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Outdoor lights are an integral part of any home’s exterior. They’re not only used for decoration, but also for keeping the whole place lit when darkness comes calling after sunset.
With the debut of outdoor motion sensor lights in the market, security has become another benefit of outdoor lights.
In this article, we took a look at the best outdoor motion sensor lights – about ten of them and shared out thoughts with you.
#1. Best Outdoor Motion Sensor Light- Vivii Motion Sensor Solar Lights
The Vivii Motion Sensor Solar light is our top pick for affordable outdoor motion sensor lights.
As the name implies, it is solar-powered and has 30 LEDs.
In addition to that, it has a coverage angle of 270 degrees, which is twice more than our overall best outdoor motion sensor lights.
It also has an IP65 waterproof rating and is designed to withstand tough weather conditions.
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#2. No-Dim Outdoor Motion Sensor Light – BAXIA TECHNOLOGY BX-SL-101 Solar Lights
The BAXIA BX-SL-101 outdoor solar light may not be the most fanciful and gorgeously designed outdoor light, but it has everything we want in a motion-detecting outdoor solar light.
Boasting of 28 LEDs, this wireless outdoor light with 400lm capacity is affordable, has a good coverage range and motion-detecting angle.
What’s more? It has an IP65 waterproof rating that takes away doubts when it comes to matters of durability. Think we’re exaggerating? Well…
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#3. With Large Coverage Area – SANSI LED Security Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights
For people with larger properties, there is a need to get a much powerful outdoor motion sensor light with a long coverage area.
If you belong to this category of people, then the SANSI LED Security outdoor motion sensor light is arguably the best pick for you.
It is affordable, waterproof, has different modes and settings for timing, and has a 3600-lumen rating.
And let’s not fail to mention that its motion-sensing distance is up to 50ft – that’s among the highest on the market.
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Things To Consider When Shopping For The Best Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights
As we mentioned earlier, there are several outdoor motion sensor lights available in the market. Choosing the best out of the large collection with similar features and specifications can be quite an arduous task.
And so we’ve put together a list of some factors you should consider when shopping for one.
So, let’s begin.
Why do you want an outdoor motion sensor light?
This is one important factor that is mostly ignored. The truth is that knowing why you need the outdoor motion sensor lights can help you determine which type of light and bulbs to buy.
It can also help you to determine the area we want the lights to illuminate.
For instance, if your reason for installing an outdoor motion sensor light is for security purposes, you will be looking at installing it on pathways. you will need bright bulbs.
On the other hand, if your reason is to illuminate your pathway when you come home late in the night after a hard day’s job, you will need less powerful bulbs that can brighten up the area without blinding you.
Installation Location
Where do you intend to install the outdoor lights that you are about to buy? Near the garage door, on the porch, in the driveway, or walkway to your sunroom?
The installation location is important because it can help you choose the lights that have the type of features you will need. for instance, if you’re installing on a wall, you may look for lights that can be flush mounted and are covered.
On the other hand, if you’re installing on the porch/patio, you may need the ceiling-mounted or wall-mounted models.
Perhaps, if your installation location was the walkway into your home, at specific points in the lawn, a stake styled light would be nice.
These instances give you a clear picture of how important the installation location is when choosing an outdoor motion sensor light.
Wireless/Wired
Wiring will definitely cost you some bucks, there’s no denying that.
And even if you decided to buy the wireless models, it’ll probably cost more than the amount you spent on the wired models and wiring it!
If you opt for the wired models, you’ll have to deal with a lot of installation stress as they’re a bit tougher to install. However, you won’t need to change any batteries.
With wired models, you’ll need to purchase wires that can run the length of the area you want the light to cover – that is if the lights don’t come with their own wires – which they hardly do.
The same isn’t the case with the wireless battery-powered models which require constant battery changes. Battery-powered outdoor motion sensor lights are much easier to install but require constant battery changes and as at when due.
With the battery models, there’s no need to worry about wires, only batteries, and replacement.
Design
Installation location can influence the design of the lights you buy.
If you’re careful about your home’s exterior décor and landscape, buy something that complements it.
If that’s not the case, you can opt for the plain lights.
