Recommendations for Motion-Activated, Battery-Powered light

[Southernwayfarer]

Looking for recommendations for motion-activated, battery-powered light - something to put in a dark basement stairway. Two options I've found on Amazon are the Sylvania 72178 or the Mr. Beams MB723. Anyone have experience with these? Other recommendations?

 

[bandits1]

I have the Mr. Beams MB530 which is similar to the MB723 but takes 3 Cs instead of 4 AAs, which increases the run time a bit. The MB530 also has a "glow mode" that the MB723 does not, where it can be set(or not) to stay on in a very low light level and kick on to full-brightness when motion is detected. The MB530 can also be set to 20 seconds or 1 minute on; I believe the MB723 is set at 30 seconds. I've had the unit for over a year and only changed batteries twice(alkaline), and it's in a windowless, always dark bathroom with the glow mode on 24/7.

The motion-sensing range on mine is far under the claimed 12' range, but when I commented on that in my Amazon review, a representative from Mr. Beams responded and asked me contact them to see if it's indeed defective and thus replaceable under their guarantee, so their customer service seems legit. I never bothered to contact them, though.

The light of the MB530 is a very white 5100K and is bright. The MB723 is listed as having a more pleasant(to me anyway) 4100K light.

 

[deadrx7conv]

http://www.fulcrumproducts.com/10_LED_Sensor_Light_w_bracket.html
http://www.maxsainnovations.com/battery_motion_lights.htm
http://www.fulcrumproducts.com/4_LED_Sensor_Light_.html
http://www.fulcrumproducts.com/6_LED_Outdoor_Sensor_Path_Light_.html
http://www.fulcrumproducts.com/6_LED_Porch_Light.html
http://www.mrbeams.com/products
http://www.dorcy.com/c-64-motion-sensor-lights.aspx
http://www.xepatech.com/products.html

Depending on usage, Energizer Lithium AA's will last a long time too.
I do recommend that you use quality name brand batteries(Duracell/Energizer...) to prevent leakage issues.
You'll have to pick what is visual pleasing to you.

 

[UnknownVT]

Might be thought of slightly out the mainstream -
I like to try things out first to find out what I might or might not like -
so sometimes I'd buy the cheapest almost toy like things from places like fleaBay just to try out -
these are all PIR (Passive infrared sensor) battery powered LED lights and about or less than $5 shipped.

this is supposed to be a 4 LED key-hole light - but can be placed, mounted any way one likes -
I bought one for a friend and they used it on their stairs,
I was so impressed with that idea I bought one for myself
and mine sits on the top of the stairs angled diagonally (~45degs) to the side and toward the steps.

I quite like this - it definitely will not light up the room -
but in the dark it is enough to light up the stairs to see by.
It uses only a single AA battery. Turns off in about 30 secs -
so it is not a true occupancy light
range is about 10ft - so will light up as I approach the steps.

6 LED PIR

uses 4xAAA - hence the least attractive to me.

8 LED PIR

uses 2xAA - and ought to be twice as bright as my key-hole light. From the (poor) descriptions this might be occupancy type.

At about or below $5 shipped - any of these would be useful elsewhere, even if a "real" one was bought -
or just to have around as a novelty/toy.

 

[Vbeez]

Try Osram Spylux. Using them for years with no problem

 

[idleprocess]

Sciplus has one for about $10. I got about 6 months' use on a set of lithium cells - next time I think it's going to see use, I'll just chuck some hybrid NIMH's in it.

Lit up a bathroom well enough to take care of business in the middle of the night.