In modern times, most homeowners opt for solar lights for shades instead of the conventional lights that rely on electricity or other power sources. Solar lights are more efficient and convenient since they work on solar power. These are the best solutions to have in your home if you are looking for a way to save on energy, reduce pollution, and have lights at all times. You can depend on solar power since it is always available, unlike electricity power that can go on and off with power blackouts. This article offers you a well-detailed guide on the best solar lights for shaded areas.
Benefits of solar lights for shaded areas
Some of the major benefits of installing the solar lights for shaded areas include:
- Provide clean energy, thus reducing adverse effects to the environment
- Solar energy is sustainable and renewable
- You can install in all shaded areas you require lights
- Offer silent source of energy
- Minimized energy costs in your home
- Provides a good return on your investment in the long run because you no longer have to pay monthly electricity bills
- Helps reduce carbon footprint
- They are easy to install, unlike the traditional lights
- Long-lasting
- Flexibility and scalability
- Effectiveness and portability
Factors to consider when buying the best solar lights
Before you start shopping for the best solar lights to invest your money in, you need to consider several things. The most important thing is to ensure that your lights serve all your needs. Here are some of the factors to put in mind.
Solar lighting functions
Function is a great part when it comes to investing in solar light for shaded areas. It is always advisable to invest in solar lights that offer high-level functionality. However, note that the more functions the lights provide, the costlier they are. So, make sure you invest in solar lights with all the functions you need. Some of the functions to check for include LED lights, motion sensors, and others.
Lighting effects
The best solar lights for shaded areas should produce an ample and cozy glow. This ensures that the lights highlight the garden, driveway, or any other shaded area they are installed. You can also opt for LED solar lights that offer long-lasting brightness. The lighting effects help keep your shaded areas secured and keeping the pathways well lit. You should also focus on the lighting hue. This is necessary because solar lights nowadays use LED bulbs and produce bright white shade light. If you opt for incandescent bulbs, opt for the ones with tinted covers.
Level of brightness
Most of the solar lights for shaded areas usually use LED bulbs. The LED bulb brightness is usually measured by lumens and the factor usually varies from light to light. For instance, you get some solar lights that produce only fifteen to thirty-five lumens and provide soft warm lighting. Others usually offer higher lumen about seven hundred to eight hundred thus giving brighter lighting. If you want more security for your shaded area, you need to choose solar lights with a higher lumen. Depending on the purpose of your solar lighting, consider brightness as you shop for the best one.
Battery capacity and type
You should also consider the type of battery your preferred solar lights use. Some come with batteries that require sunlight to be charged. On the other hand, others can charge even when they are not in full sunlight. Make sure you also take note of the battery capacity. Consider solar lights with a battery capacity that can function from dusk to dawn.
Intelligent features
It is advisable to choose solar lights for shaded areas that have intelligent features. These are lights with updated processors that adapt to the environment. Look for solar lights with an intelligent microprocessor that adjusts to light output depending on the prevailing weather patterns. The more intelligent your solar lights are, the more functional they are. For instance, solar lights that adjust to light intensity depending on the environment can help save you energy and last longer. However, note that lights with intelligent features are costlier.
Cost of the solar lights
You need to have a well-planned budget to buy the right solar lights. Compare the many options provided to get the one selling at a price matching your budget. All you have to note is that the higher the quality, long-lasting and more features the solar lights have, the higher the price.
