How to Choose the Best Outdoor LED Solar Lights
Whether you’re looking to brighten up a walkway or create an eye-catching focal point in your yard, outdoor solar lights are a great choice. But how do you know which ones are best?
Our experts compared mounted solar lights to evaluate ease of installation, brightness, design and more. Keep reading to find out which ones make the cut!
1. Brightness
The brightness of outdoor solar lights is measured in lumens, with higher numbers indicating brighter LEDs. You want to ensure you’re getting enough brightness to light your space at night. The ideal amount of brightness depends on your needs, with options ranging from 2 lumens for pathway lighting to 50 or more lumens for a spotlight.
A brighter option is a 10000 lumen solar LED fixture, which emits enough illumination to light up a outdoor led solar lights large area. These fixtures come with a robust waterproof design and simple installation, making it easy to add bright lights to your yard or garden.
Another key consideration is the color of your solar lights. Most offer a natural white light, but you can also find amber-colored options that use less energy and can complement a more traditional look. Lastly, be sure to check the product details for an IP rating, which indicates how resistant your light is to dust and water. An IP rating of at least IP44 is recommended for any outdoor lighting solution. You should also be able to easily identify the manufacturer’s warranty on these fixtures, which is typically between one and three years.
2. Design
Outdoor solar lights are a great option for people who want to add illumination to their home without the cost of high-energy bills. They’re based on renewable energy, which is good for the environment, and they require no wiring, which makes them safer around children and pets. They can also help boost security by illuminating walkways, and they continue to work during power outages.
Most solar lights come in several finishes to match a variety of aesthetics, including stainless steel options that suit modern designs and bronze or black ones that provide a classic look. The style you choose depends on how you plan to use the lights. For example, if you’re looking to show your patriotism, consider a solar flag light that illuminates the flag day and night for a constant glow.
Many solar lights are motion-activated or dusk-to-dawn, which means they turn on automatically when it gets dark and stay on until sunrise. Others are timer-controlled, allowing you to specify how long you’d like the lights to remain on. This gives you the most control over your lighting, but it also limits how much sunlight they can gather.
3. Flexibility
In addition to providing a soft glow, outdoor solar lights can also be used to illuminate pathways and highlight special features in your landscape. They offer a range of brightness settings to suit your needs, and can also be set to turn OFF at the time you choose.
Solar lights are available in a variety of styles to complement your landscape design. For instance, you can use wall-mounted lights to illuminate entryways, or install post top or fence lights for a decorative touch around pool areas and patios. You can also find lantern-style solar lights that are ideal for adding a charming ambiance to dining areas, such as the Brightown LED Solar Powered Fairy Lights.
Most solar lights have a photoresistor that monitors surrounding light levels and turns on at night when it detects low lighting. They’ll continue to operate until the battery runs down or the photoresistor detects more sunlight. If you plan on using a solar light in an area that gets less-than-ideal amounts of direct sunlight, we recommend a model with a rechargeable backup battery.
4. Durability
The battery is the key component of any solar light, and its lifespan will determine how long the lights last. In general, you can expect the batteries in solar lights to last about two years before needing replaced. However, this will depend on how often they are used and whether they receive a proper charge each day.
Depending on the brightness and color you choose, you can extend your solar lights’ life by regularly checking and cleaning them. The dirt and dust on the solar panel may affect how efficiently it converts sunlight into energy, which can lead to a shorter runtime. Also, the light’s brightness can decrease over time due to shadowing and less-than-optimal positioning.
For this reason, it’s important to consider how you use your solar lights and where you plan to place them before making a purchase. For example, if you plan to use your solar lights in an area that’s shaded from the sun for part of the day, opt for a model with a higher ingress protection rating (IP). This indicates how well it’s protected from dust and water.
5. Reliability
Solar lights can be an excellent alternative to traditional landscaping solar energy system supplier lighting. They use less power and come with a number of benefits, including automatic on and off switches and a battery that can last till dawn. The batteries can also be set on a motion detector or timer mode to control when the light turns on or off.
Other features to look for include the amount of sunlight the light can receive and how long it will run based on the settings you select. Choose a model that has enough solar energy to illuminate the space you’re using it for, but not so much that it will drain the batteries.
Also consider whether you want the lights to change colors. Most solar lights project a bright white light, but you can get them in a warm or soft tone as well if that’s more appropriate for your home’s aesthetic. Finally, look for a model with a stake that’s long and wide to ensure it stays anchored in the ground even in soft soil. This will minimize wear and tear from repeated jarring, particularly if you have children or pets.