Types Of Outdoor Solar Lights
Outdoor solar lights are used for security purposes, illuminating pathways, decorating driveways, and lighting decks. The first step to choosing appropriate outdoor solar-powered lights is to determine the purpose. If you want something decorative, then appearances matter most. But if you want to light up a pathway, then you require bright focused LED lights to do the job.
Here are some of the most commonly used outdoor solar lights available out there.
Solar string lights or fairy lights
Ideal for decorating your outdoor space. Drape them along your deck or wrap them around trees to give your outdoor space a gorgeous appearance.
Solar deck, fence, or patio lights
Ideal for patios, staircases, and walls to subtly light walkways.
Solar post lights
Ideal for when you need a portable light such as camping or during power outages.
Security solar LED lights
These lights have built-in motion sensors, so the lights automatically turn on as soon as some movement is detected. Security solar LED lights are a popular option for security lighting around homes and offices.
Best Solar Pathway Lights: Nottingham Coach Hanging Lights
Light up your pathway with these elegant solar hanging coach lights. Easy DIY application lets you place and mount these hanging solar lights alongside pathways, gardens, or anywhere you would like to add a touch of light. These garden sheperd hook lights turn on at dusk and can last up to 12 hours on a single charge. Get your solar path lights today with FREE Shipping using Code: Freepath . Shop today!
Consider The Surrounding Wildlife
Artificial light can affect wildlife, disturbing garden birds, disorientating moths that use natural light to navigate, and affecting the breeding cycles of certain animals.
The key to minimizing disruption to any wildlife in your garden is two-fold. Firstly, stick to solar lights or warm, soft bulbs rather than bright, dazzling lights or floodlights. And secondly, think carefully about positioning: direct light down and choose step lights with hoods to reduce the glare.
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Consider Using Vinegar When Cleaning The Panels
Not a lot of people know this, but vinegar actually has natural properties that can make cleaning your solar panels a walk in the park. Not only does vinegar have the capacity to clean the surface of your solar panels, but it can substantially lessen unwanted dust and other contaminants.
And the best part is, not only is this option natural and eco-friendly, but it is also much cheaper than other detergents or cleaning solutions in the market.
Upgraded 82 Led Security Lights
Last, on the list are security solar lights equipped with 82 high powered LEDs. The lights come with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. There are three modes: strong long light mode, dim light sensor mode, and strong light sensor mode.
The motion sensors can reach up to 270-degrees wide in angle movement and can detect individuals in outdoor spaces up to 20 to 26 feet away. Best of all, these lights are also made of high-quality ABS material, so theyre waterproof and durable.
Installation is easy. The solar lights come with the screws needed to attach him to a fence. Your purchase also comes with a 30-day return service, 24 months after-sale service, and access to 24-hour customer service.
Pros:
- Low brightness levels
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Aootek Solar Outdoor Flood Lights Review: Design
Angular and Art deco-ish in style, these lights will fit in with a variety of home styles, from ultra-modern to even older homes. Yet, while the overall style of the Aootek Solar Outdoor Flood Lights is excellent, the design feels awkward at times. The button to turn on the lights and adjust the settings is on the back, making it difficult to access after installation.
Because you cant adjust the angle of the lights or its solar panel, it can be awkward to install in certain places. It also seems like because the solar panel is at an angle, it doesnt allow for very efficient charging. Still, the lights with their wide-angle illumination and high-quality LEDs are very functional.
How To Choose Outdoor Solar Lights
Once you have determined the purpose of the outdoor lighting, you need to consider the brightness, battery, and bulb type.
Brightness
The brightness of solar light is measured in terms of lumens which can range from 10 to 1500. Use the below as a guideline when purchasing your lights.
- Step Lights 10 to 100 lumens
- Wall Lights 50 to 185 lumens
- Walkway Lights 100 to 200 lumens
- Pool Solar Lights 200 to 400 lumens
- Motion Sensor Lights 300 to 900 lumens
- Flood Lights 700 to 1300 lumens
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How We Tested The Best Solar Lights
We tested all of these lights over the course of a month at a coastal home in New England. To keep things consistent, we first unboxed all of them and left them outside to charge in various spots around the yard â in doing this, they would all receive the same amount of sunlight at the same angles. After a week, we placed each light in the freezer for four hours before dusk and then returned them to the yard to monitor which ones functioned as usual and how long they stayed illuminated. We also tested water resistance, rinsing each under a shower head for two minutes.
Following the initial tests, we installed each of the lights in appropriate positions to monitor how they stood up to various weather conditions. Over 14 days, each solar light was subjected to a tropical storm, hot and humid days, overcast days and rainy days. We monitored how well they stayed in place throughout.
Claoner Solar Lights Outdoor
The outdoor solar lights from Claoner are durable and premium. They are made of premium ABS and Plastic material and contain 128 LED lights.
