went. Replaced the whole lamp with the same as above, five year warranty. Yes I’ve kept the box and receipt

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Was on a site last week, top of the range CCTV and cameras. But they have a mix of top of the range lights linked to the system.
CCTV camera activates and a signal sent to the lights.

At any one time they have 20% of the lights OOA due to water seepage. When I was having a coffee with the maintenance team They told me it doesn't make any difference to the cost of the lights they all have similar issues.
Seals not fitted from factory correctly.
Cable glands loose/ missing glands to case seals missing.
Cover screws loose.
Seals have dried out/gone brittle.
Or just fitted incorrectly.
Even wrong grade of cable fitted.