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Choosing Solar Lights

Installing outdoor lighting can pose many challenges to the homeowner. In addition to the cost of the lights themselves, it's usually necessary to hire a licensed electrician to do the installation.

Solar-powered lights are an increasingly popular alternative. They are affordably priced, simple and safe to install yourself, can be relocated easily, and, of course, you also save on electrical costs.

Until recently, most solar lights emitted only a dim light and were not all that reliable. This has changed, as super-bright LEDs have replaced more conventional filament bulbs. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) create light without generating the waste heat of normal bulbs, so they are very bright, yet require far less electricity to operate. The result is a dependable, long-term "bulb" that will usually shine for the life of the product.

Other recent advances in solar lighting technology include the development of more efficient, affordably-priced photovoltaic cells, improved circuitry, and more efficient batteries. These new solar lights are able to perform year-round -- even through the cold, short days of winter -- with little variation in performance.

When shopping for solar lights, it's important to match the light to the function you want it to perform. There are three primary types of solar lights for use in the landscape: accent, path, and task lights.

Accent Lights

Accent lights add a pleasant glow to your landscape. Their relatively low level of illumination is designed to "mark a place," not illuminate an object or light a pathway. Due to their low light output, accent lights usually boast longer runtimes than other types of solar lights. In fact, it is not unusual for a quality accent light to run many nights on just a single day's charge.  

Accent lights typically use efficient multi-crystalline solar cells that allow them to charge even on cloudy days or in partially shaded areas. Many accent lights utilize amber LEDs to create an even softer ambience than the standard white LEDs. Some of them also "flicker" to simulate candle light. Amber LEDs use less electricity than their white counterparts, which allows for even longer runtimes.

Accent lights can be used to mark landscape hazards, such as a large rock that could be tripped over at night, or as garden features themselves. Accent lights can also be used as roadway markers or,  floating on the surface of a pool or pond. Compared to the other categories of solar lights, accent lights generally have the lowest light output and because of the smaller solar panels and less powerful storage batteries, are the most affordably priced.

Path lights

As the name implies, path lights are meant to light paths, walkways, driveway perimeters or other small areas around your home and in your landscape. They are often used in multiples to guide the way along a set of stairs or a dark walk. Path lights typically come with a choice of ground stakes, flange mounts and hanging hooks, to give the user a wide choice of positioning options. Most are designed to focus their light downward.  

Path lights may also have on-off switches, a feature that allows the homeowner to "store" the electrical charge for a special event and ensure the longest possible run time. Some models may offer options such as high-low power, colored lenses, or timers. Solar path lights are a mid-range choice in terms of price and light output. Housing materials may be plastic, copper, cast aluminum, brass etc - just ensure any plastic housings are UV stable.

Task lights

Task lights are the brightest class of solar lights and usually carry the highest price tag. They are designed to cast a bright beam of light on plants, statuary or entryways. That said, it is important to realize a solar task light will not perform like a standard 100-watt outdoor floodlight. A high-quality solar light with good LEDs can produce a focused beam of light equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent spotlight—an impressive amount of light that's both clean and free.  

Most solar task lights are designed so they can be mounted in a number of ways and can be adjusted to shine in any direction. Often the solar panel can be mounted separately from the light, which allows you to put the panel in a place where it will get the sun, and the light where it's needed.

Solar task lights are generally the most durable class of solar lights. While nearly all solar lights are weatherproof and UV protected, solar task lights are often more ruggedly constructed.

Solar lights that use LEDs have another little-known benefit that makes them especially well suited for landscape use. As temperatures drop, LEDs generate an even brighter light, due to their solid state design. In this respect, solar lights are superior to low-voltage outdoor lights and compact fluorescent lights, which operate less efficiently in very cold conditions. LEDs also have a lifespan in excess of 100,000 hours compared to 2,000 to 3,000 hours for the average incandescent.

Solar lights are a smart option for the "do-it-yourself" homeowner. Choose the type that's right for your application, and enjoy an outdoor landscape lit by the free energy of the sun!