As an avid gardener with over a decade of experience testing and reviewing outdoor lighting products, friends, family and neighbors are constantly asking me for advice before making any backyard or landscape lighting purchases.
So here’s the comprehensive low-down after having the Bionic Spotlight installed above my garage for the past 12 months…
What is the Bionic Spotlight?
The Bionic Spotlight is a versatile, easy-to-install outdoor security light made by Bell & Howell. About the size of a square coffee mug, it packs some useful features into a compact weatherproof housing:
- Motion-activated illumination
- Integrated solar panel to charge the battery
- Bright, energy efficient LED light array
- Tilting mount that allows adjusting the light beam angle
- Weather resistance for operation down to -20°F up to 120°F temperatures
It’s marketed primarily as a wire-free outdoor security light that can help deter intruders via unexpected, sudden illumination when its motion sensor is triggered. But I’ve found it handy for eliminating dark spots in my backyard, lighting up my garden pathway, and even keeping raccoons away from my koi pond!
Key Specs and Features
Before we dive deeper, let’s highlight some key technical specs:
Dimensions: 9 x 5.5 x 2.75 inches
Weight: 2 pounds
Light Output: 600 lumens
Power Source: Integrated solar panel, 800mAh lithium battery
Light Type: LED, 8 bulbs encased in weatherproof housing
Detection Range: Up to 25 feet motion activation
Detection Angle: 220 degrees
Illumination Area: Approximately 600 square feet
As you can see, while not as robust as some commercial grade security floodlights, the Bionic Spotlight packs some decent power in a compact, self-contained unit.
It’s also equipped with an adjustable mounting bracket that allows tilting the spotlight head 60 degrees vertically. So you can really fine tune the light placement.
My Hands-On Review and Experience
I’m no stranger to testing outdoor lighting. Over the years, as an avid gardener and backyard tinkerer, I’ve tried just about every type of solar light, floodlight, and motion sensor light you can imagine!
The Bionic Spotlight caught my eye last year with its unique, integrated design that didn’t require any electrical wiring. Installation was truly simple.
I picked a spot above my garage overlooking both the driveway and a side garden bed. Total installation time was under 10 minutes since all it required was screwing the mount to the wall with the included hardware.
