Allsop Home and Garden Aurora Glow Handblown Glass Solar String Lights, (6) Hand-blown Artisan Globes with Copper Hanging Hooks, Weather-Resistant for Year-Round Outdoor Use, (White Diamond)

The lights are elegant bulbs and the solar works. My husband thinks the light is too cool/fluorescent in color. I like it.

I've been on a solar lighting craze this year, buying a variety of lights to understand where the technology is and where it's best used. The Aurora string of lights are very similar to small Christmas bulbs, they even have a loop at the top with a copper hook to hang off your tree, patio, cable or landscaping. These lights are not very bright. They only provide enough light so that they glow. They could not be used to illuminate anything except to be used as a decoration or as a demarcation for a path. The led element is only about a 150 degree spread, meaning that the light is directional (if you look at the glass bulb from the top, you'll see very little light) and the direction is not directly down from the hook - so when they hang, the illumination direction sometimes faces away from you and if that happens the light appears to be hardly illuminated at all. I've been testing the lights in southern California full sunshine for the past few weeks, so the solar receptor receives at least 8 hours of full and intense sunlight each day. I would make the following suggestions to the manufacturer: 1. Increase the capacity of the solar panel, battery and output of the led to make the lights brighter. 2. Adjust the capacitor to allow the led's to shine brighter but for a shorter period of time (the current lights will still be dimly lit at dawn) - who needs lighting at 4:00am? 3. Change the packaging to be foam or cardboard. The current molded plastic packaging is a terrible shock absorber and one of our lights arrived broken because the plastic packaging is inadequate. Overall, if you need a decorative light for landscape or string a cable overhead for a party, these add a nice element of glow but if you expect a light for illumination, look elsewhere.

I purchased two sets of these lights. They worked the first few days while I let them charge. I carefully very, very hung them. Meticulously spending 4 hours to ensure I was very gentle. They never worked again once they were hung. I called the company with the number on the box. They were extremely friendly and sent me two new sets, while telling me to keep the old ones. Due to a very, very hectic schedule I was unable to get around to hanging the replacements but did have them charging in the sun regardless and they were working. Now all 4 sets have stopped working. I came home one night and one of the original sets was miraculously on after 3 months of nothing, but it was a one night thing, they have not come on again since. I was told any rechargeable batteries can be used to replace the batteries inside. Having read that the original batteries are usually poor, I went out and bought Duracell rechargeable batteries, with a charger. I made sure they were at a full charge and switched out the batteries. Nothing. I am now stuck with 4 useless, and very expensive light sets. I have checked everything, and they get more than enough sun. I believe they are just not quality items. Also, while very pretty lit, they look absolutely nothing like the pictures. The light inside is amber, not the glass ball around it. So while they are a very soft, pretty light, they do not have an all amber "glow" like in the picture. Because of the cost I am looking into how I might be able to convert them into being able to use regular power or batteries, but no luck yet.

I have acquired several sets of these over the years and have had a couple work flawlessly (one set is at least 3 years old and still works great). However, I recently ordered a couple sets for my parents and myself...all will not work after they are carefully hung! It is as if the solar charge overloads the capacitor; they just don't turn on when it gets dark. Yes, they are on. Yes, they worked out of box with no solar charge/exposure, but the first time I put them up...nothing. The solar cell gets plenty of direct light. I can only assume there is an issue with the electronics (and quality control) having received three sets recently, all having the same problem. I will try one more time because they really are cool lights when they work.

So durable. These were purchased years ago and are still going strong lighting the patio. They have survived storms and snow and ice and still look beautiful.

I love these! Easy set up and they glow all night long. I bought the white, their glow is similar to a full moon on a clear crisp winter's night. They are magical and a lovely addition to my deck

Initial review 2010: I tried 2 sets, and neither worked at all. Though it's December, I live in North Carolina, and gave each set 2 sunny days (about 6 hours of direct sun) to charge, without success, returned both. An earlier comment wondered if the batteries come disengaged, but the unit has an on/off switch, and the instructions say all you need to do is switch it on (and remove the plastic covering off the solar panel). I returned both sets to local gift shop and got 3rd set. When it didn't work, I opened the battery case, removed the rechargeable batteries and put in regular batteries, and the set did work. So the problem was with the connection from the solar panel. But the regular batteries didn't last long, and it took too long to remove the 4 small screws to open the case, and eventually I threw the lights away. Gave 1 * Amended review Nov 2013: I got all 3 of the malfunctioning units from a local gift shop. After reading that some people had success with their set, and because I thought these lights were such an easy way to add a little beauty, interest and friendliness when hung on the small Japanese maple tree next to the front door of my town house, I ordered a set directly from the company. That set has worked flawlessly for 18 months. They are very visible after sunset and don't begin to dim until 2 or 3 AM. My neighbors love them, and I've gotten a lot of compliments. Cannot explain solar panel on all 3 sets from gift shop didn't work, but the set from the manufacturer worked fine.

I was on the fence of ordering this product when reading the very mixed reviews...but, the beauty of it won the battle... the product arrived. It is indeed beautiful. I bugged my husband everyday until he finally helped me hang those beautiful hand-blown balls for me. The light was definitely not very bright as other reviewers had said, but it doesn't bother me. It created good ambience in our patio. HOWEVER, after 3 days, the light stopped working! The solar panel definitely got enough sun exposure, which should not have been the issue. After much trouble shooting, no luck. Then, I had to bug my husband to TAKE IT DOWN, so I can return this defective item. It was so beautiful that I even contemplated to order a new one, but my husband said that he wouldn't help me again... that was quite a bit of work to put them up and take them down...