Friday, March 22, 2024

How To Install Solar String Lights

Interesting Uses For Patio String Lights

Unboxing and setup of Qedertek Solar String Lights 72ft 200 LED Waterproof Fairy String Lights

With their flexibility and low cost, string lights offer a great chance to get creative with outdoor lighting. Here are five of our favorite uses for string lights.

1. Illuminate an existing outdoor structure, like a pergola or gazebo, with strands of string lights. Hang them along the rafters, wrap them along the handrails, or frame theperimeter.

2.Create a soft garden glow by layering string lights into your landscaping. Weave smaller bulbs think Christmas tree lights through sturdy bushes and hedges.

3.Use string lights to create a sparkling universe of light underneath a covered porch. In this case, more is more! Drape strands from every surface.

4.Trees are a great natural support for string lights. Tightly wrap the cord around mature trunks, or drape them softly from branches for a more romantic look

5.Carefully pile string lights into wire, woven, or glass vessels. Safer than candles, this glowing look creates soft ambiance without the flicker or fire hazard.

Tips For Installing Outdoor Solar Lights

Need better lighting for nights in your backyard? Check out these tips for installing outdoor solar lights in your yard this summer.

If youre looking for backyard ideas on a budget, you cant go wrong with outdoor solar lights, especially if you need to illuminate a path or walkway, or if you want to draw attention to a garden feature at night. Solar lights for your yard are affordable and easy to install. For the most part, installing solar lights is a quick backyard project. Take time to consider where you want to place your new lights and be sure to double check that the lights are charged before placing them into the soil.

Follow these tips to ensure your new solar lights function at their best:

How Do You Hang String Lights On A Patio Without Nails

Most hooks use nails to hang string lights, but there are a few ways you can hang string lights without nails. Try using:

  • Staples

Staples are more secure than tape and are not as visible as nails.

  • Gutter hooks

Gutter hooks hang on your gutter, so you dont need nails to fasten them to your home.

  • Adhesive hooks

Adhesive hooks stick to the side of your home. But these wont be as sturdy compared to nailing a hook into your wall.

  • Tape

Tape is the least secure of the four options, but it wont damage your home if youre worried about drilling holes into your walls.

You can also hang your outdoor string lights in a few different places that dont require nails.

These include:

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How To Hang String Lights In The Backyard Without Trees

It is a common thing to hang outdoor string lights on trees in the backyard. However, if your backyard has no trees, then you will need to look for alternative ways on how to hang string lights in the backyard without trees.

Here are some tips on how to hang string lights in the backyard without trees.

Diy Solar String Lights: 5 Steps

Lighting Innovations, Farmhouse Light Fixtures

I recently made my own DIY solar string lights.

Check them out:

Turns out its easy to convert string lights to solar lights. And theyre versatile, too.

You can use them as solar powered outdoor string lights. You can hang them in your bedroom as solar powered fairy lights. You can even hang them up over the holidays as solar powered Christmas lights.

Heres how to make them:

Also Check: How To Create Solar Power At Home

Instructions On How To Replace A Solar Light Battery

Step 1: Take your solar light indoors to a clean dry space

You dont want to get any water or dirt in your solar light that could affect future performance. For this reason, take your solar light indoors to a nice clean area before opening it up.

Step 2: Unscrew the top of the light

In the vast majority of cases with solar garden lights, the solar panel and battery are housed in the very top section above the bulb. In my solar light used in the example here you simply twist the top section about half a turn anti-clockwise and it comes away

Step 3: Switch the light off if there is the option to

If you have the option, to be extra safe, turn the light switch to off before touching the battery.

Step 4: Open the battery casing and see what type of battery you have

As you can see in my example here, the solar light is powered by a simple 300mAh, AA, 1.2V Nickel Cadmium battery. You may notice sometimes it says no mercury on the casing. This is simply to let you know that it can be taken to a battery recycling centre which will often state no mercury allowed.

Step 5: Remove the battery

Step 6: Find a new battery of the same specification or similar

As stated earlier in the article it is recommended you use a Nickel Metal Hydride battery to replace a Nickel Cadmium battery as they are better for the environment.

Step 7: Turn the light back on and test

What Are The Different Types Of Rechargeable Battery

There are a number of different types of rechargeable battery available now. These vary as technology has improved and also in cost to manufacture. So a higher end solar light may have a more expensive type of battery than a cheaper solar garden light, which will have a cheaper model.

The battery has to contain an element that loses electrons easily. These electrons are what pass back and forth between two sides of the battery to store and release a charge and to produce electricity.

