TOWPONICS 2-in-1 Solar Lamp Post Review: Planter, Light and Charging

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If you are considering the TOWPONICS solar lamp post, the first question is whether a light and a planter in one post suits the spot you have. The post is 35 inches tall, and its light depends on sunlight to charge. This review covers only what the listing states about height, light output, water resistance, charging, warranty and included parts. It does not report any test of the light at night, and it does not claim the lamp will run through a cloudy week, because the listing does not say so. Use the listing to decide whether the size and light suit your garden path or patio.

Quick answer

The TOWPONICS post is a black metal solar lamp post with a planter, listed at 35 inches tall. The lamp is an LED with warm white light, listed at 12 lumens and 2800 kelvin. The bullets say the unit is IP65 waterproof, and the specs say waterproof. It has a touch control and a dusk-to-dawn sensor, and the bullets say it charges in 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. The listing gives a 12-month manufacturer warranty. Because the light is only 12 lumens, check whether that output suits what you want to light.

What to check in a solar lamp post

Four details decide whether this post fits. Each one can rule it in or out.

1. Height and footprint. The title and bullets give 35 inches tall, and the bullets compare that with standard 27-inch models. The specs give the size as 35 inches, and the installation type as freestanding. The listing does not state the planter’s diameter or the soil depth, so measure the planter if you plan to plant in it.

2. Light output. The specs give a brightness of 12 lumens and a light output maximum of 12 lumens. The light is an LED with one light source, warm white and 2800 kelvin. The listing does not compare that output with other posts, so check the light level you need for your path before you buy. For a broader look at solar lights, the best solar powered LED outdoor lights guide covers that category.

3. Water resistance. The bullets say the unit has an IP65 waterproof rating, and the specs list the water resistance level as waterproof. The bullets describe the metal construction, and the shade is plastic. The listing does not describe a test beyond the IP65 rating, so read the rating as the listing states it.

4. Charging and battery. The bullets say the lamp charges in 6 to 8 hours of sunlight, and the bullets describe four solar panels. The bullets also say to charge the unit for eight hours in direct sunlight before first use, and that the battery may lose charge during shipping or storage. The item weight field gives 1.6 ounces, which looks low for a metal post with a planter, so check the product page for the weight before you lift the post.

Use these rules to choose:

• Choose this post if you want a 35-inch solar light with a planter, and you have a sunny spot to charge it.
• Choose a different light if you need brighter light than the listed 12 lumens.
• Choose a different light if you need a stated warranty longer than the 12 months the listing gives.

For a solar garden light with a stake or flag, the best garden flag stand with solar light guide covers that category, and the best outdoor solar lights for flower beds guide covers beds and planters.

The TOWPONICS 2-in-1 post

The TOWPONICS post is a modern-style, black metal post with a planter and a solar lamp shade. The listing names the mounting type as floor standing and the light fixture form as a post light. The room types include a deck, an entryway, a garden and a patio. The control method is touch, and the bullets describe no wiring for installation. The included components are the lamp post, one planter, one solar light, and an instruction manual.

The post fits a reader who wants a garden light with a planter for a path, an entryway or a patio, and who has a sunny spot for the solar panels. The bullets describe it as a decorative piece for outdoor spaces, and the listing does not describe its performance beyond that.

The listing has several things to check. The item weight field gives 1.6 ounces, which conflicts with the metal construction in the bullets, so confirm the weight on the product page. The bullets compare the post with 27-inch models, but the listing does not describe the comparison beyond the bullet. The manufacturer is named as Shenzhen hansixin Technology Co., Ltd in the specs, and the brand is TOWPONICS.

Who should skip it: a reader who needs brighter light than 12 lumens, a reader with no sunny spot for the solar panels, and a reader who wants a warranty longer than 12 months.

Charging on a cloudy week

The bullets say the unit fully charges in 6 to 8 hours of sunlight, and they say to charge it in direct sunlight for eight hours before first use. The listing does not say how the lamp behaves after a run of cloudy days.

Worked example: how 4 hours of sun sits below the 6-hour charging figure

Compare that sun time with the minimum charging time in the bullets, so you can see the gap.

• Minimum charging time: 6 hours, from the bullets.
• Sun time in this example: 4 hours.
• Shortfall against the minimum: 6 minus 4 = 2 hours.

Check the arithmetic again. 6 minus 4 is 2. The example shows that 4 hours of sun falls 2 hours short of the bullets’ minimum. A spot with more direct sun suits the post better, and the listing does not describe the charge on a shaded spot.

What IP65 means

The bullets give an IP65 rating, and the specs list the water resistance level as waterproof. The Wikipedia overview of the IP code says the code is defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission in IEC 60529, and that it gives detail where vague marketing terms such as waterproof do not. The code is read as two digits, one for protection against solids such as dust and one for protection against water, so it is more precise than the word waterproof alone.

The listing gives IP65 as the rating and does not explain the test conditions. Read the rating as the maker’s claim, check the product page for the test details, and keep the solar panel and the connections dry when you handle the post.

Five common mistakes

1. Expecting bright light. The listing gives 12 lumens.
2. Placing it in shade. The bullets give 6 to 8 hours of sunlight to charge.
3. Skipping the first charge. The bullets say to charge for eight hours before first use.
4. Trusting the item weight. The listing gives 1.6 ounces, which looks low for this build.
5. Planting without measuring. The listing does not state the planter’s soil capacity.

FAQ

How tall is it?

The listing gives 35 inches.

How bright is the light?

The specs give 12 lumens, with a warm white color at 2800 kelvin.

Is it waterproof?

The bullets give an IP65 waterproof rating, and the specs list the water resistance level as waterproof.

How long does it take to charge?

The bullets say 6 to 8 hours of sunlight to fully charge.

Does it come with a warranty?

The specs give a 12-month manufacturer warranty.

What comes in the box?

Bottom line

The TOWPONICS 2-in-1 post suits a reader who wants a 35-inch solar light with a planter, for a path, an entryway or a patio with plenty of sun. The listing gives IP65 water resistance, 12 lumens of warm white light, a 6-to-8-hour charge and a 12-month warranty, and it does not state planter capacity. Place it where the panels get direct sun, charge it before first use, and check the item weight on the product page.

Sources

• IP code, Wikipedia: IP codes are defined in IEC 60529 and give more detail than the marketing term waterproof.