A Guide to Solar Lights

Advances in solar lights technology have improved illumination quality while making the lights cheaper to buy.

Typically, there is less required by way of installation. Solar lighting is ideal for inaccessible and remote locations that don’t have a convenient 240 volt supply.

Solar powered technology is advancing very quickly.

Solar lights are suited to LED bulbs which give improved illumination while also requiring less power. Until recently solar lights required hours of direct sunlight in order to function well. Solar panel technology improvements allow the collection of energy in lower light conditions. The efficiency of solar power is expected to continue to improve in the coming years.

You have several style options for garden solar lighting. Traditional lantern style wall lighting. Hanging or post type lights. Lots of different styles of fairy light strings. Decking lights for recessed installation in the decking timbers. Motion sensor security spot lights. Remote solar panels allow positioning of the panel to best catch the maximum light.

Other light units contain a built in panel for gathering energy. The type you choose will depend on the application and your circumstances because they each have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Lights with solar panels built into them tend to be smaller because of the space limitations, which can sometimes cause issues because they then require more light for longer in order to function well.

Lights with external panels are not limited by lamp size, so have larger panels, which can additionally be placed to catch maximum sunlight. Rechargeable batteries often vary in quality and manufacturer installed batteries are often at the lower end of the quality spectrum.

Most factories fit low cost batteries rather than high performance ones, so it is a good idea to up spec them if you can.

Get the best Performance from your Lights

For good light performance, the ideal location of your solar lights is vital. The more direct sunlight your solar lights receive, the better they will work for you.

The performance of your lights will be massively affected by the length of time they are exposed to light, so the less time spent in shady conditions the better.

Shadows & shade will reduce the ability of your lights to charge effectively, so position them carefully. Product performance will improve as solar panel and battery technologies improve further.

Sales of solar lighting devices are growing every year and there is little sign of this trend reversing.

Solar energy reduces energy bills as well as being environmentally friendly too.