Solar powered light bulbs typically are found outside in people’s backyards, and come in the same kinds of styles as typical outdoor lights. They can come in strings, in single bulbs, or in their own lamps to give off a different color or vibe depending on your mood.
Solar lights have also gotten cheaper, and can even save you money in the long term as a result of not using as much energy from the grid. Here are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of these light bulbs.
Find a Spot with Tons of Direct Sunlight
The solar panels that come with these light bulbs come attached with fixtures that can hang on a variety of surfaces, and can even be attached to the ground. Choose an area that isn’t likely to be obstructed from overhangs, garden plants covering up the panels, or shifting shadows from buildings throughout the day.
Direct sunlight is best, as this allows for the lights to get the most electricity so they stay at their brightest throughout the night.
High Quality Solar Lights will Outperform Cheaper Models, and they Will Last Longer
Low-quality solar light bulbs are not designed to the same high standards as those from more reputable brands. Cheap solar light bulbs have a tendency to crack, retain moisture, and malfunction as a result of general operation.
High quality solar light bulbs not only produce more light, but will avoid many of the problems associated with operating cheap solar light bulbs. As a result, you will be able to enjoy your solar lights bulbs beyond a single season.
Look for manufacturers with a customer support line, and a good return policy. Also look to read several customer reviews to understand the experience of others while dealing with the company. High quality solar light bulbs typically are made out of metal and glass, rather than cheaper plastic.
Glass is easier to clean, and the metal housing will hold up better to constant sunlight than plastic, which will become brittle over time.
Solar Light Bulbs are More Practical in the Outdoors
Solar light bulbs won’t need to be plugged into an outside outlet, as they have an internal battery that powers them. This means that you won’t have to drag extension cords through your backyard to connect the lights together, or to connect them to a power source.
This makes your backyard safer, with fewer tripping hazards and problems with too few outlets. It also offers an ideal scenario for you to have outdoor lighting on your patio if you live in a condo building or a townhouse.
Different Lighting Styles to Suit Different Purposes
Many lights on the market are designed to be decorative. There are discreet looking lights that integrate nicely with any fences, and provide lighting to outline the perimeter. There are also ground level lights that stake into the ground that help to outline the edges of pathways, and keep people from walking into your gardens.
There are smaller lights that are shaped like lanterns, and help to give a more rustic backyard setting. There are also tiny lights that attach to the bottom of porch stairs that help to avoid people from tripping over the steps in the dark.
There are motion-activated lights that give you peace of mind when walking around your house at night, and also help to increase the safety of your home by deterring would-be thieves.
There are also little orbs that give a more modern vibe to your space, and help to put out light in a more structured way across a wider area. These orbs can also imitate old-style incandescent light bulbs that give off a more industrial setting for your backyard, as well as a warmer glow.
Solar Light Bulbs are Multi-Purpose
Most solar light bulbs are weather proof, but they can also be brought inside to help decorate for a special event. This could include stringing lights across the kitchen area for a friend’s birthday party, or even lighting your Christmas tree with solar powered Christmas light.
The solar panel has to be connected to these lights, but it can sit in the window, and still receive power. This level of versatility makes them an attractive option if you’re looking at using lights for more than one occasion.
Solar Light Bulbs Are Not as Expensive as They Once Were
Solar light bulbs have come down in price significantly, and with the addition of a solar panel on top, along with an easier set-up with fewer wires to connect, they are more convenient in most cases as well.
The cool thing about solar light bulbs is that they can also be integrated into city lighting. This opportunity helps on multiple fronts, by both reducing the amount of electricity consumed by city utilities, and also reducing the amount of maintenance that these lights have to undergo.
The solar panels can be monitored by determining the amount of electricity they are receiving throughout the day, and if there is a reduced amount, a technician can be notified to do a quick sweep to remove any potential debris or grime.
As these lights do not have to be connected to the grid, there is also less work involved in digging up roads in order to install new street lights. The switch can be handled by installing a solar panel on top of the light pillar, and replacing the traditional light bulb with a long-lasting LED bulb.
LED light bulbs are known to last for 10 years or more, and require much less time and effort to replace broken and worn-out street lights using traditional technology. The City of Los Angeles replaced their street lights with LEDs, which led to savings of over $2.5 million annually back in 2013.
This would surely be more today, as the cost of the technology has come down significantly. With the addition of solar energy to these light bulbs, the cost savings would increase even more.
Conclusion
There are a number of reasons why solar light bulbs might be a good solution for your next backyard lighting project. The cost savings, the variety of styles, and the reduced hassle of dealing with cords are just a few options to consider. There are plenty of reviews online if you’re interested in learning more, and you can also check out some more articles on out blog posted here.
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