The design will also help you choose which type of bulbs to use with respect to LED or incandescent bulbs.
Type of Bulb
Outdoor lights use different types of bulbs with the two most common being the LED and the incandescent light bulbs.
LED light bulbs, when used on outdoor motion sensor lights, tend to save more energy. In addition to that, they reduce the risk of overheating as a result of being left on for long.
But LED light bulbs are dimmer even though they sometimes appear to shine brightly. They’ll only light up an area more if there’s more than one bulb covering the area.
Incandescent light bulbs, on the other hand, consume a little bit more energy than LED bulbs. They are prone to damage as a result of overheating. But for all this, they shine brighter than the LED bulbs.
And as such, it won’t be surprising to find out that one incandescent bulb can do the work of two LED bulbs.
Type Of Motion Sensor Light
Motion sensor lights are grouped into different categories based on their working mechanism. This includes
Microwave – Motion light sensors that detect movement using microwaves tend to be the most expensive. They cover a larger area and are often seen as the best but the prices put a lot of people off.
Ultra Sonic – The ultrasonically powered motion sensor lights use sound receivers to pick up sound changes in the environment to trigger the lights.
Passive Infrared – Passive infrared motion sensor lights are designed to detect the body heat of an incoming object or person to trip off the light. It also takes cognizance of shadows to set off the lights.
And lastly, there’s the dual-technology which happens to be a combination of the two.
Power Source
We earlier made reference to the power source when we talked about wiring and wireless lights.
For the power source, there are two sources to choose from; solar power and electricity. The power source can greatly influence how bright your light shines.
Most solar paneled lights use LED bulbs and can grow dim if you have an overcast day with little sunlight. The reverse is the case when your power source is via an electrical outlet.
Coverage Range
Try to take note of the coverage range of the outdoor light you’re about to purchase. The coverage range simply refers to how far the rays of the light can reach from its origin.
This can be determined by easily taking note of the lumen count of the bulb. Thus, the higher the lumen count of the light, the farther it will cast its rays.
The motion sensors also play an important role when we talk about coverage area. This is because motion sensors are designed to cover a specific area and often doesn’t extend as far as the light rays from the lamp.
In addition to taking note of the coverage range, it is also great to know if the lights you’re buying can detect motion from more than one angle.
This is important because it helps cut down on unnecessary alarms that may be triggered off due to movements made by tree branches when the wind blows at night.
Energy Efficiency
We already established earlier that LED bulbs seem to be more energy-efficient than the incandescent bulbs.
This is certainly true, however, many manufacturers are beginning to produce energy-efficient outdoor motion sensor lights.
Rugged Rating
This refers to the rating the lights have received after undergoing tests that prove they’re rugged enough to withstand tough weather conditions. The truth is that some of the lights on the market have this IP rating but are not capable of withstanding harsh weather.
Outdoor Ceiling Fans Review
Slowly read through the lines below if you want to find a great budget-friendly outdoor motion sensor light for your property.
#1. Best Outdoor Motion Sensor Light – Vivii Motion Sensor Solar Lights
Motion Angle: 270 degrees
Coverage Range: up to 26ft
Power Source: Solar
Lights On For: 20s
Features: Solar powered, has a motion detection angle of 270 degrees and a detection range of up to 26ft, lights up for only 30 seconds if motion is detected, has 30 LEDs which take 7 hours to charge during the day.
There are many things that have endeared the Vivii Motion Sensor Solar Lights to us even though it doesn’t have many bells and whistles.
First of all, it has one of the widest motion detection angles we’ve seen so far in the course of this review. At 270 degrees, it’s large enough to cover a whole yard if it is installed in a central spot.
Secondly, it has a coverage range of up to 26ft. This is good although it isn’t as large as the 50ft we saw on some models like the Amico LED Security Light 2800LM.
That notwithstanding, we’re okay with the coverage range which is slightly above average.
The Vivii Motion Sensor Solar Lights sports a similar design to most of the outdoor motion sensor lights we’ve reviewed. It has 30 LEDs and a solar panel situated on the lampshade.
