December 6th, 2024 Quick Update: These lights have been installed for over a year now and I have had ZERO issues and am super happy with them.
When my wife and I first moved into our current home I envied outdoor lighting of some of the others houses in the neighborhood. I put up some basic garden walk lights, but always wanted to put spotlights up, however the exterior needed a makeover. Spotlights on our home would have definitely made our house stick out, but not in a good way.
Flash-forward over 5 years and many projects later (reframed garage, siding, roof, front door, trees removed, landscaping ) and I started to get the bug again. Recently I painted the front entrance of the house and with the holidays coming I wanted to show it off a bit.
Govee Outdoor Spot Lights, IP65 Waterproof Uplight Spotlights, Patio Decorations, WiFi 24V...
SockitBox – The Original Weatherproof Connection Box – Indoor & Outdoor Electrical...
As with most purchases I make I started exploring my options and did a fair amount of research. As the title states I landed on the Govee lights. I looked at a lot of other options, mostly cheaper, but also some more expensive (VOLT from Costco for example). Since I already have several other Govee products and I have been happy with them I figured I would give them a try. Here is a summary of my findings / research.
First Impressions
Right out of the box, these things look legit. The build quality is solid, they feel durable, and the wiring doesn’t seem cheap or flimsy. Govee’s packaging is always decent, and everything was labeled and easy to sort through. I had them unboxed and mapped out in minutes.
Setup
Setup was smooth, and for once, I didn’t need to yell at my phone or router. The app (Govee Home) picked them up almost instantly via WiFi. No extra hub needed—just plug in the control box, sync it, and you’re rolling. It probably helped that I already had other Govee devices and I am pretty gadget savvy in general.
Mounting was flexible—I staked them in mulch beds around the patio, but you could just as easily mount them against a wall or fence. The one challenge I faced was the chord wasn’t long enough to reach my outlet on the front of the house. I ran an extension cord and then used the SockitBox – The Original Weatherproof Connection Box to conceal and protect where I connected the Govee lights as well as the control box from the elements.
Performance
Let’s talk color. These lights are bright and rich. Not the cheesy over-saturated RGB you get with some of the cheap sets. Thanks to RGBIC, each light can display multiple colors simultaneously, so you can do gradients, animations, and scenes that actually look like something out of a resort, not a bad disco.
From chill warm whites to full-blown color shows, these spotlights deliver. I’ve used them to highlight trees, the deck, even the bar sign—and they never feel washed out, even from a distance.
The best part? Alexa integration works flawlessly. I can say, “Alexa, turn on front spot lights,” and boom—the whole lights up, but for the most part I just use a scheduled routine to turn the lights on just before sunset and then turn them off shortly after bed time.
App Control
The Govee app is packed with features, though it can feel a bit overwhelming at first. Tons of scenes, customization options, timers, and group controls if you’re running multiple Govee products. That said, it’s almost too much. You can spend way too much time playing with the presets—so maybe don’t open it if you’re trying to get anything productive done.
Weatherproofing
We’ve had rain, heat, and even a freak hailstorm since I installed them. The IP65 rating holds up—they’re still working perfectly, minimal fogging, no shorting. I wouldn’t dunk them in a pool, but for normal outdoor use? Totally solid.
Govee Outdoor Spot Lights, IP65 Waterproof Uplight Spotlights, Patio Decorations, WiFi 24V Low Voltage Landscape Lights Work with Alexa, RGBIC...
SockitBox – The Original Weatherproof Connection Box – Indoor & Outdoor Electrical Power Cord Enclosure for Timers, Extension Cables, Holiday...
Pros:
- Vibrant Color Options: The Govee RGBIC outdoor spotlights offer a wide array of colors, with 35 scene modes to illuminate your garden or outdoor space. The color-changing feature allows for versatile and dynamic lighting effects. I was actually surprised how much they aluminate the house.
- Sturdy Build Quality: These lights are compact yet robust, demonstrating excellent durability. They are designed to withstand the elements, making them suitable for outdoor use. The stakes are nice quality compared to other landscape lighting I have used over the years. I also like that you put the stakes in and then attach the light with a thumb screw which makes rotating them easy.
- Easy Assembly: Setting up the spotlights is a breeze, requiring less than 10 minutes for installation (after some time planning and laying things out). The straightforward assembly process ensures a quick and hassle-free experience. Based on my research I was concerned about the need for longer wires between lights, however as you can see from the photos above, even though I wasn’t able to spread the lights out as far as I would have liked the coverage is perfect.
- Smart App Control: The Govee Home App provides convenient control over the lights, allowing users to customize colors and scenes effortlessly. Integration with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant adds an extra layer of convenience. I use Alexa and it works REALLY well. The Govee Hope App isn’t the most user friendly, but I am used to it from other Govee devices as mentioned above.
