Solar

Every year solar lighting is getting more affordable, and there are better choices for landscape lighting. It is a very exciting time to add solar to your yard, or garden area. There are ever increasing styles, that can complement your design. In this article we hope to show you how solar lights work, where they can be used and how they can benefit your electricity bills, and your garden design.

So how do solar lights really work? Solar lights are made up of 5 parts, the collector or panel, a battery that is charged by the sun, the bulb and fixture that lights up, the wiring that connect the battery to the other parts, and the stake, or bracket to fix them. Going a little deeper, transforming the sunlight into electricity solar lights use photovoltaic (pv) cells. The process is called photovoltaic effect. The pv cell is composed of negative and positive superconductors that create an electrical current flow when exposed to the sun. The battery stores the electricity that has been generated, the battery is usually made up of nickel cadmium, or nickel metal hydride. Many solar lights have a dawn to dusk sensor that automatically turns the light on at on at dusk off at daylight. You should place your solar light in an area that has adequate sunlight.

The best thing about solar lights is how versatile they are, you can use them along paths, around the pool, to highlight or shadow plants and features in your yard. You can also use them for security, there are many different types of lights as well. There are overhead lights, motion sensor solar lights, pathway lights, and many different types of globe, and lamppost lights

The upside of solar lights are immense and include, ease of installation, function, style, not to mention the savings on energy costs. One of the best things about solar lighting is that the installation is so simple in most cases that you can do it yourself. Unlike traditional outdoor lighting you don’t need to tear up your landscape and bury wires, nor do you have to hire an electrician in most cases to install them. These savings in labor alone should be considered when comparing the cost. You don’t have to worry if you turned them off or on, and their durable weather tough design means that they will last for many years to come.

One of the best features, and often the reason most people consider solar lights is the cost efficiency. They are completely self contained, the solar panel charges the battery which runs the light. Most solar lights use an LED light bulb. They give off a bright light and don’t cause any glare. These bulbs are also very long lasting more than fifty times longer than traditional bulbs. The solar panels are continuing to improve, the storage in many of these lights will function for three days on one day of sun instead of just one. This will help people that live in climates that are overcast much of the time, like the North West to enjoy solar lighting as well. They are one of the greenest ways you can improve the look of your landscape.

So if you want a landscape that is as functional as it is beautiful after dark, solar lights are your ticket. They give you light, dramatic shadows, and energy savings in one quick and easy to install package.

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