With respect to the lumen count, it’s on the low side, so don’t expect the light to be very bright. That notwithstanding, it’s still bright enough to illuminate an area properly.
As for the battery, it takes about 7 hours to charge during the day and can power the light on for as long as 12 hours if you leave it on constantly in the night.
It’s certain you won’t be leaving it on all night. The light is designed to turn on for 20 seconds if motion is detected. There are no mode selectors on this model and there is no dim mode available.
The Vivii Motion Sensor Solar Lights are designed to be water and heatproof and have passed the IP65 ruggedness tests. In addition to that, it has a long lifespan of about 50,000 hours.
In all, the Vivii Motion Sensor Solar Lights saves you money while giving you good value.
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#2. No-Dim Outdoor Motion Sensor Light – BAXIA TECHNOLOGY BX-SL-101 Solar Lights
Motion Angle: 120
Coverage Range: 3m to 5m (9 to 16ft)
Power Source: Solar/Battery
Lights On For: 30s
Features: 120 degrees viewing angle, very affordable, solar-powered with a 1200mAh battery, has 28 LED bulbs, 9ft to 16ft motion sensor range, 400lm, IP65 waterproof rating
The second outdoor motion sensor light that we will review is the BAXIA outdoor motion sensor light. It is a solar-powered light that shares the same design with a lot of other outdoor solar-powered motion-sensing lights.
It features 28 LEDs which draw their power from a 1200mAh battery that is recharged via the solar panel on top of the lampshade.
BAXIA designed this outdoor solar light to work as a no dim light. This means that you can’t select a dim mode on the light. While this may not be apt for many homeowners, it’s great for others who want to beam a lot of light.
The BAXIA TECHNOLOGY BX-SL-101 Solar Lights features a motion detection angle of 120 degrees. This is relatively low, however, it’s good enough to capture motion.
In addition to that, you’ll find the 3ft to 5ft coverage range a bit smaller than its companions. Even the LITOM Premium Solar Lights Outdoor has a coverage range of up to 7 ft.
The BAXIA TECHNOLOGY BX-SL-101 Solar Lights needs about 8 hours of sunlight daily to be able to work for long periods at night.
Each time motion is detected, the light turns itself on for about 30 seconds before turning off. There’s no control for changing the number of seconds the light stays after motion is detected.
Given its design, wall mounting is certainly the best for this outdoor motion sensor light. And lest we forget, the light has a toughness rating of IP65 and is undeniably waterproof and heat resistant.
We don’t have any other reservations for the BAXIA TECHNOLOGY BX-SL-101 Solar Lights save for the short motion detection angle and coverage range it has.
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#3. Best For Front Doors – BNT LED Outdoor Light
Motion Angle: 180 degrees
Coverage Range: 3m to 8m
Power Source: Solar
Lights On For: 30s
Features: Great design, 800lm, solar-powered, 10ft to 26ft motion detection distance, multi-mode light options, turns light on for 30 seconds after motion detection, 8 hours charging the 1500mAh battery via the solar panel.
Looking for a great front door outdoor led motion sensor light? If your answer to that question is yes, then you need the BNT LED outdoor motion sensor lights.
At first, it looks like a CCTV camera but then on closer look, you’ll discover it’s a solar-powered light. It features the revered PIR motion detection sensor that gives it the ability to detect motion at distances between 10ft and 26ft.
It has a mode selection feature, which is lacking on the BAXIA TECHNOLOGY BX-SL-101 Solar Lights which we reviewed above.
With the mode selection feature, you can set the light to the low light mode or full light mode as you wish.
When motion is detected within the 10ft to 26ft coverage area under full light mode settings, the light is triggered for 15 to 20 seconds before it returns to the standby mode.
On the other hand, there’s also an auto-off and auto-on function that turns the light off during the day and on at night. It uses the inbuilt detection sensors to take note of day and night times.
The battery in the BNT LED Outdoor Light is a 1500mAh battery which takes less than 8 hours to charge completely via the solar panel.
BNT offers this outdoor light in three different options. The single pack light, a dual pack and of course, ten packs. Pricing isn’t the most pocket-friendly in our opinion.
