Solar lighting fixtures that use solar energy are called solar lights. On top of the lamp, they often contain a tiny solar panel capturing sunlight during the day and stores it in a rechargeable battery. The light at night is then powered by this stored energy. Outdoor lighting fixtures like solar lights are often employed in driveways, gardens, and walkways. Additionally, they can be used as decorative lighting for events and parties as well as security lighting.
The use of solar lighting has a variety of advantages. They are firstly sustainable since they don’t use power from the grid, which lowers carbon emissions. They are also cheap because they don’t require moving forward electrical costs. Thirdly, because they don’t require wiring or electrical expertise, they are simple to install. In places with little sunlight or during bad weather, solar lights could not be as reliable since they might not be able to collect enough solar energy to operate the light. Additionally, it’s critical to select high-quality solar lights that can withstand outdoor elements and provide enough illumination.
Types of solar lights
Your lighting needs will determine the best solar lights to use. There are many various types of outdoor solar lights that provide lighting outside that uses less power.
Solar pathway lights
Walking outside after dark is made safer by lighting routes. They may also serve as beautiful emphasizes in your landscape’s design.
Solar driveway lights
Use lights that keep you on the drive away from the plants to make it simpler to navigate your way home from the street.
Solar flood lights
Solar flood lights are an excellent option if you need to light up a huge area. They may also be used to draw focus on the landscape regarding your residence.
Solar spotlights.
These solar lights are among the brightest on the market and are great for security and work areas. Brightness deters pests and acts as a solid barricade for wildlife accessing your residence.
Solar patio lighting
You may create an atmosphere and illuminate a space in your garden for socialising or relaxing.
Decorative solar lights
Christmas lights give your house a vacation-themed look, and decorative fairy lights may transform a simple yard into something wonderful. You could find energy-efficient accent lights that match your sense of style in both scenarios.
Solar pool and pond lights
These lights, which are designed work when immersed in water, offer a lovely ambiance to your yard’s waterscapes.
Portable solar lights
Candles and portable solar lanterns can be used as table decorations or to illuminate a path at night.
7 factors to consider when choosing outdoor solar lights
The market has been inundated with options due to the popularity of solar lighting. Here are some things to think about if selecting an outdoor solar light.
Purpose
Before you go shopping, have a plan for how you’ll use your solar lights. Are you looking for for decorative fixtures or do you require it for a specific purpose like security and safety? There will be different choices regarding design and function based on the use.
Desired brightness
Lumens are currently used to measure brightness. Compared to the old watts measurement, lumens are more helpful. The lumen output of a typical 40 watt incandescent bulb ranges from 300 to 500. A comparable-lumen LED light uses only three to five watts to operate.
Solar panel type
Amorphous, polycrystalline, and mono crystalline solar panels are the most often used solar panel types to power solar lights. One photovoltaic layer spans the whole surface of an amorphous solar panel. They are light, flexible, and thin. A single silicon solar cell makes up mono crystalline solar panels. While they are heavy and rigid, they are the best at producing electricity efficiently.
Multiple silicon crystal pieces are fused together to form polycrystalline solar panels. They are heavy and rigid, much like the mono crystalline variety. They are cheap.
Battery type
Your solar lights must function at night when there is no sun. Batteries can help in this instance. In the processes that take occur when energy is saved and released, batteries store electrical energy as chemical energy. The sulphuric acid interacts with lead to generate energy in lead acid batteries. Other battery types include nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. In regards to charge time, energy storage, weight, and longevity, each operates uniquely.
Recharge time and run time
Make sure you are acquainted with the charging and operating times for each model. A battery that can last all night or longer could be needed. Batteries’ lifetime is significantly reduced by constantly draining them to nothing.
Type of bulb
LED technology is the most energy-efficient outdoor lighting available. They are far more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs and don’t have the same threat of shattering as CFL bulbs and releasing substances into the environment. Additionally, they last longer. Following are some comparisons among multiple solar light bulb types:
- 40 watt incandescent equals 10 watt CFL or 3 watt LED
- 60 watt incandescent equals 14 watts of CFL or 6 watts of LED
- 100 watt incandescent equals 28 watts of CFL or 13 watts of LED
You could receive pool lights that range in intensity from 1,000 to 20,000 lumens or a visibly bright 3,000 lumen LED security flood light. The small 1.2 lumen multi colour fairy lights that you might hang from your trees are at the other end of the spectrum.
Features and accessories
How to buy solar lights should take your needs for features and accessories into account. You have manual and effortless decisions, as well as some smart garden machinery. Certain kinds alter the colour and intensity.
Do solar lights work in winter/in the shade?
Yes – just not as effectively.
sun light unit charging is most efficient when there is direct sun light, such as at the height of summer. In basic terms, the light will remain lit longer or more brightly the more sunlight absorbed. Even if it isn’t always direct, there is still sunlight in the winter that may be used to power solar lights. The same applies in the case of shade; solar lights will keep charging there is but more slowly.
