If you are still using conventional lighting solutions to illuminate your outdoor area, now is as good a time as any to make the switch to outdoor solar lights.
An innovative lighting solution ideally-suited to the needs of modern homes, outdoor solar lights are among the most useful accessories you can have in your home. The best models can illuminate your lawn, garden, patio, or driveway in a surprisingly effective manner, making any other type of light unnecessary.
Of course, the main benefit of outdoor solar lights is that they cost nothing to operate. After your initial investment, you practically won’t be spending any money on lighting costs as far as your outdoor area is concerned. This is perhaps the most compelling reason to go for outdoor solar lights in preference to other types of lighting. Over time, you will find the cost savings to be quite significant.
The good news is that there is a vast array of outdoor solar lights available on the market today. From the cheapest models to state-of-the-art sets that deliver unparalleled performance and state-of-the-art features, the home consumer market definitely isn’t lacking in quality options.
Knowing what qualities make for good outdoor solar lights is important in order to ensure that you get the best possible deal for your money. There are many factors that you should consider when comparing different models. The following are just a few of the characteristics that you should look for when evaluating outdoor solar lights.
Quality construction. Solar lights tend to be subjected to more demanding environmental conditions than most other lights. Unlike ordinary lamps or light fixtures that are typically installed under protective roofing, solar lights are usually exposed to the sun, the rain, and other elements. Exposure to the sun is necessary for charging the batteries that will power the lights in the absence of electrical mains power of course. But this–along with exposure to the wind and rain–does extract a heavy toll on the body and mechanism.
For this reason, any outdoor solar lights you purchase should be durable enough to withstand the elements. Consider also that you will want to get years of services from your lights, which makes durability and rugged construction even more important factors.
Brightness. The primary purpose of outdoor solar lights is to provide illumination, so you will want them to be as bright as possible without causing a disturbance. Lights that go dim over time–or are dim to begin with–aren’t a good choice as far as security is concerned. When evaluating different models of outdoor solar lights, you will want to make sure that they are bright enough to provide sufficient illumination for the area in which they will be installed.
At the same, you don’t necessarily want to have lights that are overly bright. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and excessively bright outdoor lights definitely fall into that category. They can interfere with your sleep and your regular routine, and may even annoy your neighbors. Choose a light that is just bright enough for your intended use, and you get all the benefits with none of the drawbacks.
Durable. Even the most well-protected lights can fail if they have an undetected design flaw. Some brands of lights may even fail due to a fluke in the manufacturing process, even though the brand itself has a reputation for quality. Make sure to compare the various brands carefully, and avoid those that seem to have an unusually high failure rate.
The best outdoor solar lights should perform as expected with minimal care and maintenance. Apart from the occasional cleaning, you don’t really want to have to spend a lot of time and effort keeping your lights in tiptop condition. And you definitely don’t want to come home from a long vacation only to find that your lights have failed while you were gone.
Long-lasting. You should be able to expect your outdoor solar lights to work all night after being charged all day. Although some lights do give you the option to switch over to mains power, most are designed to stay on all night on battery power alone. Lights that stay on only for a few hours before cutting out aren’t the best choice for outdoor security. You should therefore go with brands that you know will stay on all night without a hitch.
Quick charging. Finally, try to find outdoor solar lights that charge reasonably quickly. You may not get enough sunlight during the day depending on where you live, and your light may fail even though the brand is known for reliability and performance. You want outdoor solar lights that can provide quality service with the bare essentials, and this might mean having to perform as expected even without a full day of charging.