It has a 3-sided illumination design with a wider 270° view that covers a wider illumination range and brighter lighting. The built-in motion sensor solar white light features the latest PIR motion indicators that sense motion up to 12 20 feet at a 120° detection angle.
The solar panel is designed with monocrystalline silicon that increases the solar energy conversion rate from 20.5% to 22% and charges 12% faster than other models. It offers 3 optional lighting modes normal on mode, dim to high light sensor mode, and no light to high light sensor mode for your safety, convenience, and comfort.
It is easy to install on patios, fences, garages, paths, yards, front doors, and outdoor walls. This 8-pack solar-powered night security light gets charged in 8 hours and comes with a 2400 mAh rechargeable battery. Apart from its premium build, and durability, it is weather-resistant with an IP65 rating to withstand bad weather, and can easily last more than 3000+ hours.
Notable Features
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How Do You Install Solar Lights On A Fence
To install solar fence lights, attach metal mounting hooks or cup hooks onto the wooden posts. These hooks will hold your string lights, so you want to be sure that you secure them. Screw the mounting hooks or cup hooks into the wooden posts at one end. Install the posts onto your fence to support your lights.
The 9 Best Outdoor Solar Lights Reviews & Buying Guide
Illuminate Your Outdoor Space Without Any Electricity Bills
Solar outdoor lights are the perfect solution to brighten up yards, pathways, driveways for both aesthetic and safety purposes.
As they depend mostly on solar energy, these lights are practically maintenance-free. Without any need of electric wiring, they are pretty much easy to install.
These cost-effective outdoor lighting solutions are available in several models and types. To choose the right one, we recommend considering below factors.
- Brightness
Brightness of lights in measured in terms of lumens. The higher the lumens count, the brighter the light will be. The brightness range of solar outdoor lights will be from 5 350 lumens.
- Battery Charge Time
The charging time of a battery depends on the wattage abilities of solar cells in the solar panels of the light. Localities with long sunny hours can go for low battery voltage. But for areas with less sunlight hours, it is better to choose solar outdoor lights with higher battery voltage.
- Runtime
The output time of solar lights can be controlled by the wattage of their solar cells. Some discharge quickly than other models and thereby illuminates less time. So, use multiple rechargeable batteries to extend the battery life of solar light and make it useful throughout the night.
Scroll down for full reviews of the top-rated models and a detailed Buying Guide to choose the best outdoor solar lights that suit your requirement.
Outline
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Last Minute Lamp Fixture Mounts
Below, I made the mounts for the lamp fixtures.
These lamp fixture mounts werent in my original design.
The lamp fixtures were originally intended for a 3 diameter round post, not a 6×6 square post. So I was having a lot of difficulties accessing some of the screws for the lamp fixture when attaching them to the posts.
I decided to raise the lamp fixtures about 1.5 above the top of the posts for more clearance.
Next, I made the mounts with some 2×4 cuts. Then I drilled a hole in the center with a hole bit, and counter-sunk some screw holes for attaching to the posts.
Ways To Clean Solar Panels On Garden Lights
Meta-description: Cleaning solar panels on outdoor garden lights is an essential procedure to maintain a fresh and clean garden. Learn how to do it yourself with this simple step-by-step guide!
All things in your household require a bit of love and care to keep them clean and functional. This means that the solar panels on your garden lights are no exception. These lights are a blessing to your property as it lights up essential outdoor areas like backyards, pathways, and gardens. But, it can also get dirty and faded from being exposed to various unwanted elements from outside.
Let this article teach you how the cleaning is supposed to be done. Lets begin!
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Solar Fence Lights Pros And Cons
Pros:
- Aesthetic Appeal. Solar fence lights arent just great for lighting purposes, they can also help to spruce up the overall aesthetics of your home.
- Cost-effective. Since its running on clean renewable energy, these lights are energy-efficient, and wont end up hiking up your electricity bill.
- Eco-friendly. Since the lights use clean energy, youre reducing your carbon footprint which is great for the environment.
- Minimal Maintenance. These lights are meant to be exposed to the elements, so you wont need to do much maintenance.
- Increased Visibility. Despite being solar-powered, these lights can still provide great illumination for your home. Itll also discourage thieves and trespassers.
- Easy Installation. The solar lights are easy to install. Purchases come with the tools and equipment needed to install the lights.
Cons:
- Cloudy Weather. Since these lights are reliant on the sun, they may not emit as much brightness on cloudy days.
- Replacement Parts. While solar fence lights are long-lasting, you would need to replace the batteries of the lights at some point.
- Expensive. Their upfront costs are higher, but worth it in the long run.
Incorporate Solar Lights Into Your Front Porch
Solar garden lighting ideas are not just limited to stakes and spot lights. There are a plethora of different designs to suit every style and situations. If you’re looking for front porch lighting ideas, then a hanging solar light is a great choice. Offering more of a lifestyle look than the harder staked designs, it offers a pretty glow that will provide a warm welcome to your home.
