[stevetcg]

Would you consider solar powered walkway lights "sufficiently" bright enough for walkway lighting in a moderately dark area? The ones we are looking at are "3 LED lights". Our other option is to run low voltage wire. We'd rather use the solar for ease of install if they are bright enough.

I know this is sort of objective, but opinions would be appreciated.

We have solar accent lights and they are barely bright enough to accent a bush.

[ZoeMarie]

Go low voltage if you actually want to see what you're doing. They are a lot brighter no matter how many leds there are in the solar light. I worked in electrical at Menards for 6 years and I can't tell you how many complaints we had with solar lights. Most people wanted them for dark areas like you're describing, but the problem with that is that the sun needs to charge them and if the sun can't charge them well enough they won't stay on very long or be very bright. You'll be much happier with low voltage.

Edit: and actually the install of low voltage lights is fairly simple too. You just run the low voltage wire to a transformer, plug in your lights wherever you want them and then plug in the transformer. You can even get transformers with photo eyes on them or timers.

[stevetcg]

Thanks Zoe.

They get full sun most of the day, but the walkway is along the garage so at night the walkway doesn't get any ambient light from the street or other homes.

[ZoeMarie]

I see. I would recommend buying 1 solar light then. Set it up, give it a week or so and if you don't like how much light it throws you're not out very much money. Most stores would let you take it back if you're not happy with it.