1. W-LITE LED Landscape Solar Spot Lights
This is one of the solar lights for shaded areas you can invest in your home. The lights are bright and offer the illumination you require for your outdoor area. It features an automatic on and off switch, meaning you do not have to be there to turn it on and off. The solar light is long-lasting since it is IP65 rated and made of strong material, not plastic like other similar options. It is also highly resistant to harsh weather elements such as ice, snow, and rain. The lighting is also flexible and adjustable. It is made with a separate solar panel, giving it high-level flexibility. Its head can be modified to up to 90 degrees, making it highly adjustable. The solar light is easy to mount because it comes with a bracket.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Flexible and adjustable for many practical uses | Does not have a motion sensor |
| Energy-efficient and saving | Not as bright and most other options |
| Best for backyard and driveway | |
| Weatherproof to withstand severe weather elements and other conditions |
2. Magictec Solar Spotlights
Magictec is a reliable and high-quality solar light for shaded areas like landscapes and gardens. It has a great design and can match will all forms of decoration in your outdoor space. The light features an off and on sensor making it convenient to use. You may also like this solar light because of its high-level durability. It is also waterproof and weatherproof that allows it to last for many years making it a great investment for your home. The solar light has a heatproof feature meaning you have peace of mind even when exposed to strong sunlight. Besides, it offers high-level versatility for ground installing and wall mounting. You can install it the way you want or according to your specific situation. It comes with all screws, so you do not need to do any form of wiring, and offers 180 degrees adjustment.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Heavy-duty performance and long-lasting | Some durability issues of some of its parts |
| Made of weatherproof materials | |
| Offers lovely accent light for patio or walkway | |
| Simple to install with the screws | |
| Wall or ground installation available |
3. Sunlitec Solar Lights
Sunlitec Solar Lights has features that make it functional and long-lasting. It has a unique and pleasing flame design. This design is not only unique but is also a safer option than real flames that can be hazardous. The light does not carry real fire, so no worries about starting a fire. It features LEDs that cast a soft and pleasant fire-like glow. The lighting makes your shaded part in your more relaxing to read a book or enjoy a cup of coffee. If you are looking for decorative lights for your shaded area, Sunlitec solar lights offer the best option. The lights feature optic-controlled technology, making them more elegant. The lights are also eco-friendly and do not require rechargeable batteries to operate. They leverage solar energy to charge themselves. The lights work by charging throughout the day, collecting maximum energy from the sun. In the dark or dusk, the light turns on automatically to offer soft lights for a peaceful evening.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Weather-resistant | Require more hours to charge than most other solar lights for shaded areas |
| Simple and quick installation | |
| Features an automatic off-and-on switch | |
| Can work in garden, deck, patio, or driveway | |
| Attractive flame design |
4. Maggift Solar Garden Lights
If you are looking for solar lights to beautify your shaded area, Maggift Solar Garden Lights are a great option. The solar lights offer high-level versatility and functionality. They are also more cost-effective than most of the other similar options. The lights provide warm and romantic lighting to your walkway, patio, garden, and other shaded areas. The lights are easy to use and install. To ensure high-level functionality at night, you should charge for about eight hours. Therefore, you should install them in an area where they collect maximum sunlight during the daytime. They feature weatherproof and waterproof materials, making them long-lasting. You have peace of mind knowing the solar lights do not get damaged even when exposed to harsh weather elements. The lights also feature LED lights in the pack, thus making your shaded area more inviting.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Designed with weatherproof and waterproof materials | Feature plastic parts that may be flimsy |
| No wiring required | |
| Feature eight pieces of LED lights | |
| Comes with a NI-MH battery | |
| Can operate for eight to ten hours |
5. AMIR Upgraded 2 in 1 Solar Lights
This is another great solar light for shaded areas. It comes with a wide range of innovative and cool features that make it a great investment for your home. You can install it in your patio, garden, and other outdoor spaces. You can adjust the light for up to 180 degrees. The lights are highly reliable since they are water and weatherproof. You can use it all season because it does not get damaged even when exposed to harsh weather conditions such as snow or rain. AMIR Upgraded 2 in 1 Solar Lights feature an elegant design. Its light and panel are separated, thus offering the level of flexibility you like in solar lights for shaded areas. The lights also come with two hundred lumens of output. This makes it offer enough illumination to your porch, driveway, path, and garden. Besides, it also comes with a rechargeable integrated battery that makes provide a longer operation time.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Durable and high quality | A bit dim than other options |
