Solar lights are an ideal option for lighting up your outdoor spaces with functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Solar lights come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles and you can choose any of them according to your choice.
This article explores various kinds of solar lights, their purpose, and special features, and how to choose suitable solar lights for your home.
How do solar lights are working?
The name “solar lights” emphasized that it will work with sunlight. Solar lights operate with the conversion of solar energy into electricity. After that produced electricity stored in a battery.
This energy conversion is done by using a special device called a solar panel. The semiconductor materials consist of the panel absorb the solar energy and convert it into electrical power.
After sunset surrounding areas become dark, and then light or motion sensors in the solar lights identified the variation in light and activate the lights automatically.
The stored electricity from the battery is sent to the LED or CFL bulbs which generate the light. In contrast, the sun appears in the morning sensor deactivates the solar lights automatically.
8 Different types of solar lights
| Type of Solar Light | Uses | Special Features | Price Range | Size | Pros | Cons |
| Solar Path Lights | Walkways, paths, and driveways | The wide light beam, Short and compact design, Dusk to dawn sensor | $10-$20 | Compact | Easy to install, Cost-effective, Eco-friendly | Supply less powerful light, Not work well in limited sunlight areas |
| Solar Spot Lights | Highlighting specific features | Narrow beam Can be adjusted to shine in different directions, Dusk to dawn sensor | $20-$40 | Compact | Highlight specific features, Adjustable beam angle, and Cost-effective | Provide Less powerful light, May not work well in areas with limited sunlight |
| Solar Flood Lights | Large area lighting | Wide beam, Dusk to dawn sensor Motion sensor | $30-$50 | Larger | High power light, Can be used for security lighting, Cost-effective | More expensive, does not work well in limited sunlight areas |
| Solar String Lights | A decorative and festive atmosphere | Series of small bulbs connected together, Available in various colors and shapes | $20-$40 | Varies | Decorative, Available in various colors and shapes and Cost-effective | Less powerful light, May not work well in areas with limited sunlight |
| Solar Wall Lights | Walkways, driveways, and patio areas | Mountable on walls, Available in various styles and designs, Dusk to dawn sensor | $20-$30 | Compact | Easy to install, Available in various styles and designs, and Cost-effective | Less powerful light, May not work well in areas with limited sunlight |
| Solar Garden Lights | Gardens and flower beds | Available in various shapes and sizes, Dusk to dawn sensor | $10-$20 | Varies | Available in various shapes and sizes, Cost-effective, Can accentuate the natural beauty of the landscape | Less powerful light, May not work well in areas with limited sunlight |
| Solar Post Lights | Pathways and walkways | Mountable on posts, Available in various styles and designs, Dusk to dawn sensor | $20-$30 | Compact | Easy to install, Available in various styles and designs, Cost-effective | Less powerful light, May not work well in areas with limited sunlight |
| Solar Deck Lights | Decks and patios | Mountable on decks and patios, Available in various styles and designs, Dusk to dawn sensor | $20-$40 | Compact | Available in various styles and designs, Cost-effective, Can create a cosy atmosphere | Less powerful light, May not work well in areas with limited sunlight |
Please consider the price ranges of every type of solar light may vary according to their respective brands.
I think now you have a brief idea about different types of lights, their features and how to use them.
So next, we move on to an in-detail description of each type of solar light.
Solar Path lights
It is created with short and compact designs with not much taller than a few feet.
It consists of a wide beam of light, that can light up more area of the surface.
Typically these lights are installed on the edges of the walkways and pathways to supply illumination and safety for walkers.
Furthermore, they can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your garden and landscapes.
Solar path lights are very easy to install because it is not need wiring.
Solar spot lights
It is specifically created to illuminate the special features in your gardens like statues, monuments, water ponds, trees and other architectural features.
Solar spotlights provide narrow beams to highlight the specific features in the landscapes with dramatic nature.
This kind of light design with adjustable to various directions to light up your features.
Furthermore, provide high-intensity light rather than other solar lights.
