Ikea solar powered table lamp called Sunnan.

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A few years ago I bought a solar powered table lamp. I don't think they sell them any more. It never gave off a huge amount of light and online reviews agree with that. I kind of gave up on it and it has been sitting around doing nothing. I am thinking of maybe giving it a 2nd chance (currently have it out in the sunshine to try fully charging it). With spiralling energy costs I thought it might give sufficient light for reading in the winter. Wondered if I should be replacing the solar batteries as it has been lying around for years, unused. I also wondered if anyone else had used one and whether they thought they were any good or not and whether it is worth the expense of replacing the batteries. Originally when I bought mine Ikea would donate a lamp to someone in a refugee camp who had no electricity. We have solar powered security lights which are very good but a bit too industrial looking to set up in the livingroom to read a book!

Broomstick

I have two, bought years ago.  One still seems to be working pretty reliably and the amount of light is plenty even though I don't think I've ever changed the batteries.  The other is very temperamental: I've changed the batteries twice and am currently experimenting again to see if this helps.  If not, I'm wondering if it's the bulbs which don't look easy to change. 

Something I do use a lot is a 'Hug Light' which I was given as a present.  It's a rechargeable via USB, 4 LED, Neck Book Light (a flexible tube with lights at both ends that you bend to hang round your neck).  Find it very useful and, although it's not solar, I don't suppose it costs much at all to charge.

thriftwizard

I have 4 Sunnans; we had 2, my mother thought they were wonderful so I picked up 2 for her, then they came back to live with us when she went into a care home. I should explain that her last home was in a rural village which could, and did, get cut off in snow, so it wasn't just an "Oooh I want one!" thing but a very practical back-up. All are functioning well to this day, and live on the conservatory windowsills so are constantly charged & ready for action.

We use ours for the many situations where we don't have a mains connection & it might not be safe or practical; things like shutting the chickens up at night, overnight stops in my van (no EHU, just solar) in our loft, under the sink. Yes, torches work in the same situations, but you don't have to hold the Sunnans, just plonk them down & angle them to whatever you need. Brilliant things...

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Thank you very much for your replies. The first Sunnan light I bought didn't work at all and had to be replaced. Just as well Ikea had a long returns policy because our nearest Ikea is 140 miles away! I didn't persevere with this one because I didn't seem to get enough dry  sunny days to charge it outside and the instructions said not to try charging indoors but if it can charge in a consevatory with loads of light it is worth trying again. We live "out in the sticks" and power cuts can be a regular feature in the autumn and winter. We do have some wind up camping lamps and a small wind up radio when the power is off. Thanks again for your replies, they are much appreciated.