How to Choose Outdoor Led Solar Lights for Your Yard
Outdoor solar lights help illuminate walkways, gardens, and porches without the need for additional utility lines. They also provide safety and security and can reduce energy bills.
The best solar lights come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. They can also differ in their brightness and settings. To help you choose the right one, we consulted experts, including landscape designers, and tested solar lights in water, a freezer, and impact tests.
Easy to Install
While there are many varieties of solar lights, not all require a lot of technical know-how to install. Some can be installed as easily as placing a flowerpot on a deck railing. The key is to choose the right light for your space and make sure it’s positioned where it can get full sunlight throughout the day. Also, remember to consider the size of your garden or yard to determine how big of a light you need.
Some solar lights are designed to sit flush with the ground, which makes them perfect for illuminating walkways without drawing too much attention. Others have a minimalist design that allows them to blend in with the surroundings during the day and provide bright, ambient lighting at night. Depending on your preferences, you can select lights with a variety of features:
The most common feature is motion sensors, which turn the lights on when they detect movement and then dim or stay on at a set brightness. Some are also outdoor led solar lights timer-controlled, which gives you maximum control over how long the lights remain on each evening. Others are WiFi-enabled, which gives you the ability to change settings and colors with a smartphone app. Lastly, some have the option of changing between a white and warm glow, which can be helpful for creating a more inviting ambiance.
Brightness
Depending on how you want to use them, solar lights come in a range of brightness levels. Some have just two lumens, which can provide a soft glow to illuminate a path at night, while others may offer more than 50 lumens for brighter spotlights that can highlight your landscaping. The brightness of a solar light is usually noted in the product description.
Brightness is measured in lumens, which are a more accurate measure of light output than the older wattage measurement. A 40-watt incandescent bulb emits about 200 lumens, while a typical LED emits about three to five watts.
Most solar-powered lights emit a warm white light, but you can also choose models that glow in different colors like red, green or blue. Amber-colored solar lights often use less energy than their white counterparts and can help to reduce glare on your sidewalk or driveway.
Look for lights with a high Ingress Protection (IP) rating to ensure they can withstand rain, snow and freezing temperatures. Some have a rating as high as IP65, which means they can withstand a powerful jet of water from all directions. For an even more durable option, look for a solar light that’s made from stainless steel. This material is both strong and corrosion-resistant, so it can hold up to years of exposure to the elements.
Durability
Outdoor solar lights rely on the sun for their energy, so they need to stand up to harsh weather conditions and cold temperatures. Make sure to check the product’s ingress protection (IP) rating, which tells you how much water, dust, and wind the solar light can withstand; ratings range from 0 to 6 with higher numbers offering more protection.
You also want to pay attention to the light’s brightness and color options. These features can make your backyard look more festive for the holidays or simply allow you to customize your outdoor lighting to match your decor scheme. A solar light’s brightness is quantified by lumens, and you can find this information on the box or in the product description.
Another benefit of solar lights is that they’re an eco-friendly alternative to traditional outdoor lighting options, reducing the amount of electricity you use at home and lowering your carbon footprint. By using LED bulbs, they’re also more efficient than traditional incandescent and CFL lights, consuming less power to produce the same amount of brightness. Make sure to keep your solar lights in good shape by regularly cleaning their solar panel and ensuring they’re placed in an optimal location to absorb sunlight. This will help them last longer and stay brighter. If your solar lights aren’t turning on or staying lit, this is often a sign that the batteries are dying and that their solar panels aren’t absorbing the right amount of sunlight.
Battery Life
When choosing solar lights for your yard, it’s important to keep their battery life in mind. They typically use rechargeable solar energy system supplier batteries that serve as storage for the electrical energy they collect from the sun. While they can work on cloudy days, the amount of sunlight they receive is crucial to how bright they are and how long they last.
It’s also important to consider how often you want the light to stay on. If you plan on using them for entertaining, consider a brighter option that will be able to illuminate walkways and other areas where guests may gather. In addition to brightness, you should look for a model with a low profile to avoid creating a tripping hazard.
You should also consider the placement of your lights. If they are constantly shaded by plants or structures, they won’t be able to charge properly and will not provide as much light at night. Also, make sure that the solar panel and light fixture are not exposed to extreme temperatures as this can affect their longevity.
Finally, it’s important to check the product description for accurate information about how many hours the lights will stay on. Some models have incorrect settings that can lead to excessive consumption and battery death. It’s also a good idea to clear away any overgrown bushes or plants that could be blocking the solar panel.