outside pir lights that last longer than 10 months

[amfisted]

That is why, based on advice from here, I went for the (non-LAP) one with a samsung chip and 5 year warranty.

The LAP flood lights (that I fitted) are not reliable enough to recommend. The first was less expensive than my chargeable labour time. Granted, the second only took minutes to swap out. The landlord of the pub was, understandably, annoyed that the staff could not see the side part of the pub where the ice machine is when it got dark.

Sometimes, cheap is a false economy.

I'm not an electrician but a DIYer, and it makes little sense for me personally to spend a lot of money on floodlights, given that they're illuminated only occasionally Even though they might not be the best quality, they're likely to last longer because of that low usage. But I don't think anyone would argue with your main point about "false economies".

 

[JohnW2]

Sometimes, cheap is a false economy.

Sure, that "sometimes" is consistent with the 'pot luck'.

If one could be fairly sure that 'more expensive' would translate to 'more reliable', then it would probably be a no-brainer, but that is unfortunately by no means the case - 'more expensive' can "sometimes" translate to 'more wasted money'.

If it is 'pot luck' then, unfortunately, it is pot luck

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I'm not an electrician but a DIYer, and it makes little sense for me personally to spend a lot of money on floodlights, given that they're illuminated only occasionally Even though they might not be the best quality, they're likely to last longer because of that low usage. But I don't think anyone would argue with your main point about "false economies".

Well, for decades I have needed some sort of lights up, or it was a matter of feeling my way around outdoors, with a torch. I put the usual TH lights up, with sensors. They leaked, or when the time came to replace the TH lamp, the would be seized, or fall apart. So I gave up on them.

I then added better quality HPS fittings, via a smart plug, so I had remote control, and the PIR operated LED. The latter, was in Lidl centre isle, cost around £15, and I only bought it because it seemed extremely well built, and totally sealed, with the three adjustments for light leve, time on, and PIR sensitivity. I fitted it several years ago, it's still up, still working, though now unnecessary - Since adding a series of solar PIR lights in strategic locations.