Solar powered landscape lights

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Are there any that are at least ok?

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No.

I mean, if you just want to see that there is in fact a light there when it's dark out, like for decorative purposes, yeah they'll do that. If you want something functional that actually illuminates something, I haven't found one yet that will do that.

It just boils down to the amount of power required which determines the size of the solar panel needed. To get a rough idea, if you think something like a regular LED light bulb would be bright enough, that's gonna draw about 8 watts. And if you want 6 hours of lighting every night, that'll be 48 watt-hours. I wouldn't count on more than 4 hours of good sun per day, so you'll need at least a 12 watt solar panel but probably more like 20 watts to account for charge losses and other inefficiencies. Panels with that output tend to measure about 15" x 15", which is much larger than the size of the panels on most of the decorative ones I've seen. There are some with panels about this size, but they are more of a flood light style rather than something you might want hanging out in the yard. Of course you may not care or there may be one that looks good. It will have a big arse solar panel though.

I know you don't want to run "power", but does that also exclude landscape wire? If trenching is a problem maybe you could run it discreetly on a fence or something?

Volt Lighting sells solar lights, and while I don't like the Volt solar lights' appearance I've always found that company's products last for many years.

LINK ]


I installed a dozen low-cost, deck-style solar lights from Amazon in a remote area that is far from any 12 volt line for our conventional Volt landscape lights.

Not expecting the stuff from Amazon to last, I bought extras and made the mounting screws loose enough to easily swap out dead lights.

Sure enough, more than half the Amazon lights died and been replaced within the first year.

On the plus side, the lights' housings don't look too bad and the fixtures give off a pleasing, warm light.

LINK ]

These have been very good for us. LINK

We've had good luck with these strung along our Wrought iron fence. Gives enough light to see the dogs back there etc.

My neighbor has solar charged lamps that have individual charging panels on each lamp. They look good but they don't do anything other than provide a dim glow. Buy string lights with LED bulbs and a light timer.