Nowadays, more and more households have been switching to and going solar. Not only because of the fact that it is sustainable, but also because of how much it can benefit their household, as well as the environment, as a whole. Even new technological developments have fueled this increased reliance on solar energy. And given that solar power has a wide range of applications, one of the most common ones would be solar lighting.

The popularity of solar lighting has led the market to offer an overwhelming variety of options. Actually, it is one of technology’s most effective innovations. It has many advantages over traditional lighting techniques. And when it comes to solar lights for the home, garden, or outdoors, the modern and improved solar light system—which includes the solar battery, panels, and more—brings a lot of benefits to the table.

Additionally, solar lighting is becoming a more popular choice for homeowners who want to add more light to their yards and outdoor spaces without raising their energy costs. These lights do not need electricity or expert installation because they are totally powered by the energy they absorb from sunlight. In addition, they are a low-emission, cost-effective, simple-to-install, and essentially maintenance-free solution to light up the outside of your house.

A photovoltaic cell, battery, light bulb, and photosensor are all components of solar lights. The photovoltaic cell converts solar energy into electrical energy. Which is then stored in the battery and used to power the light bulb. By detecting visible light, the photosensor automatically regulates when your solar lights turn on and off. It completes the circuit between the battery and light bulb and turns on the light when it detects no light. When it detects sunlight, it interrupts the circuit, turning off the light.

It might be difficult and a little daunting to choose the right solar lighting because there are so many alternatives available. It can be challenging to decide which types, designs, and brands are best for your home because there are so many available on the market. There are practically endless options available — ranging from little spotlights that can be installed almost anywhere to bigger lantern-style bulbs that offer a warm glow to a porch. Look through this guide to help you choose the best solar lighting for your home.

Purpose

Before you buy solar lighting for your home, have a plan for how you will use them. Are you seeking decorative fixtures? Or do you require it for a specific purpose like security and safety? Your design decisions and functionality will vary depending on its purpose.

Actually, ambient and accent lighting are the two primary types of solar lighting from which you can select based on your requirements and preferences. Ambient lighting is perfect for safety since it emits a gentle glow that illuminates sidewalks or paths. On the other side, accent lighting is perfect for security since it gives bright, focused illumination in important areas, such as the front door or deck.

The Amount of Light You Need

Consider the amount of space you have and estimate the distance between any trees, shrubs, or existing lights to figure out how many lights you will need to illuminate a specific outdoor area. And to figure out the number of lights, you will need to give adequate coverage. This can be done by dividing the square footage that each solar light is expected to illuminate by the total square footage that you have determined.

Brightness

Relative to the amount of light you need for an area, it is also important to consider the overall brightness. The solar lighting outdoors actually has their own lumen value, which determines how bright they are. Compared to the outdated watts measurement, lumens are considered to be more useful. The lumen output of a traditional 40 watt incandescent bulb ranges from 300 to 500. A similar-lumen LED light uses only three to five watts to operate. In essence, this means that lights are brighter the higher the lumen values. Varying occasions call for different intensities of solar outdoor lighting. 

For instance, solar lighting utilized as led garage lights should produce a clearer and brighter light than outside local lighting fixtures placed on the garden, yard, or fence. This factor will only be taken into account if you wish to purchase a solar light that has a single brightness setting. While the majority of solar lights currently on the market are built with adjustable brightness features to accommodate a variety of uses.

Area Where You Will Install the Lights

Solar outdoor lights are available in a wide range of sizes and designs. From small solar-powered garden ornaments to sizable, powerful spotlights that can illuminate your driveway or a route through the woods. This implies that you can position the lights in a variety of places. It will then satisfy a range of lighting and decorative purposes. The electricity that powers these lights is created by converting solar energy. They will shine brighter the more sunlight they receive. You just need to be more deliberate and strategic about where you install your lights. Also, how many you install if your yard has a lot of shaded parts. Additionally, you may need an alternative with an external solar panel that can be placed where the sun is expected to shine.

You should install solar lights in fixtures like wall lamps or pendant lamps because some of them are not waterproof. If the outdoor solar lights have a small solar PV panel built into them, you should make sure the light is installed. This is so it can get lots of direct sunshine during the day. Alternatively, if the solar lamp includes an external solar panel, you can mount it anywhere that is within the solar panel’s range of the sun’s energy collection. Simply change the solar panel’s angle to charge for the light.

Hours Lit

Wattage also has an impact on how bright the lights are. That is, the output time of the solar lights, which in turn directly determines the illumination hour of the solar lights, is controlled by the wattage of the solar cells. By extension, the capacity of the rechargeable batteries and the output charging capacity of the solar panel are directly related to the amount of time a solar garden light may illuminate at night. In this case, you may also need to be concerned about the longevity of solar lights.

Color

To illuminate your home’s exterior and the way home, the majority of outdoor lights offer a gentle white or amber-colored light. Color-changing solar lights are also a fantastic choice for outdoor lighting. They can function as a color-changing light bulb to create a warm, cozy, romantic, or celebratory ambiance; whether you host outdoor parties in your garden or yard or take a break with your family in the evening. Before selecting your solar lighting, make sure they are the appropriate color temperature and hue for your needs.

Key Takeaway

With the tips and factors listed above, you can now easily choose the right solar lighting that can accommodate your needs. If you want low-cost installation and energy efficiency without sacrificing style, these types of lights are a great option. It is possible to have a brilliantly lit home with little upkeep and cost.