When thinking about outdoor lighting, you might be inclined to think that solar lights would be the way to go for financial savings on your electric bill and the low environmental impact. But solar lights do not always perform as you’d like in areas that see a lot of overcast weather. Solar lighting is heavily dependent on sunlight and sunshine isn’t always in abundance. At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Wilmington, we provide reliable and high-quality LED outdoor lighting solutions that you can count on for all of your outdoor living spaces, rain or shine.
How Long Do Solar Yard Lights Last?
The lifetime of a solar yard light varies widely by the product quality of the light fixture and housing, its location and exposure to the elements, and how well it is maintained. A conservative number would be 2-5 years. Solar lights deteriorate with time due to the batteries going dead. Hence, the batteries will have to be replaced or the system replaced over time. Conversely the lifetime of our LED outdoor lighting systems are designed from the ground up for years of performance and durability and typically exceed 10 years with little or no maintenance.
What Is the Downside of Solar Lights?
Despite the environmentally friendly claims and initial price advantage, solar lights have several disadvantages that can make them less effective and less attractive.
Weather Dependency
The major disadvantage of solar lighting is that they are very dependent on the weather. In order to fully charge the battery, solar lights need plenty of sunlight. If it's too cloudy or raining or even a short period of wintery days, the amount of sunshine may not be quite enough to fully charge the batteries, and so they won't work as well at night. This might disappoint homeowners who need consistent and reliable light for safety or aesthetic purposes.
Can you see the solar-powered lights in this picture?
Limited Brightness
Another disadvantage of solar lights is that they are not as bright as LED lights. Solar lights usually store the energy in batteries. The lower capacity of the batteries might make the lighting less intense than it would be using an LED system of a similar size. This might be a deal-breaker if you need well-lit spaces for security reasons, walkways, or outdoor activities that require bright illumination.
Shorter Lifespan
Unfortunately, solar-powered lights have shorter lives. A solar light will last 2 to 5 years max, while an LED light can last over 10 years with proper care. Solar lights will degrade as time goes on, and the battery life is shorter and limited. You will need to replace the lighting fixture sometimes, which means more waste. This means the long-term cost is much higher because you will need to change the battery or the whole lighting element more frequently.
Maintenance Requirements
Solar lights are good only if you make a little effort to keep them working: the solar panels attract dirt and debris that can block sunlight and limit charging, and their batteries degrade over time and generally last only a few years. For someone looking for a low-maintenance lighting solution.
Moreover, supplied solar light batteries are rarely easy to source. You are likely to have to use a specialist tool to replace them and will need to replace the whole unit whenever one sets fire to itself.
Conclusion?
These shortcomings can make solar lighting very impractical for those who seek to create a consistent and bright outdoor lighting effect. Our LED lighting systems are a viable option, as they provide a more reliable and brighter solution that requires less maintenance.
Why Don’t My Solar Lights Stay On All Night?
Solar lights frequently do not stay on all night for many reasons. The main reason is that they cannot work up the charge they need during the day. This can be due to lack of adequate sunlight, poor quality battery, or age of the fixture itself. By contrast, our LED illumination powered by a reliable electrical source will give you peace of mind that your outdoor areas will be lit up all night, enhancing both the aesthetics and security of your environment.
Which Are Better, LED or Solar Lights?
Brightness and Reliability
LED lights have unmatched brightness and consistent performance—not much compared to the sun, but much better than solar lights. Solar lights cannot perform as well when it’s cloudy or when it rains. With LED lights, you can ensure that outdoor spaces are safe and beautiful 365 days a year, in any weather, anywhere, from pathways and driveways to gardens and patios.
Longevity and Cost-Effectiveness
Because LED lights last over 10 years (with barely any maintenance), solar lights only last 2 to 5 years, depending on the quality of the lights, and need battery replacements on a regular basis, which can be a hassle. With LEDs, the long-term cost and hassle factor are greatly reduced. Call Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Wilmington for a sustainable and cost-effective solution for outdoor lighting.
Customization and Resilience
LED lighting allows for more adaptable and customizable systems that can take advantage of smart technology such as dimming, color-changing, and automated scheduling. The lights are also more durable and robust, arguably more suitable for the tough weather conditions that Wilmington often experiences along the coastline. In contrast, solar lights can be easily installed but are less adaptable and may degrade more quickly under such conditions.
Will Solar Lights Withstand Coastal Conditions?
In coastal environments, the additional challenges of salt air, high humidity, and winds can accelerate the natural degradation of solar lights far beyond their intended design. Our LED outdoor lighting systems have been designed to resist the punishment of coastal elements and deliver the kind of consistent lighting that Wilmington’s coastal climate can be counted on to expose in ways inland environments can’t.
Smart landscape lighting is a technology advancement that embeds control and efficiency - the user can customize settings and manage the lights remotely, away from home. Smart landscape lighting works with traditional electrical sources that continue to operate consistently as opposed to solar power landscape lighting that uses sunlight for charging during the day, which may not be reliable on cloudy days or at night. The smart landscape has features such as automated schedules, motion sensors, and color-changing functions. These benefits make smart landscape lights a better choice with more versatility than solar landscape lights.
If you are looking to make over your home, one of the best ways to start is by adding high-quality outdoor lighting. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Wilmington creates beautiful outdoor lighting system designs for homes and businesses alike. Our skilled team provides superior outdoor lighting solutions to make your outdoor living spaces more beautiful and functional and to add ambiance and elegance. Whether you have an existing lighting system that is ready for an upgrade, or you are in the market to have a new lighting system installed, our professional lighting designers and installers can help you design a beautiful, lasting lighting system that will increase your home’s curb appeal and help you add the greatest possible value to your home. Call today and let us show you how to make your outdoor living spaces more beautiful with superior lighting.
If you are ready to illuminate your property with stunning lighting, contact us today for your free consultation!
