This isn't working for me after full day sun. What am I doing wrong? I live in CA where we have sun even in shady areas! I wanted to use this as my light for my balcony. We get good amount of sun on my balcony but there is little to no light after dark. What am I doing wrong? First day it came fully charged the light lingered throughout the night. The next day we had nothing. Thanks in advance. This isn't working for me after full day sun. What am I doing wrong? I live in CA where we have sun even in shady areas! I wanted to use this as my light for my balcony. We get... » Read More This isn't working for me after full day sun. What am I doing wrong? I live in CA where we have sun even in shady areas! I wanted to use this as my light for my balcony. We get good amount of sun on my balcony but there is little to no light after dark. What am I doing wrong? First day it came fully charged the light lingered throughout the night. The next day we had nothing. Thanks in advance. « Show Less
1296505
Mine works great. My instructions said it arrives partially charged and to let it set in the sun for a full daybefore using. I had a couple of partly cloudy days so I left in on a window ledge where it would get full sun from noon to sunset. After the 3rd day I assumed it had plenty of sun and it works great. Just keep itin the sun during the day if you use it and try to avoid letting it run to empty. Recommendation: Leave it in the full sun for 3 days and then use it again, that should do the trick. If you plan to use it everyday and let it run, I would suggest purchasing at least one more to alternate use. I live in Key West where we also get more than our share of great sun. Good luck. Mine works great. My instructions said it arrives partially charged and to let it set in the sun for a full daybefore using. I had a couple of partly cloudy days so I left in on a window ledge where it would get full sun from noon to sunset. After the 3rd day I assumed it had plenty of sun and it works great. Just keep itin the sun during the day if you use it and try to avoid letting it run to empty. Recommendation: Leave it in the full sun for 3 days and then use it again, that should do the trick. If you plan to use it everyday and let it run, I would suggest purchasing at... » Read More Mine works great. My instructions said it arrives partially charged and to let it set in the sun for a full daybefore using. I had a couple of partly cloudy days so I left in on a window ledge where it would get full sun from noon to sunset. After the 3rd day I assumed it had plenty of sun and it works great. Just keep itin the sun during the day if you use it and try to avoid letting it run to empty. Recommendation: Leave it in the full sun for 3 days and then use it again, that should do the trick. If you plan to use it everyday and let it run, I would suggest purchasing at least one more to alternate use. I live in Key West where we also get more than our share of great sun. Good luck. « Show Less
1296506
I think there is something internally wrong with it. Return it and get a new one.best wishes
1296507
It might be a faulty unit. Like Jimbo, my unit charges easily--even an hour or so of sun is plenty for several hours of illumination. I'm very impressed with this device and hope that you have similar luck with a replacement lantern. Good luck.
1296508
It sounds like your light may be broken. My lantern charges after being in the sun during the day, and at night illuminates without fail.
1017075
hello, you should not be doing anything wrong. These stars do need to recharge. I normally just leave my windows open and have the sun light recharge the stars during the day. Then it will work during the night. Not the whole night, I believe, but it does last for a few hours.
1882771
You have to make sure the solar collection panel is in the most direct daylight as possible. Depending on what time it gets dark enough for the light to come on will have an effect on the light. In the spring/summer, early fall when it doesn't start getting dark till 9pm -930pm it will last a lot longer; but during the winter months when it gets dark early sometimes mine only makes it 6 - 7 hours. But I still like it and use, and will probably buy more. Cathy Krebs
1940375
There are several possibilities: It may be faulty, 1. It needs a full day's charge the first time, 2. My device recharges constantly between uses, and I use it twice a day. It only works and turns on when pressed against the skin for several seconds after you press the 'on' button, 3. You cannot see the lights on when the device is not pressed against something for a consistent period of time. And you have to wait a second or two after turning it on before the lights go on, even when pressed against the skin. Try reading the instructions really thoroughly, as there could be other reasons.
1882772
I would imagine you will hit the limitations of the battery no matter how much sun it received the day before. I remember seeing my light work as late as 4 AM. You may need to go with a wired solution for anything better.
1507726
i would suggest leaving Waka-waka in full sun for at least 3 hours. Then see if dimming improves.
1535493
Before you return, try resting it by a window to charge the solar cells. I have found that if I don't use it for a while it may not come on until it gets a few minutes "in the sun". I think that it should not do that but after 10-15 minutes it was functioning, and for weeks.