On a full charge (8 hours on a sunny day), our Solareye80 solar ground lights will illuminate for over 200 hours, which equates to 8 full days or 2 weeks of January nights. They have been specially designed for Northern European conditions. As a result, performance maximises and charge is saved for overcast days. In addition, there is no need to worry about working conditions because it can vary from -20°C to +70°C.
Benefits
Green Alternative
Traditional lighting may be substituted with solar light, which uses no grid electricity at all. As a result, they are autonomous of the grid and may continue to operate normally even during brownouts or blackouts. They also employ one of the most advanced renewable energy systems available. With each passing year, the price of solar energy drops more, making it one of the most affordable renewable energy sources available right now. Off-grid solar panels store the batteries during the day so that there is sufficient energy for the evening. The controller turns on the light fixture when it detects that the panels are stopped collecting any charge after dusk. The batteries power the light fixture for the duration of the development period, depending on by the user.
These batteries may be returned to a battery recycling focused throughout the system’s maintenance period and are fully recyclable. The many sorts of batteries and the best way to treat them when they are used up are explained in the following outstanding battery recycling data gathered by Illinois University.
Low-Cost Installation
Off-grid solar installation and grid system installation often need the same number of installation per pole. The primary distinction is that conventional grid electricity requires no digging or does not require a number of metres. One of the most expensive aspects of a lighting project’s installation is metering and trenching grid electricity. Trenching can occasionally be more costly still, particularly if there are significant obstacles in the path or in situations where it would be expensive to disturb or repair the surroundings, such as a freshly paved parking lot. Pole placement for grid lights and off-grid solar lighting systems is the same. The poles are built to support the extra weight and EPA of the solar power assembly, thus the footers may need to be larger with the solar lights.
From the main power supply to the poles, there is no subterranean conduit. The top of the pole or, in certain configurations, an adjacent pole contains all of the wire. Additionally, the power is low voltage, which makes installation and maintenance much safer. Last but not the least, obstacles like root systems, underground utilities, or other obstructions that usually complicate ordinary electric trenching are no longer an issue. Simply place the pole where light is required.
Maintenance Free
The systems require almost no maintenance, especially now that LED lighting has become common because to their 20+ year lifetime. Of all the fixtures right now on the market, LEDs have the longest lifespan. The usage of photocells, which was the second-greatest cause of maintenance for traditional AC-powered lights, has been stopped. Using the conventional controls, the solar panel serves as the photocell. The controller recognizes that it is daylight when the panel is producing a charge and turns off the fixture all through the day. The controllers recognize that it is night time once the panel starts to cease producing a charge and switch on lighting fittings.
If correctly sized, the batteries have a lifespan of five to seven years. It means that it is advisable to change batteries, visually inspect the panels and fixtures, and clean any components about every five years. Rainfall in the area cleans solar panels. The vast majority of the time, the 45° angle of the panels allows for nature to keep them clean. If you live in a region with little to no rainfall, cleaning of the panels every year or so may be advised. The systems don’t need any extra maintenance since every other component has a lifespan of 15 to 30 years or more.
Zero Energy Bills
Finally, using solar lighting systems is completely grid-free, so there are no electricity bills related to their use. Imagine your lighting installation not producing any power bills. Although a commercial system’s upfront costs can be intimidating, the overall savings can be easily demonstrated when compared to the aforementioned factors. By working with your solar competent to figure out cost variations over time, further cost comparisons may be provided. You may get a broad perspective of the project by juxtaposing what would be standard setup with the solar lights during their 25+ year lifespan.
When dealing with commercial systems, there are more financial incentives that reduce the solar system’s initial expenses; for more information, go to www.dsireusa.org. Setting up solar power over traditional electrical illumination is still very popular due to tax credits, grants, and other financial incentives.
FAQ’s of solar lights
Do solar lights charge on rainy days?
Though they are most efficient in direct sunlight, photovoltaic panels may generate power from either direct or indirect sunlight. Even when the light is reflected or partially obscured by clouds, solar panels will still work.
Do solar lights work all the time?
The wintertime solar lighting is unserviceable.
Each solar light has a sensor inside that switches them on as the light fades; in the winter, this may occur as early as 4pm, which means your little solar lights are draining the battery and it will be almost empty in two hours.
Do solar lights work at night?
The majority of solar lamps have a lifespan of 6 to 10 hours with a full battery. This was designed to provide constant illumination after a day of typical sunshine.
Do solar lights turn off?
You can manually turn on and off solar lights since they include an on/off switch. A light sensor helps solar lights switch on and off automatically, but if you’re travelling for a while, you can find oneself in a situation where you need to turn it on during the day or off at night.
Do solar lights save energy?
Advantages of solar-powered lighting
They can be used in remote locations without reliable power supplies or in areas without power grids as they are powered by integrated solar panels, which reduce the cost of electricity. In addition, it saves energy as sunlight never runs out.
Do solar lights charge?
Yes is the short answer. Solar panels need sunlight in order to charge, although they may also be recharged on gloomy, overcast days. For example, Sol’s innovative lighting systems and products are made to function for at least four days without direct sunny skies!
Are solar lights expensive?
These lights may be put in off-grid puts and operate independent of the main power system. Solar lights cost more, on average $3000 per light, because they require higher-end machinery.