I’ve bought Bell and Howell products before. I find they stand the test of time and are durable. For the money, they are the perfect solution for my lighting problems. In fact, three years ago, I bought a two piece motion solar light set and have had one of the lights affixed to the wooden post on the front porch since then.
It still works without fail every time someone passes the house or walks near the veranda. Considering it has been in the elements for so long, I am actually pleasantly surprised at its longevity. Obviously, because of this, I wasn’t at all reluctant to buy one of their kits again.
Fall has arrived and the sun now sets very early. Darkness is an issue because the electrical in our indoor porch which leads into the living room has malfunctioned and the electrician is swamped for the next couple months. It is a big job to rewire that area, so we needed an interim fix that was quick to setup and inexpensive to do. Last week, in the one of the store sales papers that came to the house, I noticed a set of Bell and Howell Three Piece Lights With Remote. I immediately went down to the store to buy a package.
I didn’t think I needed or wanted the remote, but it was in the set, and since the price was right, under twenty dollars, I figured if I never used the remote, I hadn’t lost anything. Being as the dark space was indoors, solar lights wouldn’t work, so this package of battery operated disks were what I needed.
Each lighted disk required three AAA batteries and the remote needed two batteries. I bought three sets of four Sunbeams which meant I had one extra when finished installing all the units. I knew I wanted Alkaline batteries because they often work better, but when I started reading the packages, I also saw they were marked “For High Drain Devices”, which in my mind would be better yet.
After I put the batteries in everything, I tested all three lights or pods, as they are called, first by pushing the center of the disk to see if they would turn on and off. Then, I used the remote control to do the same thing.
Once everything was working fine, I took the one disk into the enclosed porch and closed the door to the living room so that it was very dark. The light was perfect in that small space. Anyone coming or going could have the area lit, which was so much safer.
Now that I knew the lighted disks would serve my purpose, I stuck one on the wall. Mounting tape in the shape of circles, as well screws for the remote control were included in the Bell and Howell package.
As I said at the beginning, I didn’t think I would need the remote, but it has turned out to be a fantastic addition. If you keep pushing the disk while adhered to the wall, it could eventually fall off. Using the remote means you don’t have to twist your arms to access the light, nor are you loosening the tape.
I’ve put the remote control in the kitchen on the wall, so everyone knows where it is. One of the other lights, we put on the fence in the yard in order to see the dog when he hides and wants to stay outside in the mud. To get him in quickly, we use the remote to turn on the light and illuminate him in his hiding spot. Once the light is on him, he comes in quickly, and then, he is not all dirty.
The third light, I am still trying to figure out where we need it. I took out the batteries for now until I decide where we will use it. But to be honest, I think we have to save it for a power outage. We have had many storms lately and every time the power goes out, I am looking for the little flashlight in my purse. Now we can use this third disk in the living room and have something to get around to the bathroom if needed.
Package Contents:
- Battery Operated Remote Control
- 3 Battery Operated Light Disks
- 4 Tape Pads from 3M
- Screws To Mount Remote
- Instruction Sheet
- Legal Sheet
- Batteries NOT included – Requires 11 AAA
Features:
- Battery Operated
- Tape is 3M, the best you can buy
- Quick to setup and mount
- Remote can work all three lights at once
- Guaranteed for a year
- Remote control is very handy
- Can be hand held or affixed to wall with self-adhesive pads
- Brightness can be set at dim or bright
- Safe to use
- Dimmer and Timer
- Indoor and outdoor use
Complaints:
There were two things about these sets that really bugged me.
1. When I first put the batteries in the disks, one of the lights wouldn’t turn on. I was mad because it was a nuisance to return to the store, but on the other hand, I didn’t want to lose money by only having two lights instead of the three I paid for. I knew the problem wasn’t dead batteries because the same ones worked in the other two disks just fine.
Resolution – I took a course piece of cloth I had and rubbed the connectors inside the unit where the batteries go. Lo and behold, the light started working.
2. The circles of tape are quite nice because they are stamped with 3M, which means they are going to work and last. That company sure knows how to make sturdy tape! But the problem is, although the manufacturer cut out a circle on the back of the disk to show you where to put the same shaped tape, the tape goes right over the slot used to open the back of the unit to install new batteries.
Since the slot needs opening with a coin, I debated whether to cut the tape and put it on the exterior rim. But that wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I ended up deciding that since I probably wouldn’t have to change the batteries very often, I would put the tape in the marked indent where it belonged. Hopefully, these batteries last a long time.
Conclusion:
I love these lights despite the few issues we had. They were simply the easiest solution to getting that entrance area lit up. And as I said, the solar set has lasted, so I can only expect that the battery operated models will do just as well.
The package insert says that the mini lights would be good for closets, garages, hallways, stairs, and shelves like in the laundry area or kitchen pantry. Although they call these mini LEDs, the circumference is about four inches, which I find to be a suitable size.
I can see how they would be beautiful in the garden, as well. With the large size and dim light features, you could use them around a pond like you would candles. Plus, while lit up on the brighter setting, they would be ideal along any walkways.