Solar Lights

As other energy sources dwindle, and our overuse of them is damaging the earth's atmosphere, solar power lights are a viable and low cost alternative.

What are Solar Lights?

Solar power lights are powered by energy drawn from the sun, and because the sun rises every day, it is a source of renewable energy. That makes it cheap to use and available to everyone.

Over the last twenty years or so in particular, both the US and the UK Governments have instituted a number of different energy policies aimed at standardizing fuel costs and trying to lower the amount of energy that the population uses.

Solar outdoor lighting is now evident in most people’s backyards and makes sitting outside very pleasant when the weather permits it.

More to the point, there has been a gradual revolution in the attitude of many people towards energy costs and the toll that our energy use has taken on the environment. It is small wonder that people want to know more about solar lighting and how it works.

How Do Solar Power Lights Work?

Outdoor lighting systems use solar cells, or photovoltaic, pv cells - measured in terms of how efficient they are at turning sunlight into electricity – to convert light from the sun into electricity. This electricity is stored in batteries inside the lamp and the light is then emitted when darkness falls.

However, these lights only work as well as the amount of sunshine they receive in comparison to what the manufacturers recommend as optimum.

Some lighting systems work just by themselves while others have lights that are separate from a solar panel; and it is only the panel that needs to be in a sunny location. In India solar power is being utilized with light emitting diodes, LED lamps, to provide lighting for a whole village.

Types of Solar Outdoor Lighting

The most common type of solar outdoor lighting is the kind that you just stick into the ground to catch the sunlight. This is sometimes called a solar power garden light.

Solar lighting can be made of plastic, copper or stainless steel, you can get these lights in different colors and some lights will change from one color to another.

If you want solar power lighting that is a bit easier on the eye, and at a higher level, then you can get them encased in stone, almost like street lamps.

You can also get spot lights, which are usually encased in plastic but designed to look like stone. At one end is the spot light, and at the other is a barely noticeable solar panel. You can also get solar stepping stones, which is just a light with a ceramic casing that is made to look like stone.

You can get stepping stone solar outdoor lights in large sizes and they can make a garden or patio quite attractive looking. People also have solar lighting around their pond or swimming pool to light them up at night.

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