Solar Landscape Lights
The major consideration in solar landscape lights is to find where low cost and self sufficient meet. The problem in the past with these lights is that many companies tried to cash in on the new technology and a flood of cheap plastic, under-powered solar cells with small LED lights hit the market making many think that solar landscape lights weren’t ready for prime time. But there are manufacturers that use high quality materials that last under adverse weather and perform well for a long time. How can you find these few?
Whether you are accenting a driveway, lighting a pathway, or simply making your home come alive with nighttime lighting, solar landscape lights made from quality components offer the longevity and reliability you need. It pays to shop around because there is still a lot of inferior product on the market. Look for high output LED’s. Technology has arrived to the point that we are now able to get up to 83% of light from energy spent with LED’s. That makes for long-lasting light at high output. Remember, solar landscape lights are free energy from the sun. And you should look for units where you can replace the rechargeable batteries. There are a few indications that you can.
For landscape designers knowing the difficulty in running underground wire for intricate lighting designs, solar power comes in as a life saver. Imagine low to no maintenance lights that blend into the landscape and come on automatically, then go off automatically. It really pays to invest in quality lights for a worry-free installation. Most units will have written on them that you can change the rechargeable batteries, typically AA’s. But make sure you buy a high quality solar cell as well.
Higher quality solar landscape lights employ Siemens Mono-Crystalline solar panels. Mounted directly on top of the units, these high output cells recharge the Ni-Cad batteries quickly and efficiently, and last for years. Another consideration, especially in the northern parts, is the plastic casing. All quality lights are fully weatherproof not just from rain and sun, but cold winter nights as well. A few manufacturers incorporate stainless steel as well into their designs.
Look for solar cells that put out at least 3 watts. The better units will have ultra-bright LED lights that display at least 12,000 mcd. And make sure the unit you choose comes with high capacity Ni-Cad batteries. Most websites that sell these units will have all the specs listed so you can compare. You can also see the size and style of lights and think of how they would fit into your landscape. There are several styles which work great with wood decks and others that look wonderful amongst the plants.
Remember that these solar landscape lights will need to get at least 8 hours of daylight to charge the batteries, even though in full sun they will charge much faster. Consider where you are placing the lights as full, overhead sun is best, and many will not work well if constantly in the shade, or if they are only receiving early morning or late afternoon light. You can always change out the Ni-Cad cells for higher powered ones, but remember that they will take more light and longer time to recharge.
- Related Posts Around the Web
- Driving School in Stalisfield Green - Intensive Driving...
Intensive Driving Courses from three to ten days length. For those who are serious about getting on the road as quickly as possible. Learn...
- Indoor Tanning Lotion Review
Indoor tanning lotion reviews tend to be written by companies who manufacture or sell those same products. That means that they are going to...