How to Choose Solar Lights - Constellation Energy Blog

With so many options, knowing how to choose solar lights can be a challenge. Here is some advice that will help you make the best selections for your home.

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How do solar lights work?

Before going into the details about types of outdoor solar lights, it helps to understand how solar lights work.

Solar lights have a photovoltaic cell, battery, light bulb and photosensor. The light bulbs are usually CFL or LED. The photovoltaic cell is the device that turns the sun’s light into electricity that is then stored in the battery to power the light bulb.

The photosensor automatically controls when your solar lights go on and off by sensing visible light. When it senses no light, it completes the circuit between the battery and light bulb and the light goes on. When it senses sunlight, it breaks the circuit and the light goes off.

Different types of solar lights for your home

How to choose solar lights depends on your lighting needs. You have a multitude of types of outdoor solar lights for energy-efficient outdoor lighting.

• Solar pathway lights. Lighting pathways makes it safer to walk outside after dark. They can also be attractive accents in the design of your landscape.
• Solar driveway lights. Make it easier to navigate home from the street with lights that keep you on the drive and off the plantings.
• Solar flood lights. If you have a large area to light, solar flood lights are a great option. You can also use them to highlight plantings around your home.
• Solar spotlights. These are some of the brightest solar lights on the market and are ideal for work areas and security. The brightness drives away pests and is a good way to protect your home from wildlife.
• Solar patio lighting. You can set a mood and light up an area for entertaining or relaxing in your yard.
• Decorative solar lights. Christmas lights bring a festive look to your home over the holidays and decorative fairy lights can turn an ordinary yard into something magical. In both cases, you can find energy-efficient decorative lights that fit your sense of style.
• Solar pool and pond lights. Designed to work immersed in water, these lights add delightful ambiance to your yard waterscapes.
• Portable solar lights. Portable solar lanterns and candles can decorate a table or light your walk in the dark.

7 factors to consider when choosing outdoor solar lights

The popularity of solar lights has led to a dizzying array of choice in the market. Here are the factors to consider in how to choose an outdoor solar light.

1. Purpose

Know how you plan to use your solar lights before shopping. Will you need it for a specific function like security and safety, or are you looking for decorative fixtures? Each use will lead to different design choices and functions.

2. Desired brightness

Brightness is now measured in lumens. Lumens is a more useful measure than the old wattage measurement. An old-fashioned 40 watt incandescent light bulb puts out between 300 to 500 lumens. An LED light with the same number of lumens burns only three to five watts.

3. Solar panel type

The three most common solar panels used to power solar lights are amorphous, polycrystalline and monocrystalline.

Amorphous have one photovoltaic layer over the whole surface of the unit. They are thin, flexible, and lightweight.

Monocrystalline solar panels are composed of a single silicon solar cell. They are rigid and heavy, but they are a top performer when it comes to efficiently producing electricity.

Polycrystalline solar panels are made of several silicon crystal pieces fused together. Like the monocrystalline variety, they are heavy and rigid. They are budget-friendly.

4. Battery type

You need your solar lights to work at night with no sun. That is where batteries come in. Batteries store electrical energy as chemical energy in reactions that occur when energy is stored and released.

Lead acid batteries work when the sulphuric acid reacts to the lead. Other battery types include NiCad or nickel-cadmium batteries and NiMH nickel batteries with cadmium replaced by metal hydride. Each has performance differences in charge time, energy storage, weight and length of lifespan.

5. Recharge time and run time

Be sure to know how long each model takes to recharge and how long they will run between charges. You may need a battery that lasts all night–or longer. Running batteries down to zero repeatedly shortens their life dramatically.

6. Type of bulb

Most energy-efficient outdoor lighting uses LED technology. They are dramatically more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs and don’t run the risk of releasing toxins into the environment if broken like CFL bulbs. They are also longer lasting. Here are some comparisons of types of solar lights bulbs:

• 40 watt incandescent = 10 watt CFL or 3 watt LED
• 60 watt incandescent = 14 watt CFL or 6 watt LED
• 100 watt incandescent = 28 watt CFL or 13 watt LED

You can buy a blazingly bright 3,000 lumen LED security flood light or pool lights that range from 1,000 to 20,000 lumens. On the other end of the spectrum are tiny 1.2 lumen colorful fairy lights you can string in your trees.

7. Features and accessories

The features and accessories you need are an important part of how to choose solar lights. You have manual and automated options and some are smart devices for your garden. Other types change color and intensity.

