Steinel FL300W - 300 Watt Dual Flood Light Motion Sensor, White

This light is WAY too expensive to have such a poor range.I've installed this light approximately 12' above the ground under the eave of my back porch. I've tried any number of positions for the floodlights and the motion detector, and just can't get it to detect me from beyond 12' or so. The product seems to be of good quality, but it's absolutely useless to me if it can't see beyond my back deck to where the cars are. I'm wondering if the position of the floodlight bulbs is interfering, as they sit in front of the detector when they're positioned to point straight back and slightly downward.I used this to replace a Heath Zenith light that, like almost everyone else has experienced, stopped working after almost exactly one year. The motion sensor/security light market has a lot of room for someone to create a product that actually works and stays working.**UPDATE**After three months of fiddling with it (!) this unit appears to have a very picky sensor; I've been adjusting the position by milimeters. It still does not pick up every pedestrian or car that drives across it's field, but does a decent enough job that I don't regret the purchase. Still a little expensive for the detection performance, but the build quality is good. The manufacturer was very helpful as well. I've changed from one to three stars.

I bought this light after having endless problems with a Heath/Zenith unit. The motion detector on the H/Z unit would not work half the time. After reading reviews, I saw that a lot of people were having the same problem with these units. In one review, someone mentioned that they got the Stienel floodlight from Amazon which worked much better for them, so I ordered one also. I had a minor problem mounting the FL300W light as the metal swivel bracket would not hold the base of the light flush against the wall. I got 2 long wood screws that went through the base of the light and through the siding and insulation into the plywood that held the light very firmly against the wall. The motion detector was fairly easy to adjust and the light has been working very well for the last couple of weeks. I would definitely recommend this light.

First I will say, motion sensors on any motion sensor light will fail over time. I planned for this and bought replacement sensors with my purchase of this light. If sensor life could be increased, I would give more stars. My research led me to Steinel, as one of the best outdoor motion sensor lights.I have bought three of these, one has been in service for three years now and needed the sensor replaced. Used a Steinel sensor as the replacing sensor. Hope to get three more years of good results. This light was mounted on a garage gable.This year I mounted two more Steinel motion sensor lights under the eve of a roof overhang to illuminate my yard.One of them failed within 3 month due to water intrusion and had to have the sensor replaced. When mounted under my eve, the Steinel light comes with a plastic pipe to do this mount (included). Light dropped out of pipe by 1/8 inch allowed water to enter light and sensor. Replaced sensor and caulked pipe and light. In service for two mounts now. Ok so far.

Only up a couple of days, but I agree with the other reviews. Excellent and very wide adjustments of the light aiming. The directions could be clearer in indicating that you have *two* adjustments for each light.Works fine with CF floodlight bulbs.Only problem, as a couple of other reviewers point out, is with the cheap lamp sockets. Most lamp sockets have a threaded metal sleeve that contacts the outer part of the lamp base at many places. On this unit, the threads are molded into the plastic; the only electrical contact for the outer part of the lamp base is a small and rather limp brass strip that doesn't always touch the lamp base. I had to unplug the unit and use a tiny screwdriver to bend the brass strip contact outward so that it would reliably contact the lamp base.So far, this unit is a lot better than the now-discontinued X-10 model. My X-10's became flaky in operation over time.

I bought this Fixture because it was rated so well on Amazon & elsewhere. Mine has a range of only about 15 feet and doesn't detect quite so well from straight in front (Middle of driveway). Also, be careful when tightening screws holding unit to back plate..... That said, Steinel really has offered to stand by their product and has offered advice and a direct replacement for faulty motion detector. Steinel has really shown a great customer service commitment with my issues.

My previous motion detector light was on half the time when the wind blew.This one senses moving heat only. Waving foliage does not trigger it.The design and manufacturing quality are very good.I want to repeat my order and get another one.UPDATE, Oct. 2013The motion detection system just failed in the second one, a year after the first one.Both failed in the "ON" mode and are still in use as simple floodlight fixtures.