Any reservations about the light? Well, one of the plastic parts where the screw for installation is supposed to go into strips off easily. This can make installation a pain.
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#4. The LITOM Outdoor Solar Light – LITOM Premium Solar Lights Outdoor
Motion Angle: 120 degrees
Coverage Range: Up to 26ft
Power Source: Solar
Lights On For: 15 – 30s depending on the mode
Features: Different modes, motion detection angle of 120 degrees, solar-powered, IP67 waterproof rating, no dim mode, motion detection distance of up to 26ft, 30 LEDs.
The LITOM outdoor light is a highly sought after outdoor motion sensor light for a few reasons. First, it’s very affordable irrespective of the variant you buy.
For this review, our test model was the 4 pack model which is available in 2 colors; cool white and cool black. There is also a similar model which shares the same features with our review model.
Like the BAXIA TECHNOLOGY BX-SL-101 Solar Lights, the LITOM doesn’t have a dim mode. Instead, it stays on a regular full light mode which they say extends the lifespan of the light.
There seems to be some sort of confusion when it comes to the motion detection angle of the light. It’s advertised as having a motion detection angle of 270 degrees when in reality, the angel is just about 120 degrees.
At 120 degrees, the angle is pretty much ok in our opinion. And as for the coverage distance, the LITOM Premium Solar Lights Outdoor has a good coverage area of up to 26tft.
Let’s talk about the light and how it performs.
As you already know, the light is solar-powered and is backed by a good battery that takes roughly 8 hours to charge. The battery powers the 30 LEDs on each of the lights.
When motion is detected, the lights turn on for about 30 seconds before going off. It will stay on for as long as the motion is still being detected within the motion detection range.
It auto turns off when no further motion is detected.
One of the unique selling points of the LITOM Premium Solar Lights Outdoor is the lifespan. It is designed to work for up to 30,000 hours. This will probably take a decade or two to reach depending on the number of hours the lights come on every day.
As for durability, the light passed the IP67 waterproof and heatproof tests it was subjected it. With its IP67 rating, there’s no doubt that it will be tougher than some of the lights we’ve seen on this review.
We didn’t notice any issues during this review, however, many reviewers say it’s not water-resistant.
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#5. Aootek New Solar Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights
Motion Angle: 120 degrees
Coverage Range: up to 26ft
Power Source: Solar
Lights On For: Depends on mode settings
Features: 36 LEDs backed by a 2200mAh battery recharged via the solar panel, motion detection angle of 120 degrees, coverage range of up to 26ft, different modes to choose from, IP65 waterproof rating.
There’s nothing special about the Aootek outdoor motion sensor lights because it has almost all the features we’ve seen on other outdoor motion sensor lights on this review list.
The only feature which gives it an edge is the triple light mode feature.
With the Aootek New Solar Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights, you get to choose how the light shines from three different modes. The available modes include
- The Security light mode – This mode turns on the light for about 15 seconds at night whenever motion is detected. It then turns off the light or holds it if motion is constantly detected within range.
- The Permanent On All Night – As the name implies, this mode allows you to permanently turn the light on all through the night. It’s certainly not the best for this type of light. We recommend using other lights with the incandescent outdoor motion light bulbs for this purpose.
- Smart Bright Mode – With the smart bright mode, the light stays on all night in low light mode and automatically brightens when motion is detected. It returns back to the normal state when there is no more motion.
There is no doubt that the PIR motion detector in this Aootek New Solar Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights is one of the best in the market.
The light is solar-powered and has about 36 LEDs drawing power from a 2200mAh battery. This battery is recharged from solar energy tapped through the solar panels on top of the lampshade.
With respect to motion detection angle and distance, they stand at 120 degrees and 26ft respectively. As you’d expect, the light is energy efficient and also has the IP65 waterproof and heatproof ratings.
The build quality of the lights is generally not the best considering the fact that there are spaces that can allow water to seep through into the unit.
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#6. Best Retro Looking – Heath HZ-4150-BK Zenith Motion-Activated Light
Motion Angle: 150 degrees
Coverage Range: up to 26ft
Power Source: Corded Electric
Lights On For: Depends on the settings
Features: powered via electric, distinctive design, 3 sided motion detection capability, coverage motion angle of 150 degrees, up to 26ft of detection range, weather-resistant finish.
