 [Larger view] | Solar-Powered Rainbow Maker
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Average user rating:  | |
 Very Nice | |
| I placed this item in my living room in a window that gets sunlight about 6 or 7 hours a day in the winter. It really needs direct sunlight in order to spin. In fact, if it doesn't have very strong sunlight, it'll make a ticking noise as the gears click against each other. This is probably because the motor doesn't have enough electricity (from the solar panel) to move it foward, but has enough to make some of the gears move. Since it does make a noise that could bother you, if you're not a heavy sleeper, and you like to sleep after the sun has hit your windows, I wouldn't recommend this for a bedroom. The rainbows are nice and reach across the room. They really are fun to watch and move in ways you don't quite expect. I'm thinking of finding crystals with two holes in them and stringing them on this rainbow maker. The more crystals, the more rainbows right? Adding crystals would just mean unbending the wire that holds on the current crystal, and adding the new crystal in between so the one it comes with is on the bottom (as it has only one hole). The rainbow maker also works through our sheer curtains and casts fuzzy rainbows along the wall as well as tiny little rainbows on our curtain. Even when it isn't spinning, as long as it's receiving direct sunlight, it's casting rainbows around the room. It really helps you become more conscious of the passage of time and the movement of the clouds in front of the sun. In addition to the suction cup, it also has a hook for hanging on a piece of string. I bought one for my mother and she's thinking of hanging it outside in a screened in room for the cats to play with. The cats were amused by the rainbows, though if you leave it in the window all the time, it becomes less interesting after a while. After a a few days, they barely paid attention to it, but every once in a while would notice it again and start chasing the rainbows. Sometimes when it ticks the cats just become interested in the ticking thing on the window. Like any piece of art, you must pay some attention to it for it to really work it's charms, and like any piece of art it can serve to brighten up the room just by it's being there. If you have a window that gets direct sunlight, this piece of art will surely brighten up your room & mood, especially if you're around during the day. It's no substitute for going outside, but if you have to be indoors, this will help bring a little of the outdoors in. This is also a great conversation piece, provided you have your friends over during the day. One or more of these could really brighten up a public space. It also strikes me as being a good gift for baby... A self-powered mobile that uses rainbows and the power of the sun. As a simple, enjoyable, fun piece of art, it also makes a great gift. | |
| it's oooo-kay...BUT.... | |
| I was pretty excited to see the rainbow maker in action after reading the reviews... but ended up a bit disappointed: 1. It DEFINITELY needs DIRECT sunlight. That means when you look out the window you wish to stick it on, that you actually SEE the physical shape of the sun in front of that window while it's shining in; otherwise you ARE in for problems. When the sun moves and ceases to be in front of that window, it will begin to stop. And, NOTE what TIME you HAVE that 'direct sun' and if it is a time that you will even BE in the room to appreciate it (to justify its cost!). 2. The rainbows are just ok. I wasn't filled with the excitement that other reviewers were. And neither were my 3 cats (it kept interest for about 30 seconds, tops, and they left the room!). The rainbows are small, about 3-4 in. MAX. And mixed with the high amount of sunlight shining into the room, they were not so noticeable or impressive. More like a sparkling of a flashlight on the wall. Though the ONLY room in our whole house we have with enough sunlight to make it work is our kitchen, and maybe the vastness of the space and all the 'stuff' already on the walls, cancelled out much of the 'effect'. I'm willing to consider that in a better space, it could be cool(?!). 3. You only get rainbows from the number of facets on the crystal. This is a pretty flat crystal. It would have been better with a multi-faceted round ball. 4. Another thing to keep in mind and PLAN for (before purchasing), is that this must suction on a window WITHOUT a screen. It won't work through screened light, or HANG for that matter. SO, now you need a window with DIRECT sunlight that you DON'T use with a screen, AND don't open another window 'over' that space (it sticks out about 2 in.). Again, some people may have that PERFECT space; in my house it only works in one small non-functioning window that gets 'direct' light for about 2 hrs a day, very EARLY in the AM. For this reason alone, I don't think it was WORTH the high price I paid. Otherwise I guess its o-k. Another note to new buyers is to give it at least 24 hrs in the window before judging if it really works or not. I saw some very slow movement on day 1, so I knew it 'functioned'. Left it up and by the next day it seemed to have absorbed enough POWER to actually 'get it going'. So, DO give it some patience! If it still doesn't go after that, it MAY actually function; it just isn't getting that D-I-R-E-C-T sunlight that it DOES REQUIRE. And don't expect much on cloudy days either. So, here in the Midwest, my hopes for year-round 'rainbows' are NOT so good. Again, probably not worth the cost. My advice for this area: just buy a small round crystal at an arts show/shop and hang it in any sunny window and you'll get the same 'effect' without all the prerequisites. In the South or West, it may be worth the try. As for me, I'll keep it up. It's not worth the additional cost to return it, but if I discover someone with a better window for it, I will pass it on to them and maybe they'll get more enjoyment from it (like the other reviewers did). But DO your homework before investing(!); otherwise BE prepared for some disappointment. | |
 Needs help to work | |
| I bought this thinking of the movie Pollyanna and wanted to share it with my daughter. It does work but only after I manually start it spinning. It does not spin on it's own, I have to start it every time. It will spin for quite a while even without direct sun light. But it should spin without having to activate it every time!!! Bit expensive for not working on it's own. |