The benefits of using solar lights

People buy solar lights for a number of different reasons:

• Reduce your environmental impact. Solar lights are energy efficient and don’t draw power from the grid.
• Simple installation and maintenance. With no wires, you can easily put them anywhere for trouble-free operation.
• Limit your energy expenses. The cost of solar lighting continues to fall, with additional cost savings on your electric bill. Using them is one great summer energy-saving tip.
• Automation. Solar lights fit well with other outdoor automation ideas.

Frequently asked questions about solar lights

You might have a few questions before you go shopping for solar lights. Here are some answers.

Where’s the best place to install outdoor solar lights?

Lighting your doorway, walks and driveway enhances safety. You can hang lights or put them into the ground. They can also be useful as part of your automated home security system.

Do solar lights need direct sunlight?

Your lights will not adequately charge in the shade. Solar cells generally need direct sunlight. Check the specs for nightly run time and recommended charging conditions.

Do solar lights charge on cloudy days?

Solar lights will still charge on cloudy days, but at a much slower rate.

Do solar lights work in the winter?

Depending on where you live, the sun may be lower on the horizon all day, lowering the efficiency of your solar panels. You can tilt them to face in a more southerly direction for a little boost in charging.

Do solar lights need batteries to work?

Your solar lights get energy only when the sun is charging the solar panel, which is why you need a battery. The light charges the battery all day so that the electricity can be used through the dark of the night.

How long do solar lights usually last?

Solar cells and LED bulbs can last a few decades. The battery will be the first thing to wear out. They usually need replacing every two to three years. Be sure to check that batteries are replaceable to avoid the waste of throwing out the whole unit when they reach the end of their lifespan.

Solar lights are an excellent choice if you are looking for low cost installation and energy efficiency without sacrificing style. You can have a safely and beautifully lighted home with minimal maintenance and expense.

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Solar lights are favored as environmentally friendly and energy-saving products around the world.
Solar street lights do not require laying cables, AC power supply, or electricity bills; Adopting DC power supply and control; It has the advantages of good stability, long lifespan, high luminous efficiency, easy installation and maintenance, high safety performance, energy conservation and environmental protection, and economic practicality.
When choosing them, consideration should be given according to the requirements, product quality and performance, price, and cost-effectiveness. Consumers should understand the principle of solar lights and pay attention to the conversion efficiency of solar panels, the quality of LED lights, battery capacity and lifespan, as well as product materials and processes. At the same time, consumers should compare the price and cost-effectiveness of different brands and models, and choose products with high cost-effectiveness. Taking into account multiple factors, choose the most suitable solar light as your request.

Application for different scenarios and requirements

The use scenarios and requirements of solar lights vary, and the products selected will also differ. For example, for the lighting of fixed places such as outdoor courtyard lights, solar lights with higher power and brightness can be selected; For the lighting of temporary places such as outdoor camping and camping, lightweight and portable solar lights can be chosen. In addition, factors such as the usage time, lighting range, and waterproof level of solar lights need to be considered to meet actual usage needs.

Performance for brightness

Lighting performance efficiency should be considered for measuring the lighting effect of street lamps, generally expressed in lumens (lm). Higher lumens means brighter lighting, which can provide better lighting effects. Therefore, when purchasing, it should be considered to choose solar street lights with high light efficiency.

Choose appropriate solar panel and battery

The core components of solar street lights are solar panel and battery.

Solar panel is composed of multiple solar cells which are basic parts of solar panel, and is the key part that directly converts solar energy into electrical energy. Solar panels have two main types: monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon. Monocrystalline solar panels have the highest efficiency. The higher the conversion efficiency of solar panels, the stronger their actual power generation capacity, thereby outputting more electricity in the same area. Generally speaking, the conversion efficiency of solar panels is between 10% and 25%. When choosing, priority should be given to high-efficiency solar panels

Energy saving and battery life: The energy saving and battery life of solar street lights are also important considerations. This mainly depends on the power and battery capacity of the solar panel. The higher the power, the more solar energy is collected; The larger the battery capacity, the more electricity can be stored, which can extend the working time of the street lamp.

What’s more, consumers should refer to the relevant national standards and requirements when selecting solar panels to reduce inconvenience in maintenance and management in the future.

Intelligence and Convenience

Automatic switch function: Solar street lights are usually equipped with light controlled switches or time controlled switches, which can automatically switch on and off according to the brightness of the light or preset time. This feature is not only convenient to use, but also effectively saves energy.

Brightness adjustment function: Some solar street lights also have brightness adjustment function, which can adjust the light intensity according to actual needs to meet the lighting needs in different scenarios.

