Globalmegadiscount World’s first consumer MPPT-powered solar spotlight boasts 14-hour lighting, RGB effects, and smart home controls… even in cloudy weather
Outdoor solar lighting usually comes with a tradeoff… when the clouds roll in, your lights go dim.
But Linkind, which is part of the AiDot smart home ecosystem, is aiming to change that with its new SL5C Smart Solar Spotlight, which the Korean company tells us is the first consumer-grade outdoor light to use Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).
MPPT, in case you didn’t know, is a charging controller technology typically found in more advanced enterprise solar panel systems.
That means the SL5C isn’t just another stake-in-the-ground garden spotlight to add to the ever growing pile, it’s a full-featured smart light that’s trying to solve one of solar’s biggest flaws of poor performance in bad weather.
If you’ve ever researched rooftop solar panels – and who hasn’t eh? – MPPT might sound familiar.
It’s a charging controller technique that dynamically adjusts the power output of solar panels to match light conditions; essentially squeezing out as much energy as possible from however many rays the sun is shining our way.
By integrating MPPT into the SL5C, Linkind says it’s achieved solar charging efficiency as high as 89.9%, which it states is 23.5% better than the industry norm.
What that means for you, if you were to whack an SL5C into your lawn or flower bed, is faster charging and more consistent power, even when the sunshine isn’t exactly shining.
According to Linkind, a full charge can deliver up to 14 hours of continuous lighting, thanks to an automotive-grade battery packed inside.
Unlike some of the “smart” solar lights you’ll find littered across Amazon and the like, which are usually just lights with a motion sensor or a time, the SL5C does have a genuine – albeit caveated – right to call itself “smart”…
Amazon Alexa and Google Home compatibility is on offer but you will need a Linkind BLE Mesh Hub (sold separately for $30) to get this all synced up.
With or without the hub, the AiDot app lets you choose from over 43 preset scenes or create custom lighting effects.
The SL5C also boasts group control and syncing across up to 32 lights, which you can split into clusters of 8.
With an IP67 rating, the SL5C is built to survive downpours, dusty driveways, and snowy patios. You can stake it in the ground, or mount it vertically on fences or walls.
The Linkind SL5C is officially available from 17 April, direct from Linkind’s website but you can already nab it from Amazon now, for an early bird price.
It’s set to cost $34.99 for a two-pack, but Amazon currently has 40% off.
From Linkind direct a 30% promotional discount will run until the end of the month where $24.49 will nab you that two-pack, or $90.99 for an 8-pack; that latter price is currently available from Amazon now.
