Solar Garden Lights

The last thing I think any homeowner wants to deal with is creating more work for themselves. This project is a perfect example of big payoff with little difficulty in work level. Let me explain what I mean. Sure, you will be putting in some time installing your garden lights, but not as much as you would if you had to use low-voltage lines or some other type of system.

Unless you hire a professional landscaper or contractor to do the work for you, you will have to be putting in some labor. So, why not make it easier on yourself. With solar garden lights, the installation is almost just a matter of deciding where you want to put your lighting in your garden or patio space.

If you get the stake-type of outdoor lighting, all you have to do is push or gently ease the lights into the ground and you're done. Seriously, it is that easy. There are no wires to connect or switches to install, so the placement is what it is all about. Garden lighting can be a pain for this very reason if you use traditional low voltage wiring. You have to dig up your beds or always worry about where your lines are when planting. With these solar lights, none of this is an issue. These also work great on artificial or synthetic grass lawns because you don't have to run those lines beneath that whole surface area. You just plop them in where you want.

Besides the fact that they all have one thing in common - the solar collector cells - there are many different styles of solar garden lights.  It might be easier to group them by how they are installed.  There are garden lights that have a stake of some kind that mounts into the ground with the light directly on top, stakes with a haning light or even mounted lights.

The type that have the lights directly inline or secured to the stake are the easiest to install and have the least likelihood of being damaged or becoming dislodged.  These are classically seen as the type with the solar cell right on top in a square with the light that projects a more of a 360 degreee pattern.

Then there are the lights that are still mounted using a pole or stake but have a type of hook at the top.  Imagine seeing a shephard's crook type of thing there at the top.  These are so the lights can dangle from them.  This provides yet another look, while still remaining fairly free from any obstruction.  You could still consider these lights to have a 360 degree span, but you would definitely be directing them in a different way than with the previously mentioned stake type.

Finally, there are the mounted variety.  Now, these are still solar lights but have the ability to be 'built into' a wall or stone path, etc.  What you would do is either notch out a form in a piece of wood, like a beam or railroad tie or just build them into your stone or concrete wall.  The only problem with these are once you have a problem, you really have a problem.  Removal is not easy once set into the stone.  This is not unlike any other type of light built into the stone structure, but it is worth mentioning. 

So, again, all these lights have the basic photovolaic (PV) system in common.  It is simply the way that they look or are designed to hang that makes them unique.  Additionally, you can find any number of styles to choose from as far as aesthetics are concerned.  Just look at the small sample of pictures here and you can see that.

With all good things come some downfalls.  In this case, there isn’t so much of a downfall as there is an inevitability.  There will be problems with your solar lighting if you are in inclement weather that is overcast, rainy or snowy for any period of time.  It just makes sense, if light isn’t making it to your solar cells, then they will not be charging their batteries.  If this doesn’t happen, you will not get light.  Unlike home solar power systems where you might also have a backup generator or be tied into the grid, in most cases your solar garden lighting is not alternatively powered.

Similarly, do not expect your solar lights to be shining brightly throughout the night.  They will last maybe until dawn, but that is with a full charge and only if they are longer lasting lights.  Do not expect your lights to be like a lighthouse beacon.  The power that you get from these types of lights is more like ambient lighting or a subdued type of mood lighting. 

With all this being said, these are no reason not to invest in some great looking solar lighting for your garden.  Not only will you be doing something greener for your garden but you will also be reducing your electricity costs and load on the planet you co-inhabit.  Looking forward, as the solar industry continues to make great strides in materials and innovations, you will likely find much more comparability between the traditional and solar garden lights.