Lithium-based batteries

Many larger, modern solar lights now contain lithium-based batteries. These are the same as those found within your smartphone or laptop.

They are used as they can have an energy density over twice that of older style nickel-based batteries .

The other advantage they have over the older battery models is that you can get a 3.6volt battery pack as just a single cell rather than having to have a number of smaller cells joined in a series. This saves a lot of space which is a bonus in solar lights where you dont want to have lots of small batteries packed in next to each other.

Nickel -based batteries

In cheaper solar garden lights the batteries are most likely to be Nickel based. This could be either Nickel Cadmium or Nickel Metal Hydride .

This type of rechargeable battery has been around for a long time. The first Nickel Cadmium battery being created way back in 1899!

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Solar String Lights With Bee

These solar fairy lights have unique bee-shaped 20 LED bulbs that bring a natural and fun feeling in your garden. The bee-shaped bulbs are of high-quality and durable plastic.

Each bee bulb is 1.4 inches while the string length is 16ft with a 6ft gap between the first bee bulb and the solar panel.

The bulbs look like small statues during the day, but when they light up at night, they glow in white and yellow. They offer 2 operation modes, blinking and steady.

SEMLITS Lights Top Features
2 working modes

Scenarios where you can use SEMILITS bee-shaped string lights

The bee-shaped solar string garden lights bring a crazy and fun feeling. They are ideal for places with children and during celebration time. They come with a spike for easy fixing on the garden.

Tips For Installing Outdoor Solar Lighting In Your Yard

Costco Sunforce solar powered string lights installation and review. Make the SUN shine at night!
  • Written by Chris Nickson on Apr 07, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by

Installing outdoor solar lighting is an easy project since theres no wiring involved. However, there are ways you can maximize your outdoor solar lighting for optimal results. By considering factors such as location, obstructions, and sunlight, you will enjoy your outdoor solar lights for many years to come.

Locate to Highlight Garden Features

Before you install your solar lighting, decide what it is you want to illuminate. Is it a path or an object in the garden? If its the former, the lights should be installed relatively close together to show which way the path goes, especially if the path winds.

For the latter, the light needs to be close enough to show off the object and focus light on it during the evening and the nighttime hours. The beauty of outdoor solar lighting is that you can move it around easily so you have the luxury of experimenting with its position.

Avoid Obstructions

One thing to be careful about when installing outdoor solar lighting is not to place the units in the path of lawn mowers or edgers. Likewise, placing the units too close to a driveway could result in your lighting being run over by a car. Make sure the units are visible enough in daylight and place where they won’t be tripped over or run over.

Recommended Reading: How Much Does It Cost For 1 Solar Panel

Can I Replace Nickel Cadmium With A Lithium

This is technically possible but I wouldnt recommend it. You will probably have to adapt the connection type and fiddle with the electronics to make it work in the first place and once you have done this you may come across issues as Lithium batteries have a high discharge voltage and may cause damage to the LED in you lights.

Mr Beams 2w S14 Bulb Solar Led

For shoppers planning to get decorative solar fixtures, you can buy these solar string lights Costco offers. They are a wonderful addition to your place because they could provide soft ambiance illumination for outdoor spaces. Interestingly, you wont have difficulties setting these solar bulbs up because they are a breeze to install without nearby outlets.

In like manner, these S14 solar bulbs are highly recommended for homeowners who wish to create a timeless illumination style for daily use, adorn a Christmas tree, and host special events. They are reliable in providing a warm ambiance wherever installed. If fully-charged, these solar lights can guarantee users eight hours of consistent decorative illumination.

Since they are outfitted with an easy-to-install solar panel, they can provide you with better charging performance. Aside from these, the different lighting modes are plain sailing to use. You can even completely turn them off if necessary. The light is just sufficient to form a soft illumination without a glaring effect on the eyes.

  • Might be ideal only for decorating purpose as they are not very bright

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How To Best Place Solar Lights: Function Vs Aesthetics

Placement also depends on the type of solar lights you choose. If your solar lights were bought with practicality in mind, such as lighting a pathway or shining a spotlight on the patio, you know the result you want to achieve and this can give you a rough indication of where to place them.

If you want your solar lights to add some aesthetic value to the garden, then youve got much more freedom in your placement, which can make things more tricky.

How To Hang Outdoor String Lights

Brightech Ambience Pro

Hanging outdoor string lights is a great way to add some extra ambiance and create the perfect atmosphere for your backyard. But, it can be a little tricky if you havent done it before.

Well show you how to hang your outdoor string lights on your outdoor patio and cover everything from choosing the right lighting all the way up to hanging them.