963235
We live in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains at latitude 46.5 degrees north, and have found (after first thinking we had a defective battery and getting a replacement) that we just do not get enough light here. The unit IS in a cleared area of the woods, but if we don't get bright light through the clouds or direct sunlight fairly consistently, the 6-volt battery will discharge within a few days. If the unit were easier to open, we could switch out batteries and just recharge them at the house, but you have to lift a tight metal cover to which the solar panel is affixed without breaking the wires on the inside, so it's not something that would be easy to do frequently. We live in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains at latitude 46.5 degrees north, and have found (after first thinking we had a defective battery and getting a replacement) that we just do not get enough light here. The unit IS in a cleared area of the woods, but if we don't get bright light through the clouds or direct sunlight fairly consistently, the 6-volt battery will discharge within a few days. If the unit were easier to open, we could switch out batteries and just recharge them at the house, but you have to lift a tight metal cover to which the solar panel is affixed without... » Read More We live in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains at latitude 46.5 degrees north, and have found (after first thinking we had a defective battery and getting a replacement) that we just do not get enough light here. The unit IS in a cleared area of the woods, but if we don't get bright light through the clouds or direct sunlight fairly consistently, the 6-volt battery will discharge within a few days. If the unit were easier to open, we could switch out batteries and just recharge them at the house, but you have to lift a tight metal cover to which the solar panel is affixed without breaking the wires on the inside, so it's not something that would be easy to do frequently. « Show Less
565983
It sounds like yours is defective if it's not from being in direct sun. Contact Amazon "Help" and they will take care of the problem.
1534303
My light (green) stay's on when charging. It goes off when complete. Mine only blinks when the battery is low. It sounds as if your battery might be faulty. I never use tech support on anything. They usually know less about their products than we do!
2016678
Perhaps your charger is bad...Not real sure. Mine still lights up the entire neighborhood. Sorry
471799
This one was installed above company's front door. It stops working within a week though. Unless you have enough direct sun light to this solar panel, it's not going to work well.Our company's wall is high and we get sun light in the afternoon. I guess that's what the problem but when we come in 5 am it doesn't light up. I don't know it used all the charges during night time or what but not good enough for us.
1664175
Susanna, all the answers below are addressing you testing the light during the daytime. If so, they are correct. One item that you may want to consider is how you have the light powered. This is a powerful light, and at night time I can stand 300' away from my house and see it clearly. So, if possible make sure you are using the correct power source that came with the light, and also, if you have it in a power strip it does not always receive the power it needs. Try plugging it in to a single outlet, and you will probably solve the problemm. Good luck. Dan
355687
Mine lights up in the daytime as well. Bit disappointed in that. Also the range is only about 6 feet. Still like it, but not quite as advertised.
1549805
i hope that you might have just got a lemon. I have had mine on over a year now and it works really great...enough where i was just thinking that for how bright and area it covers i am going to get another. So i contact the manufacturer and let them know see if they can either help you or replace it. I take it you did get it to work so you did turn it on with key given to do just that...and in area where you get sun fairly often right? Even in winter it works all night and live in area where snows and gets mainly only afternoon light...about 4 or 5 hours. Hope this helps you....i am sorry it is not working. hope they replace it, or figure out what is wrong. good luck i hope that you might have just got a lemon. I have had mine on over a year now and it works really great...enough where i was just thinking that for how bright and area it covers i am going to get another. So i contact the manufacturer and let them know see if they can either help you or replace it. I take it you did get it to work so you did turn it on with key given to do just that...and in area where you get sun fairly often right? Even in winter it works all night and live in area where snows and gets mainly only afternoon light...about 4 or 5 hours. Hope this helps... » Read More i hope that you might have just got a lemon. I have had mine on over a year now and it works really great...enough where i was just thinking that for how bright and area it covers i am going to get another. So i contact the manufacturer and let them know see if they can either help you or replace it. I take it you did get it to work so you did turn it on with key given to do just that...and in area where you get sun fairly often right? Even in winter it works all night and live in area where snows and gets mainly only afternoon light...about 4 or 5 hours. Hope this helps you....i am sorry it is not working. hope they replace it, or figure out what is wrong. good luck « Show Less
449705
Have the one that doesn't work set in a nice sunny location. Also, have the switch set on off. It recharges more effectively this way. It will take 3 days minimal before it starts working. If after 3 days it doesn't work either send it back to amazons returns and try to get a refund or exchange for an operating spotlight. I have not tried this on my spotlight bc it works. Whenever I purchase a solar light I replace the batteries from battery plus. They have all batteries and do custom batteries for cheap. They solder and make the odd batteries at there stores.
1214138
Mine were all the same brightness as long as the sun had fully charged it. If the sun has been bright and it still seems dull, the rechargeable batteries may need to be replaced. I have had to replace batteries in some of my other solar powered garden decor. Sometimes it fixes the problem, sometimes it doesn't.