- Weather Resistance: The IP65 waterproof rating ensures year-round functionality, making these spotlights a reliable choice regardless of weather conditions. Users in the PNW fall weather reported effective water resistance. I haven’t had any issues here, but see the first con below.
Cons:
- Condensation Issue: Some users have reported an issue with water or condensation forming on the inside of the lights after exposure to mild rain. This concern raises questions about the product’s overall weather resistance and quality control. So far so good for me. I have read where some users have proactively sealed their lights silicone products from Gorilla or other manufacturers. https://amzn.to/3GfgnTL
- Limited Animation Options: While the lights offer dynamic animations suitable for holidays and events, there is a desire for more subtle, less flashy options for day-to-day use. The current animations may be too intense for regular ambiance, prompting users to seek more varied options. I tend the like just the regular soft white lights for non-holiday use.
- App Ease of Use: The Govee Home App, while functional, could benefit from streamlining and improved organization. Users have expressed a desire for a more user-friendly experience and better navigation within the app.
Overall Assessment
The Govee RGBIC outdoor spotlights impress with their vibrant colors, sturdy build, and easy assembly. Longer wires for installation would be nice, concerns about water-related issues and the need for more varied animation options suggest room for improvement.
As I noted above though, the wire length turned out not to be a problem, I haven’t had any condensation issues and the app works just fine for my needs. Overall I am happy with my purchase and have already recommended the Govee RBIC outdoor spotlights to several friends as an easy option for decorating the outside of the house for the holiday season and beyond.
Govee Outdoor Spot Lights, IP65 Waterproof Uplight Spotlights, Patio Decorations, WiFi 24V Low Voltage Landscape Lights Work with Alexa, RGBIC Color Changing...
Features
| Part Number | H7066111 |
| Model | H7066 |
| Warranty | 1 year. |
| Color | Black |
| Size | 4 pack |
| Energy Efficiency Class | 12.5 lumens per watt |
- Stronger and More Focused Lighting: These uplight landscape spotlights to light up a larger area with adjustable brightness. Suitable for holiday decor, outdoor plants, shrubs, patio decor and etc. (Multiple sets can't be connected together)
- Color Changing Landscape Lighting Effects: RGBIC technology allows for separate light color settings. Choose from 35 scene modes to add life to your trees, light up your landscape with govee outdoor lights, enjoy fantastic patio decortions.
- Waterproof and Heatproof Landscape Lighting: In addition to an IP65 waterproof rating, Govee outdoor spotlights are heatproof, durable, and made from high-strength aluminum material. Lifetime up to 20,000 hours. (Please protect the adapters from rain)
- Smart Wi-Fi Voice Control: These bright landscape spotlights work with Alexa and Google Home for hands-free voice control. You can also control the color changing pathway lights from anywhere via Govee Home App. Great for holiday decorations.
- Various App Functions: Use the app to access functions such as timers to light up house at night with Govee outdoor lights for garden decorations. Choose from 16 million colors to DIY the holiday decor or sync with music for outdoor parties.
- Easy to Install: The Govee outdoor accent lighting is based on low voltage, making it safe to use and easy to install. Insert the outdoor spotlights into the ground or mount on the wall. Ideal for highlighting your garden, yard, patio decor.
SockitBox – The Original Weatherproof Connection Box – Indoor & Outdoor Electrical Power Cord Enclosure for Timers, Extension Cables, Holiday Lights, Power...
Features
| Part Number | SB Black Small |
| Model | SB Black Small |
| Color | Black |
| Size | Small |
- COMPACT OUTDOOR ELECTRICAL BOX WATERPROOF PROTECTION – Designed to keep smaller outdoor electrical connections safe, the SockitBox Black Small offers reliable outdoor electrical box waterproof protection, shielding devices from rain, snow, and dust.
- EFFICIENT OUTDOOR EXTENSION CORD COVER – Ideal for compact setups, this outdoor extension cord cover safely encloses power strips, small surge protectors, and cables, ensuring tidy connections in any outdoor space.
- STURDY OUTDOOR PLUG PROTECTOR WATERPROOF DESIGN – Built with durable, water-resistant materials, the SockitBox Black Small acts as a dependable outdoor plug protector waterproof solution, perfect for securing small outdoor electrical connections in all weather conditions.
- VERSATILE WATERPROOF ELECTRICAL BOX FOR SMALL POWER NEEDS – This waterproof electrical box provides robust protection for small to medium cables and cords, ideal for outdoor holiday lights, garden tools, or compact electrical setups.
- SPACE-SAVING WEATHERPROOF ELECTRICAL BOX – With a space-saving design, the SockitBox Black Small is the go-to weatherproof electrical box for simple, effective protection of outdoor connections, keeping your cords secure and dry.
I like the way this product performs and will be purchasing.