Outdoor Solar Lights

To see what is feasible, it helps to know where you live.

But I will assume you live in a relatively sunny place, and that you have grid power available, as suggested by your list of appliances.

I suggest staying tied to the grid, and supplementing your power by solar. The grid will also have the robustness to power your stove for the short times it is on, too. With 3 kW of solar panels, we were able to offset all but the mandatory minimum charge from the power company over the course of a year, and that included having an electric stove and oven.

If you must be disconnected from the grid, I’d suggest going with a solar oven for your cooking, or propane, or wood burning. Otherwise, your battery bank will be huge. You can find energy-efficient versions of the other appliances you list, and it would be better to invest in those than in a larger solar system.

Try looking in your phone book under "solar," for professional installers. They will come by and do a free analysis on your house, and give a no-obligation quote.

I want to do some uplighting and spotlighting some trees and the facade of my house. I would rather avoid the hassle of wiring,but I am concerned about compromising the whole idea if the solars don’t get enough sun to light up my life. Could you please suggest some brands that are top of the line in both solar and low voltage types? I would very much appreciate any help you could share.Thanks.

I don’t know the name brand, but I got a set of 4 solar lights last year at Walmart for $30 that work great. They throw pretty good light on the walkway but I don’t know how well solar spotlights will work.

So my outdoor solar lights take AAA batteries and well so do my cable remotes. So technically couldn’t I use my solar lights to charge my remote controls?

Actually you could, but it’s too much hassle to bother. The rechargeable batteries don’t hold a charge very long (a week or two at best maybe). The rechargeables also have a slightly lower voltage to start off with even when they are charged. So the answer is YES, but why bother. Use the alkalines in the remote.

So my outdoor solar lights take AAA batteries and well so do my cable remotes. So technically couldn’t I use my solar lights to charge my remote controls?

Actually you could, but it’s too much hassle to bother. The rechargeable batteries don’t hold a charge very long (a week or two at best maybe). The rechargeables also have a slightly lower voltage to start off with even when they are charged. So the answer is YES, but why bother. Use the alkalines in the remote.

Hi ALL,
Shinesolar factory are a proffetional solar lights factory.
We produce Solar garden lights,solar streetlights,solar traffic lights etc .

We want to know how to find more customers for solar lights in USA?
our website is www.shinesolar.net

Well, its a bit of a strange approach, but maybe use google maps to look for houses with gardens that look like they’re well looked after, they’re the people who are most likely to be interested right?.

Just make a list of houses using google maps ariel view and send out leaflets or send someone to their doors.

Trying to liven up the garden and remain eco-aware to a degree. Most of the solar things I have tried have been useless so looking for some advice from you guys.

Go with the above answer,also i got beautiful solar string lights suitable for draping over a high bush or tree. I hung mine over my pampas and the result was beautiful at night. So good was it that i purchased another set for this year. I got these from the catalogue Betterware, but just recently i saw them in some of the chain store gardening sections. Well worth the money. (10 pounds sterling).

Someone was nice enough to give me their solar lights because they were moving,but they dont have the pointer down the bottom that makes them go into the ground easily. I put some in but they are very loose and keep falling

Even with "the pointer down the bottom " on the landscaping lights, I use a Bulb Planter Bit/drill attachment, that I picked up at a store that sell Tulip bulbs. When placed in your cordless drill you can drill a perfect hole in the ground every time.

My solar light batteries wore out and I replaced them with regular alkaline batteries and the lights are "lit" at night. Is it okay or should I get solar batteries?

Alkalines are generally not rechargable, so after a few nights, they will be dead. Shortly thereafter, they may leak.

The best thing to get is batteries specifically designed for your solar lights. Before, this meant NiCd batteries designed to withstand high temperature. Newer solar lights may have a charging circuit that can handle NiMH. But if you see a NiCd battery in there now, that’s a clue that the charger is just a simple trickle charger, and will not charge NiMH well.

My solar light batteries wore out and I replaced them with regular alkaline batteries and the lights are "lit" at night. Is it okay or should I get solar batteries?

Alkalines are generally not rechargable, so after a few nights, they will be dead. Shortly thereafter, they may leak.

The best thing to get is batteries specifically designed for your solar lights. Before, this meant NiCd batteries designed to withstand high temperature. Newer solar lights may have a charging circuit that can handle NiMH. But if you see a NiCd battery in there now, that’s a clue that the charger is just a simple trickle charger, and will not charge NiMH well.

This is for outdoor advertising billboards. They are also known as lightboxes.

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