How to Choose Solar Lighting
Technological advances in solar energy have delivered improved illumination at cheaper prices.
Compared with mains lights, solar is much quicker and cheaper to install. Solar powered lighting can be installed in more remote and inaccessible locations because it doesn’t require a 240 volt supply.
Performance and reliability in solar lighting have improved hugely in the last few years.
Solar units are suited to LED bulbs which give improved illumination while also requiring less power. Only a few years ago, solar light units required hours of direct sunlight in order to generate enough electricity to operate lights for a reasonable period of time. Energy collection technology has improved greatly recently. Advancements in solar technology are occurring fast and will continue to do so.
There are lots of options of solar garden lighting on sale. Lantern style wall lighting. Hung or post mounted lighting. Lots of different styles of fairy light strings. Deck lighting which is mounted flush with the timber surface. Motion sensor security spot lights. Solar panels for lights are either built into the light unit itself, or housed in a wired, remote panel. Each design has its own pros and cons and suits different applications.
Integrated panels are often smaller in order to fit within the unit, which can sometimes limit the operational performance of the unit.
Lights with external panels are not limited by lamp size, so have larger panels, which can additionally be placed to catch maximum sunlight. Replacing factory fitted rechargeable batteries with high quality batteries will improve your solar lights’ performance. Replacing factory fitted batteries with high performance ones will give you better lighting.
Optimized Solar Performance
The location of your lights will determine their solar efficiency. The more direct sunlight your solar lights receive, the better they will work for you. Try to avoid too much shade, as this will reduce your charging time.
Avoid siting your lights where they will be shaded by trees or buildings as this will affect their performance. Renewable energy technology is a huge growth area, with million being pumped into development annually. We can expect light performance to further improve as solar panel and battery technology evolve. Solar lighting sales are growing year on year.
Solar power is popular because it helps to reduce your energy costs as well as reducing your impact on the planets resources.