If you’re in the market for a retro-looking outdoor motion sensor light, the Heath HZ-4150-BK Zenith Motion-Activated light should be top on your list. This three-sided powerful outdoor motion sensor light has everything you need and is miles away from the regular solar panel designed outdoor lights we’ve seen countless times.
It features a PIR motion detector with a coverage angle of up to 150 degrees and most importantly, a coverage range of about 26ft away from the lamp itself.
If you’re like to turn off motion detectors in your light, it may not be possible as the light is designed to turn itself on at night when it detects motion. The power source is electric.
You can wire the light to a switch to turn it off completely if you so desire.
For lighting at night, you can set the lights to turn on for 1 minute, 5 minutes or 10 minutes when motion is detected.
Apart from falling in love with the design and the finishing, the light is somewhat weather resistant. The build quality is undeniably impressive and we think it could last for a long time.
The Heath HZ-4150-BK Zenith Motion-Activated Light uses incandescent bulbs as against the LEDs that have become increasingly popular for most outdoor motion sensor lights.
You can use a dimmable wet-rated LED but it will not be as efficient as the incandescent bulb. The light doesn’t come cheap as one single piece of it costs almost the same price as the first light we reviewed in this article.
You can install this on your porch if your outdoor fan doesn’t come with a light kit.
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#7. Best Battery Powered – Mr. Beams MB3000 LED Dual Head Spotlight
Motion Angle: 135, 180 degrees
Coverage Range: up to 30ft
Power Source: battery-powered
Lights On For: 20 seconds
Features: detects motion up and down with a coverage range of up to 30ft, has a 20 seconds light on time, its battery powered and the batteries are user-replaceable.
The Mr. Beams MB3000 LED Dual Head Spotlight is a great pick for the best battery powered outdoor motion sensor light. It’s designed to serve as a spotlight with a dual head that projects about 500lms of light.
It’s not the brightest in the market but it certainly is as bright as we like.
The light is battery-powered by 4 D-Cell batteries. This is cool for those of us who don’t like the solar-powered models or electric models. It’s a great motion detection light for campers who need extra security around their camps.
As we expected, it detects motion for a distance of about 30ft. In addition to that, it also has a coverage angle of about 135 degrees sideways and 180 degrees vertically.
The build quality of the unit is great and it’s also weatherproof.
When motion is detected at night, the light turns itself on for about 20 seconds before turning off. As a battery-powered unit, this is very important to help you save cost on battery replacement.
The battery lasts well depending on how many times it comes on. To prevent activation during the day, the light is equipped with a photovoltaic sensor.
We would have loved it the more if the Mr. Beams MB3000 LED Dual Head Spotlight was designed to support an attachment for solar panels as this can help users save costs on battery.
Nevertheless, it’s worth every penny you spend on it. Price-wise, we think it’s adequately priced.
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With Large Coverage Area
The lights we reviewed in this section all have a coverage area of up to 50ft from the light. They’re great for lighting up the doorway through the driveway up to the entrance of your property.
#8. SANSI LED Security Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights
Motion Angle: 180 degrees
Coverage Range: up to 50ft
Power Source: Corded Electric
Lights On For: Depends on settings
Features: 180 degrees motion angle detection, coverage range up to 50ft, 3600lm, waterproof, use energy-efficient LEDs, available in white and black colors.
The SANSI LED Security Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights gives us a break from solar powered outdoor motion sensor lights. It is powered via electric current and uses powerful LEDs with a lumen rating of 3600lm.
With its adjustable design, the light provides you with four different modes which include a test mode, an auto mode, on-time mode, and a dusk-to-dawn mode. Cycling through the 4 modes is easy.
The duration on time the light turns on varies with the mode that you select. For the test mode, the turn-on time is 5 seconds. On the other hand, the auto mode can be set to light up for about 1 minute to 10 minutes.
With the On-Time Mode, the light works as a normal LED light – the motion-sensing feature is turned off. And as for the Dusk-To-Dawn mode, the light automatically turns on at night and off in the morning.
