this article is about how you can install solar powered lighting yourself. There are many different kinds of solar lighting including landscape lighting, security lighting, pathway lighting and many others that are easy for you to install yourself.
1. DO It Yourself With Landscape Lighting
Published by Blueviper on March 4, 2014
Solar powered lights are a good option for reducing outdoor energy consumption. These stand-alone
units are simply pushed into the ground or fastened to a fence where you need the light. In the evening,
once your eyes get acclimated to the dark, the solar landscaping lights give a nice soft light blanket
over the ground.
Pathways can be lined with short staked solar lamps. Special trees or features of the landscape can be
highlighted by light from the ground pointing up. The light emitting diode products available today,
allow for energy efficient and even non-energy use lighting in your landscape to accent the best
features.
*Solar Landscaping Lights
Solar lighting in the landscape provides soft lighting in the evening along your pathways and near
special features you want to highlight. The advantage of solar lighting is that it doesn't need to be
wired to your home's electrical system and it runs for free.
Pathway Lines with Solar Lamps
Solar lighting has four components that make them possible. Each has a solar cell that converts the
sun's light energy into electricity. They have batteries to store the electricity. They have low energy use
LEDs. They also have a light sensor that controls when the LED will be turned on and off. Solar
lighting for the landscape comes in many styles.
*Staked Solar Light
Installing and operating landscape solar lighting is very simple. The lamps come with a stake that
simply gets pushed into the ground. Typically no cement is needed for installation. Some lights come
with the solar cell mounted with hinges to allow you to position the cell for maximum sun exposure.
2. Pivoted Solar Lights
In the northern hemisphere, solar lights work better on the south side of the house. If located near the
north side of the house, there may not be enough sun to keep the battery charged. Also, shrubs and trees
that block the sun should be cleared where they cover the solar light.
Longevity wise, most off-the-shelf landscaping solar lamps available today are very light weight.
Because they are only supported by a push-in stake, they can be easily knocked over by passing
children or animals. Because of this, we would recommend in-ground solar lights or build your own
outdoor lights.
*Do It Yourself
The solar cell on top of the lamp should also be cleaned periodically, because of dirt or
dust build-up outside. Also, the lighting produced by these solar lamps tends to be
dimmer than electrically powered lights.