I love solar garden lights despite the fact we don't get a huge amount of daily sunshine here in the UK. The cheapo dollar store or pound shop solar garden lights tend to compensate for the lack of sunshine by running the LED at a much lower output so that it will act more as an illuminated feature and not try to light the entire garden. This also allows the use of a smaller solar panel and a tiny NiMh button cell.
Most of these lights tend to be fitted with harsh cold-white LEDs but it's easy to change them for a colour of your choice and in this video I fit a warm white LED.
I also have an article on my website about hacking solar lights at www.bigclive.com

9 thoughts on “Hacking a dollar store solar garden light to fit a warm white led.”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars odinata says:

    "I'm quite fond of solar garden lights"
    Curiously, that's the last sentence I ever get to utter right before my neighbors remember they are busy with something and have to go back inside…

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Trent Pettyjohn says:

    I've been wanting to take the color changing night lights and hack them into these. Mind making the world a tutorial for that?

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Boyd Bros. says:

    how do you hack this to turbo charge the brightness?

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Kryliss Norwind says:

    These have to be some of the most chincy solar lights. Super small batteries and solar panel, where do you find those?

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Aces & eights AZ HV/AC,Sparky and guns says:

    Great show friend

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Farlig69 says:

    Thanks Clive – you inspired me to order some warm white LEDs and "hack" 12 flickering LED tea-lights I bought that were a hideous blue-white light 🙂

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars mellowmea says:

    Can I put a grow light led intothis?

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Bullfrogerwytsch says:

    where did you get those screw drivers?

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Fuzzy Electronics says:

    I bought some Poundland solar lights this year and none of them last more than 4 hours, Even when they've had bright sun all day on one of the shortest nights of the year. Looks like the smaller solar cell and tiny batteries are the culprit. I also noticed the light output is also very poor compared to what was available 4 years ago. Is there any chance you could make a video on how to upgrade them? Better battery, LED, and also make them more resistant to rain and condensation, so they'll last more than one year?

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