As you already know, the SANSI LED light has a detection coverage area of up to 50ft. In addition to that, it also has a motion detection angle of 180 degrees.
SANSI offers the light in two different colors, white and black. Both have a long lifespan of about 50,000 hours.
Installation is quite easy and almost all you’ll need for installing the light is shipped alongside the light. Items in the box include the security light, a mounting plate, waterproof gaskets, wire connectors, rubber screw plug, and an instruction booklet.
The SANSI LED Security Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights comes with an incandescent bulb with a wattage of 250W. However, its design allows you to change the incandescent light bulb to a 36W LED which also shines brightly.
Any reservations? Yes.
When the LUX threshold you set has been reached, the light begins to automatically go off and on (referring to the dawn-to-dusk feature).
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#9. Amico LED Security Light 2800LM
Motion Angle: 180 degrees
Coverage Range: up to 50ft
Power Source: Corded Electric
Lights On For: Depends on the selected mode
Features: LEDs, powered by electric via a cord, has a coverage range of up to 50ft and a detection angle of 180 degrees, 3100lm rating,
The Amico LED Security Light 2800LM offers multiple color options for individuals who’re concerned about the décor of their homes’ exterior. That’s not all – you also get a powerful bright LED light with a 3100-lumen rating.
For us, the first thing we like about the Amico LED security light is design. It looks somewhat like a floodlight and can beam its light in two different directions at the same time.
This provides you with a wide coverage area which totals about 180 degrees. In addition to that, the light can detect motion for a distance up to 49ft. That’s impressive and beyond the industry average which is below 30ft.
The LED lights on this outdoor motion sensor light use 28W of energy. In addition to that, it’s designed to be energy efficient yet giving off light that is 5000K bright or what is known as daylight white which is equivalent to 140W of light from a halogen light source.
On the Amico LED Security Light 2800LM, there are three different modes. Each of the modes allows you to set the time for the light to illuminate when motion is detected.
Therefore, you can choose to set the time to 1 minute, 5 minutes or 10 minutes. As for ruggedness, the light is IP65 rated and we believe that it’s heatproof and properly sealed against water.
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#10. SANSI C2440 18W Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights
Motion Angle: 180 degrees
Coverage Range: up to 50ft
Power Source: Corded Electric
Lights On For: Depends on the settings
Features: 1800 lm with 5000K brightness capability, adjustable dual head, electric power source, waterproof, 18W energy-saving LEDs, two color options, and up to 50ft coverage distance with 180 degrees coverage angle.
We wrap up our review with yet another awesome light from SANSI. Earlier we saw the highly sought after SANSI LED Security Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights and the different features that set it apart.
The SANSI C2440 18W Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights also shares a few similarities with the former. However, it has a much lower wattage and hence, a lower lumen rating.
This outdoor motion sensor light shares a similar design with Amico LED Security Light 2800LM. It has 4 led bulbs which generate a combined wattage of 18Ws and produces 1800lm of brightness.
In addition to that, the LEDs are also able to produce 5000K daylight bright light. With such an ability, it’s expected to produce great heat. However, the light has a heat dissipation technology that allows it cool properly and quickly too.
There are different modes to select from and it’s not surprising to see that it has the Dusk-To-Dawn mode. After all, they are both made by SANSI. Other modes include a manual mode, test mode, as well as the motion sensor mode.
For each of the modes, the light can turn on for about 3 seconds to 1 minute and up to 5 or 10 minutes depending on your settings.
The SANSI C2440 18W Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights has a coverage area of about 50ft and most importantly, a coverage angle of 180 degrees.
As for the lifespan of the light, it comes with a 50,000 hours lifespan just like its other sibling.
Any reservations? Well, the plastic construction is an issue of concern to us although we didn’t encounter any issues with ours in the course of this review.
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Conclusion
Light up your environment without lifting a finger using any of these wonderful outdoor motion sensor lights. Whether you’re looking for cheap or expensive models, we’ve reviewed the best of them all on above.
Make sure there are no pets roaming around on your property and there is nothing like a tree branch blocking the range of the light you’re installing.
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