| Weatherproof and waterproof | |
| Easy to adjust | |
| Upgraded and durable battery | |
| Switches on and off automatically |
6. BEAU JARDIN Solar Lights
The solar lights provide heavy-duty performance and durability. It can serve all your needs for many years without worrying about frequent replacements. The light comes in eight pieces per pack. Thus, you can decorate a large area with LED lights. The solar lights are made with long-lasting material that is rust-proof. The lights also have an automatic sensor making them innovative and smart. It is made of stainless steel featuring a watertight diamond light shade making it a great option for your outdoor space. The lights last longer than those designed with plastic materials. You can also set and assemble the lights easily because there are no tools needed. During the day, they absorb sunlight through the solar panel and convert it to electricity to recharge the Ni-MH battery. The lights can turn at night automatically illuminating your shaded area.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy set up since no tools or wiring is required | Costlier than most other options |
| Environmental friendly | |
| A great option for outdoor conditions | |
| Ideal for any shaded area in your home | |
| Comes with a rechargeable battery |
7. GIGALUMI Solar Pathway Lights
The lights are easy to install and offer special lighting effects. It is designed with high-quality glass and metal materials. The solar lights are water-resistant and well-integrated with an IP44 waterproofing rating. Even when it is cloudy, snowy, and rainy, it performs optimally. The solar light charges from about five to six hours in direct sunlight and can work for eight hours at night. It comes with a high-quality 600mAh NiMH battery that offers guarantee extended illumination. Its lamp has a beautiful brown color and the light also feature a strong anti-collision resistance. The top part of the solar light is heavy because of its high-quality glass lens.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Made with IP44 waterproofing rating | A little bit heavy |
| Offer perfect lighting effect | |
| Designed with long-lasting glass and metal materials | |
| Can work up to eight hours at night | |
| Charges automatically from five to six hours in sunlight |
8. InnoGear Solar Outdoor Lights
The solar lights feature two working modes and offer a more enhanced brightness. It is a great option to have in your shaded area because you can rotate the light head to any location. You also have two different options to assemble. You can either stake into the ground or mount on walls. The lights can withstand severe weather conditions lite excess heat and strong winds. This gives you peace of mind that it cannot be damaged. With its high-quality materials and advanced technology, it has a high-level conversion rate. You can choose between high modes to low modes to extend its working period. Besides, it turns on and off automatically.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Feature two working modes | Swivel only on vertical planes |
| Provided more enhanced brightness | |
| Highly resistant to severe weather conditions | |
| Can be installed either on the wall or ground |
Frequently asked questions-solar panels for shaded areas How do the solar lights work?
The solar lights have a solar cell, LED light, Ni-Cad rechargeable battery, and photoresistor. Each of the cells usually produces energy that charges the battery during the day. Most solar lights do not produce energy during the night. Thus, the photoresistor that detects the absence of light then activates the battery that turns the solar lights on.
Why choose the solar lights for shaded areas insured of traditional lightings?
One of the major reasons to go for a solar light is easy installation. No wiring or any other power source is required. This makes it easy to place the solar lights on the ground. You also save a lot of money in terms of power bills, since the lights do not use electricity. Since the lights do not use electricity or power cords, they are safe to use in the shaded areas.
How long do the solar lights for shaded areas last?
The NI-cad rechargeable batteries can last for about two years if well maintained. You should also allow the solar lights to recharge. You can get rechargeable batteries from the manufacturer. The LED light bulbs can go for up to one hundred thousand hours each. However, you cannot replace them.
How do you take care of the solar lights?
You should clean the solar lights periodically from mud or dust. This ensures they can store energy effectively for the night. When not in use, you should switch them to an off position if you do not have the solar lights that turn on and off automatically.
Conclusion
Solar lights for shaded areas are a great investment in your home. They offer several benefits compared to other types of lights. All you need to do is to check at the different solar lights to get one that will work perfectly for your home. Check their features, advantages, and disadvantages in order to make the right selection.