Solar Security Lighting Basics

Solar powered lights are perfect for those applications where a regular power source is unavailable and where accent lighting is required. Solar systems outperform traditional wired systems. When compared to the traditional system’s costs for cable, digging trenches, and recurring electric bills, solar security lighting offers some serious advantages. Although most solar-powered kits are not as bright as low-voltage lights, the newer solar ones provide adequate light for highlighting plants, marking a path for security.

How Solar Security Lighting Works
Solar security lights are powered by DC electricity generated from sunshine. The lights have built-in photo sensors, so they automatically turn off during the day and turn on at night. Best of all, light from solar powered lamps doesn’t require the burning of fossil fuels and the generation of carbon dioxide (CO2) and pollutants associated with the generation of electricity by a utility.

Solar Lighting is Reliable
Solar security lighting is very dependable. It’s never too cloudy to collect solar energy. If there’s enough light to see well, even if it’s raining, there’s enough light to for a solar panel to collect and store energy. The typical system can store enough energy to operate for 5 consecutive days without sun.

Solar Lighting Means no Fussing with Wiring
Trying to wire outdoor path and landscape lighting can be a hassle even if you use low-voltage lighting. There is always a sidewalk or some other obstruction you have to tunnel under to run the wiring to the lights.

Solar garden lights require no wiring as they charge through the daytime from the sun’s rays (they require a sunny position, although will gain some charge on an overcast day). Solar lights generally come on automatically at dusk, although some have a manual over-ride switch.

Where to Place Lighting
Solar lights are ideal for marking pathways and garden features with a gentle glowing light (either amber or white), but do not provide bright surrounding light. low energy costs, using our solar powered security lights! Our bright and reliable solar security light features a motion detector
Other options include garden lights, some of which run on solar power. These can be expensive, but make a property attractive and provide the same security benefits as other external lights.

What to Look for in Solar Security Lighting

Solar cells (photovoltaic solar panels)
Although the size of the solar cells built into the light is important for charging the batteries daily, don’t just compare the cell sizes when shopping. Recent advancements in solar cells allow even small sizes to produce plenty of electricity. The small sizes also allow for more attractive designs.

Batteries
Like all solar-powered equipment, solar security lights requite small rechargable batteries for storage. The rechargeable batteries included when you buy the light should last about 2 years and can easily be replaced with new rechargeable batteries. When you have the choice, choose alkaline batteries. These are made of either nickel cadmium or nickel iron. The difference is that the cadmium discharges its energy faster and is damaging for the environment. The nickel iron does less environmental damage.

Bulbs
LED’s (light-emitting diodes) are the most efficient light source and the bulbs last quite a long time. They come in both white or amber, although amber light attracts fewer insects. Fluorescent bulbs are also very efficient, but brighter than the LEDs. They are typically about five watts, which sounds small, but puts out more light than you might think. Halogen bulbs are the least efficient, but the brightest. They’re often reserved for motion-sensing lights which aren’t on continuously.