Getting Started with Solar Powered Lights

More and more homeowners and landscape lighting designers are choosing solar powered lights, and it’s not hard to see why. They not only save energy, they’re also incredibly easy to install. With solar powered lighting, there’s no wiring to hide, and no mains power connection to worry about.

What’s more, using solar lighting doesn’t mean your landscape lighting design ideas need to be limited. In fact, you’ll probably be surprised at what a wide selection of solar lighting fixtures are available, and new products are being introduced all the time. Just about every type of outdoor light is available as a solar powered product, including:

• garden accent lights, to create decorative landscape lighting effects

• floodlights, for throwing a strong wash of light over a large area

• versatile downlights, for a range of outdoor lighting purposes

• recessed (surface mounted) lighting to highlight stairs, pathways, deck edges, doorways and level changes

• decorative pond and pool lights, including floating lights and lights which actually shine up through the water

• motion sensor lighting, for convenience and security

The four basic components of a solar lighting system.

1. The solar lighting fixture.

The lighting fixture may be decorative, or may it may be designed to be visually unobtrusive.

2. The solar panel.

The solar panel collects energy from the sun during the day, so you’ll need to place it in a sunny spot in the garden. The panel will usually be mounted onto the lighting fixture itself.

3. The battery.

The battery stores the solar energy until it’s needed. Normally, the battery will store enough power to turn the lighting fixture on for three to five hours, depending on the weather.

4. A timer, or light sensor.

Solar lighting systems usually feature either a timer or a light sensor to automatically switch the light on when it’s needed. The light will switch itself off when it runs out of power.

For more information on solar lights please read this article on solar powered path lights.