Solar lighting is great for areas where electricity is not available – and it's perfect for RVs when dry camping (boondocking) where it's important to conserve the batteries.
Maxsa Innovations Ltd. offers their Solar Wedge motion-activated LED light as an integrated solution, suitable for home security and for general use but designed specifically for RVs.
"Our solar motion light model 40235 was designed...to mount to the outside of an RV," Maxsa president Skip West told Suite101. "It has a mounting bracket that can be mounted on an RV and then the unit can be left there or taken off for travel (but the mounting bracket would stay on the RV for easy mounting when you needed it). This is the only solar motion light designed for RVs."
In addition to RVs, recommended locations include:
- entryways and walkways
- sheds, garages, driveways, carports
- patios, balconies, and decks
- steps, stairs
- backyards, garden walls and paths
- farm sheds and outbuildings.
Similar outdoor security lights (including those offered by Maxsa) have a separate solar panel. While this two-part system does offer some benefits in terms of ensuring proper charging, it makes installation a bit more difficult. The Solar Wedge is a simple one-step solution that will fit many security needs.
Features of the MAXSA Solar Wedge Motion-Activated LED Light
The Solar Wedge features, according to Maxsa Innovations, include the following:
- Good illumination in the coverage area thanks to a bright white LED with a silver reflector
- Turns on automatically at night when motion is detected, providing convenience as well as enhanced security and safety
- Integrated one-piece unit means no wiring, simple DIY installation within minutes
- Batteries included (three rechargeable AA cells each 1.2V @ 900 mAh)
- Detection angle: 100 degrees
- Detection Range: Up to 25 feet (8 metres)
- Portable – easy to move to a new location
- Flexible use – can be mounted on a wall or placed on a flat surface.
- When fully charged, light can activate up to 300 times (one minute interval per activation)
- Durable weatherproof housing, weatherproof solar panel
- 90 day warranty.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the MAXSA Innovations Solar Wedge LED Light
The main advantages for the RV owner are those of most low-cost solar-powered motion-activated LED lighting systems:
- Does not drain the coach battery
- Comes on only when needed
- Long lifetime (LED lighting manufacturers claim 60,000 to 100,000 service hours)
- Low maintenance (batteries may need to be replaced every few years)
- Relatively low cost
- Can be removed during travel.
The disadvantages of the Solar Wedge result from its particular integrated design.
- For maximum charging it should be mounted on a wall exposed to the sun. While diffuse or indirect sunlight will charge the unit, it will not achieve maximum charge and therefore may not give the full 300 minutes of on-time, though the motion detection conserves battery charge.
- Cannot be mounted under the canopy, which will block solar charging
- The solar panel cannot be moved or re-oriented because it's part of the unit.
Experience with similar products suggests that a fully charged battery will operate on motion detection for several nights, which means that the unit will probably function reliably through several days of sub-optimum charging conditions (rain, clouds). But of course, the actual lifetime of a charge depends on conditions beyond the control of the manufacturer.
This shopping guide is offered for information only. Suite101 did not physically examine or test this unit and all information was provided by the manufacturer.
Outdoor Security Lighting - Solar Powered LED Lighting
Further reading on outdoor security lighting and solar-powered LED lights
Thomas Alan Gray - Tom has been writing for over 30 years; curiosity leads him to dig into a wide variety of topics.
Join the Conversation