They come up with 3-4 feet tall and taller than path lights.
Solar Floodlights
Solar flood lights are ideal for lighting up your gardens, yards, and other outdoor spaces.
It provides a wide beam of light with high intensity. Because it is easy to illuminate a large area of land.
Those lights easily install on posts, walls, or other surfaces with light up in different directions.
Solar string lights
These lights are specifically designed for decorating and festive illumination of your outdoor spaces such as patios, gardens, and decks enhancing the natural beauty of the landscapes.
Solar string lights come in various sizes and shapes improving the applicability of lights on a wide range of occasions. And also some lights are compatible with remote access.
Solar wall lights
The name suggests it is specifically designed for installation on walls. And also you can use them to illuminate your walkways, patio, and driveways.
You can decorate your architectural feature with authentic touch with wall lights with eco-friendly and cost-effective.
Solar Garden lights
Garden lights are most suitable for your garden environment and flower beds. They are easily compatible with domestic and commercial spaces.
They can provide security for your spaces by illuminating large areas.
Solar garden lights come in a variety of sizes and designs and that is easy to choose the most suitable light for your spaces
Some garden lights have special features such as colour and brightness changing options and they are designed to be weather resistant and waterproof.
Solar post lights
These lights are specifically designed for installation on posts like deck posts, fence posts, and lamp posts.
These lights are created tall and compact to illuminate walkways and pathways.
Some post lights are compatible with adjustable beam angles and which facilitates lighting up focus areas in your landscapes.
Solar deck lights
Solar deck lights are specially designed for installation on patios and decks and light up your steps or railings with a dishy appearance.
They are small and compact and easy to mount without any wirings.
Solar deck lights typically come up with sensors to turn on automatically in the evening and turn off in the morning.
Why do you need to choose solar light rather than LED light?
Most of you doubt why we need to choose solar light rather than LED light to light up our garden or other outdoor spaces.
The main reason we need solar lights is that working with solar radiation and typical LED lights work with electrical power. The duration that solar lights stay on at night can vary depending on the type of solar light.
Solar lights are an ideal option for reducing the carbon footprint as well as a cost-effective method of lighting up your spaces.
But in contrast, typical LED lights are also more efficient in energy consumption but we need electricity to light up them.
by the way, the lighting components in solar lights are LED too.
Solar lights are easy to install without any complex wirings. They can mount anywhere with bright sunlight.
How to choose the best solar light for your home?
Think about the Purpose
First of all, you need to identify your purpose for using solar lights.
Sometimes you need to light up your flower beds, walkways, or driveways or highlight your landscape features.
According to that, you can choose a path light, garden light, wall light, or any other.
Location matters:
The most important factor is where you can receive optimum sunlight for the function of solar light. Sometimes your area will receive low solar radiation then you have to choose solar light with a high-capacity battery or a larger solar panel.
Higher Durability for longer life:
Solar lights are most of the time installed in afield therefore you need to care about weather resistance or else water resistance of your solar lights.
High Brightness:
Another important factor is the brightness of light because according to your purpose, you need to choose your light to increase security in your garden you need more bright light than highlight the architectural features in your garden.
Economical Price:
Price is also important for you to choose the most affordable solar light for your budget and required features.
Battery Life is the lifeline:
You need to consider the battery life also because longer battery life ensures the longer period function of solar lights without failures.
Wrapping things up
Solar lights are an eco-friendly and energy-efficient investment to light up your indoor and outdoor spaces. It enhances the natural beauty of your landscapes with an aesthetic appearance.
Eng. Matthew Joseph Nandirio is the Founder of walkingsolar.
After graduating from the University of Houston in 2002, matt started working as a Solar Electrical Engineer for several multi-national solar energy companies.
He has a wide range of experiences including solar system requirement analysis, planning, maintaining, debugging and even solar device development through research.
He now shares his 20 years of expertise through his articles on the walkingsolar website.
Further, he is also the author of two books on Solar Technology, “Solar Power for Villages” and “DIY Solar System for Dummies”.