Installation and maintenance: The installation and maintenance of solar street lights should be simple and easy to implement. When purchasing, attention should be paid to the installation instructions and after-sales service policies of the product to ensure easy installation and good after-sales service.

Brand and reputation

Brand selection: Brand is the guarantee of product quality and reputation. When choosing solar street lights, it is advisable to prioritize products from well-known brands. These brands typically have more complete product lines, stricter quality control systems, and more comprehensive after-sales service systems.

User evaluation: User evaluation is an important way to understand product performance and reputation. You can learn about users' evaluations and feedback on the product through relevant websites, forums, and other channels, in order to have a more comprehensive understanding of the product's advantages and disadvantages.

Focus on product quality and performance

The quality and performance of solar lights play a crucial role in their effectiveness and lifespan. Therefore, when choosing solar lights, consumers need to pay attention to the quality and performance of the product. Specifically, the following aspects can be considered:

1. Conversion efficiency of solar panels: The higher the conversion efficiency of solar panels, the stronger the photoelectric conversion ability of solar lamps, which can provide more sufficient electricity. Mono solar panel is more efficient than poly one.

2. Quality and lifespan of LED lights: LED lights are the important part of solar light, and their quality and lifespan directly affect the effectiveness and lifespan of solar lights. Therefore, consumers need to choose LED lights with good quality and long lifespan.

3. Capacity and lifespan of batteries: The capacity and lifespan of batteries are also key factors in the effectiveness and lifespan of solar lights. Consumers need to choose batteries with large capacity and long lifespan to ensure that solar lights can work continuously and stably.

4. Material and process of the product: The material and process of the product also directly affect the quality and performance of the solar light. Consumers need to choose products that use high-quality materials and exquisite craftsmanship to ensure the stability and durability of solar lights.

Other precautions

Lighting conditions: The performance of solar street lights is greatly affected by lighting conditions. Before making a purchase, it is important to fully understand the local lighting and climate conditions to ensure that the selected product can adapt to the actual local conditions.

Budget and Needs: When making a purchase, one should also consider their own budget and needs comprehensively. Do not blindly pursue products with high configurations or low prices, but choose products with high cost-effectiveness to meet actual needs.

Advantages

In summary, choosing solar street lights requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors such as performance, quality, intelligence, brand, and local lighting conditions. By careful comparison and screening, solar street light products that meet the needs and have good performance can be selected.

Solar light has many advantages:

1. Easy installation: When installing solar street lights, there is no need to install complex circuits. Only a cement base and a battery pit are made, and they can be fixed with galvanized bolts. No need to consume a large amount of manpower, material resources, or financial resources, simple installation, no need for wiring or excavation construction, and no concerns about power outages or restrictions.

2. Low investment: Solar street lights have a one-time investment and long-term benefits. Due to their simple wiring, they do not incur maintenance costs or expensive electricity bills. Recovering costs in 6-7 years and saving over 1 million in electricity and maintenance costs in 3-4 years. It can save the high electricity cost of city circuit lights, complex lines, and the need for long-term uninterrupted maintenance of the lines. In the case of unstable voltage, it is inevitable that sodium lamps are prone to damage, and with the extension of time, the aging of the circuit and maintenance costs increase year by year.

3. Good safety performance: Solar street lights are ideal products for ecological communities and road administration departments due to their use of 12-24V low voltage, stable voltage, reliable operation, and no safety hazards. There are no accidents such as electric shock or fire. The safety hazards of urban circuit lights are significant, and people's living environment is constantly changing. Road renovation, landscape engineering construction, abnormal power supply, and cross construction of water and gas pipelines have brought many hidden dangers.

Conclusion

Above that, solar light can also add more functions. In addition to high-capacity batteries and solar panels, the system also includes advanced dedicated monitors, and when the lighting is stopped, the solar batteries start charging, and when they are fully charged again, they receive more power. The key is that outdoor solar lighting and solar photovoltaic houses are equipped with solar panels, both of which have dedicated microprocessor control systems and batteries. It is connected to a specially designed load lamp equipped with high reflectivity and high-energy ballasts. It has the advantages of high brightness, easy installation, reliable operation, no need to lay cables, no consumption of conventional energy, and long service life.

Adopting high brightness LED design, no manual operation is required, the lighting fixtures automatically light up at night and turn off at dawn. The product has a strong sense of fashion, bright texture, precision, and modernity. It is mainly used for lighting decoration in residential green belts, industrial park green belts, tourist scenic areas, parks, courtyards, square green spaces, and other places.

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