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Maggift 15 Lumens Solar Wall Lantern Outdoor
These lovely lantern-like solar lights are made of durable plastic and sealed for maximum resistance. Each light comes with a LED bulb that emits up to 15 lumens of brightness along with everything you need to install the light. Its solar-powered and automatically turns on at dusk and off at dawn.
Installation is simple, and it adds a nice aesthetic to any outdoor space while emitting a warm white glow. The product also comes with a 180-day product guarantee and those that have purchased it love the overall aesthetic of the light and mentioned that the light shines in a unique pattern.
Pros:
Aootek Solar Outdoor Flood Lights Review: Durability
Composed of heavy-duty plastic and silicone and designed to be waterproof and heatproof, Aootek Solar Outdoor Flood Lights will work for consumers living in a variety of climates.
These lights sailed through all of our durability tests with flying colors. They held up to rain, to time in the freezer, to hot and humid days, and under a shower. There was no delay in the lights going on afterward. The lights even stayed on during cloudy and rainy days and then continued to stay on for much of the night.
While I didnt notice any issues with leakage, a few online reviewers did mention that after a couple of years of use, the lights started to separate from the housing units and that the lights could start to look a little cloudy, almost like a car headlight.
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Do Solar Lights Work In Every Part Of The Country
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, solar lights work well in most parts of the United States. As long as the solar panels have access to enough sunlight, the lights will work well. Pay attention to how much sunlight your yard gets during the day, and use that to manage your expectations for how bright the lights will be and how long they’ll last into the evening.
Use Solar Outdoor Lighting To Show Off Planting
Solar garden lighting ideas work best when it is planned in layers, with some areas left dark so that others stand out more.
Choose a few larger features to highlight with a spotlight, which can either be set into the ground on a spike, or fixed to a tree branch to direct a pool of light downwards. If the solar light fitting is black or olive green, it will blend into the background.
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Converting Outdoor Lighting To A Solar High Voltage Ac System
This option is probably the best overall choice for using solar energy to drive your outside light circuit. It allows you to seamlessly integrate the existing fittings and cables with the new solar component. Outside of the solar installation, the only real change will be ditching the AC globes to favor high-efficiency LED lamps. For these reasons, well cover this option in more detail.
In short, an AC solar lighting system is similar to the DC example mentioned earlier. The only difference is the inclusion of an inverter. An inverter takes the lower voltage DC input from the solar battery and turns it into the same high voltage AC power on your present light circuit. An example of this type of installation is illustrated in Fig. 2.
Sizing Your Solar System
Getting a firm idea of your lighting setup specs is the first step in sizing your solar components. To kick the process off, you must decide on the number of LED lamps youll use and what their combined wattage will be.
Lets assume youve been using 15 lights in your circuit with 60-watt conventional bulbs. To get the same light output, youll need to use 8 watts LED bulbs.
Youll use the same equation as weve used earlier 10 x 8-watt bulbs = 80 watts total to get to your total power figure. If you add a 25 percent safety margin, youll end with a total demand of 100 watts.
Doing the Math
Inverter and Battery Rating
Battery Amp Hour Rating
Solar Panel and Charge Controller Rating
Pros
Cons
Infanta Elena Park Solar Lighting
The Infanta Elena park in Seville was among the first projects to install Philips SunStay solar LED luminaires, harnessing this technology to provide its citizens with greater safety, energy savings and commitment to the environment.
The project incorporates 20 Philips SunStay luminaires, as Seville is resolved to stay committed to sustainability, reducing energy costs and improving the city’s carbon footprint.
Philips solutions for solar outdoor lighting
Philips SunStay is an all-in-one product incorporating the photovoltaic panel, battery, light source, and components. It is an integrated solar lighting solution to reap savings in terms of energy and also installation and maintenance by precluding wiring and reducing civil engineering, promoting the growth of cities and communities in a more energy-efficient and safer way.
Philips UrbanSpark is the self-consumption solution that brings light to places where electricity cannot easily access without compromising on aesthetics.
The design fits any city environment without affecting the daytime appearance, e.g., shopping centers, parks and green areas, residential areas, remote areas, tourist sights, etc.
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Best Decorative Solar Power Lights: Lancaster Solar Decorative Deck Lights
Imagine the soft warm light peaking through the clear stained glass of these handcrafted solar deck lights. The real glass lens will add a decorative touch to any outdoor patio or deck, and the DIY installation makes these solar decking lights easy to place anywhere you would like to add a small amount of relaxing light. Built with cast aluminum and a black powder finish, these deck rail lights are incredibly durable. Get yours with FREE shipping using Code: Freedeck at Solar Us Shop. Shop now!
