Today’s solar lights utilize photovoltaic cells to gather and store energy for solar patio lighting or other outdoor lighting functions. From lampposts to glowing walkway lamps and everything in between, the outdoor solar light is definitely the wave of the future.
An outdoor solar light is a practical invention, especially in geographic regions that get plenty of sun. The installation is simple and requires no wiring. With solar lights being used for a walkway or the perimeter of a patio, it really is as simple as pulling the light out of the package and sticking it in the ground.
Solar lights work when the photovoltaic cells gather enough energy to charge the battery, which then gives off light relative to the sufficiency of the charge. A fully charged solar patio light can burn from dusk to dawn, or be switched off manually.
For a region like the Southwest, such as Arizona and New Mexico, solar patio lighting is a superior option. Why pay for lighting your patio when the sun, which shines the majority of the year, will do it for you? There are stormy days in these regions, however, which can prevent the light’s cells from fully charging the battery. To harvest the most direct sunlight, care should be taken in placing the lights.
Many parts of the country, such as the Pacific Northwest, are notorious for having relatively little sunlight, which would seem to negate the effectiveness of solar patio lighting. The fact is, solar lighting is an effective solution to some degree, even in these areas. Solar lights will charge best in direct sunlight, but still receive power from the UV rays that penetrate the clouds. In cloudier regions, it’s smart to have solar lights with an electric backup.
Utilizing solar lights in an outdoor environment makes sense if the use is purely recreational, or the lights are wired to a larger whole house solar system. For example, a typical solar lighting scenario may have a handful of decorative solar lanterns, perhaps a large solar lamp, and smaller solar stake lights in the ground around the patio and along the walkways.
The typical solar light will provide ample lighting for several hours after charging for only four or five, which is more than enough for most dinner parties or gatherings. Solar lighting is not task lighting however. Currently, the LED bulbs in most solar patio lights are between 15-20 watts; perfect for our sensitive vision at night, but nothing to work or cook by.