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Can I Replace Nickel Cadmium With Nickel Metal Hydride

Ok so Ive been saying you should ditch the cadmium batteries and use metal hydride instead, but if your solar lights came with cadmium-based batteries already installed can you replace them with metal hydride ones?

Well yes you can, a solar light should still work in just the same way if you change to this battery type providing you get matching specifications in other areas, i.e the size and voltage.

The one thing to bear in mind is to not mix the two types. So say you open up your solar lights and find there are two batteries inside, but maybe you want to try just replacing one to see if the other is still holding charge. Dont do this.

Always replace all the batteries so you have just one type of battery in your solar lights.

Select The Leds You Will Use

There are a lot of vendors out there, and many of them are misrepresenting their products. So, when it came to buying LEDs for this project I bought direct from a Chinese vendor I have bought from before and trust. I also wanted waterproof LEDs because these would be installed in an outside building.

These are available from Youmyelectric LTD in China and at the time this article was written, a roll cost $11.84 delivered! The roll is 5 meters long, the string is waterproof and the LEDs are SMD5050’s.

The LED string comes terminated with color coded wires on both ends – black for -12V and red for +12V. The waterproofing is a heavy clear silicone.

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Lalapao 2 Pack Solar String Lights Conclusion

Using solar powered string lights this holiday season is a great way to give a Christmas gift to the environment this year. They are an eco-friendly way to decorate your home and cut down on any wasted energy. Even if you do not think the Lalapao solar lights are for you, we have several other solar string light reviews here at Green and Growing. Check them out and you are sure to find one that you like!

Magicpro Solar String Lights

SUNFORCE Solar 15 LED bulb string light Unboxing, Install and Review

Shoppers who prefer top-quality solar string garden lights will surely find this item a great purchase to go for. They are designed as wireless, shatterproof, and waterproof. As a result, they are sturdy enough to resist terrible weather conditions. Equipped with a longer string that measures 13.6m, the solar bulbs can ensure brighter and broader lights in the entire garden.

The kit contains 15 LED light bulbs that are beneficial in illuminating and adorning various outdoor spots. Regardless of the occasion, these solar LED string lights can transform the event and location into a more special and cozier ambiance since they are built with 4 lighting modes. You can also hang them on a camp tent, trees, posts, gates, and they can serve as Christmas lights, too.

The pulsating, quick flash, slow flash, and steady illumination that these solar string lights provide are so impressive to watch. Since their source of energy comes from the sun, they do not add up to your electricity consumption. The bright LED bulbs light up for about eight hours. The work time varies depending on the location, intensity of sunlight, and weather conditions in your area.

  • Illuminates and adorns outdoor spaces beautifully
  • Designed with four lighting modes and a long string
  • Vulnerable to strong winds

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Hang Around The Patio

To add a nice glow around your sitting area on the patio, just string your lights around it. If the overhead area is all open, you can still make it work. One way is to cement poles into planters and place each planter at the corners of your patio. From there, it is quite easy to string the lights from pole to pole. If you have a deck and a railing, you can also attach wooden planks to your deck and provide the same look as the planters.

How To Dispose Of Used Batteries

Do not simply throw your used batteries in the nearest bin! These will then end up in landfill and the toxic cadmium will likely leak out into the environme

Take your batteries to your nearest recycling centre. In the US click here to find a center near you. If not many stores such as Home Depot, Best Buy and other similar electronic and hardware stores will have battery recycling points.

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Add Solar Powered Led Lights To A Harbor Freight 45 Watt Solar Panel Kit

Last fall I added a Harbor Freight 45 Watt solar panel kit to my outside storage building. I wanted lights in the building but it was not worth the cost to run power to the building just for lights. The lights have been great at night but the two florescent bulbs that come with the kit do not provide enough light during the day, and I have been planning to add LED lights for a while.

Here’s the write-up I did on the Harbor Freight 45 Watt solar panel kit last fall.

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Install String Lights On Your Deck Or Patio

With more and more people deciding to clean up their backyards to create a relaxing or exciting space, you may wonder what would take your space to that next level. Lighting has remained an important element added to any space to not only keep the activities active once the sun has begun to set, but to alter and create an environment to fit your style or mood.

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Lalapao 2 Pack Solar String Lights Review

If you want to put lights outside your house but do not have any outlets outside, you should consider using solar string lights. These kinds of Christmas lights do not need an outlet because they only run on solar energy. This means that you can place these string lights wherever you want them to be without any worries at all. These lights help you to accomplish your goal of making your home a winter wonderland this holiday season with minimal stress. Today, we will be discussing the Lalapao solar string lights that you can grab on Amazon.

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