Solar Lighting

Solar lights are the perfect accessory in any garden. In the summer they allow you to extend your enjoyment of the garden into the evening, allow you to entertain for longer and also illuminate your favourite parts of the garden. In winter they make the daunting and dark outside look lovely from the cosy inside.

How does garden solar lighting work?

There are small panels on all solar lights that convert energy from the sun into electrical current. This current is sent to a rechargeable battery inside the light where it is stored. A small device called a photo receptor stops the lights coming on while the battery is charging but as soon as it detects little or no light, it activates the battery and your lights come on! On average most rechargeable batteries can stand 500 to 800 charge cycles so you only need to replace them every 2-3 years. That is the only ongoing cost!

Light in the winter

Providing that you position your solar lights so that they can still sense light during daylight hours, you will charge the battery. The only difference when compared to summer is that there may not be enough sunlight to charge the battery sufficiently to keep the light working all night long. If the solar cell becomes covered with snow or leaves it will also not be able to charge.

Batteries for solar lights

Most solar lights take either AA or AAA rechargeable batteries. The batteries store the energy that is produced in the day so that it can be used during the night. These batteries usually last one or two years however we recommend replacing them annually as your lights will not perform as well with older batteries as they cannot store as much energy.

Knowing when your batteries aren’t working; when you have established that something isn’t working in your solar lights fist check the solar panel and give it a clean. If they still aren’t working then try your solar lights with some non-rechargeable batteries and place the light in the dark (or cover the sensor panel fully). If they now work then your rechargeable batteries have stopped working and need replacing.

How to position your lights

Selection of solar lights in our Old Rydon Lane store.

The beauty of solar lights in the garden is the range of ways you can use them. Whilst they are great for illuminating pathways, they are also amazing at highlighting garden features or acting as a decoration. Make sure when you place your solar lights that they are in sunlight in the day so that they will charge properly, this means that it shouldn’t be shaded by trees or branches. If you are struggling to find a balance of sunlight and the position you want them in for the evening, the great thing is that they are so easy to move- you can simply charge them in the day in a sunny position and then move them to the chosen spot in the evening.

When you are placing the solar lights be careful that the soil is ready. You can either water it a few hours before or break it up slightly, inserting the stake into solid soil could snap the stake.

Lights that we stock

• 

  Colour changing wind chime light

  – Hanging lights; these simple lights can be hung absolutely anywhere in the garden and make fabulous decorations. We have simple bulb hangings, decorative caged bulbs or more playful bugs and flowers

• – Decorative stake lights; we have a range of different sizes of stake flower lights which make a great statement in the garden and also look lovely in the daytime.
• – String lights; great for around an eating area, a tree or in an awning these string lights are also dual powered.
• – Colour changing wind chime; again another centre piece
• – Border lights; ice orb design, mosaic border lights and simple stake
  

  Mosaic stake lights

  lights that are perfect for illuminating pathways.

• – Motion triggered lights; this can be used as a simple sensor light or as a security feature. The motion triggered sensor will turn on the light when motion is detected.