Solar Lights Design

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A solar shed light is slightly different from the most common types of solar lights usually used in gardens and around the yard. It is meant to be fixed over areas around a shed, gazebo, tent, or other similar structures. Since it is expected to be positioned in areas that will not be exposed to direct sun light during the day, such as inside the shed or under the lid of the roof, these solar powered lighting units use a wire to connect a separate solar panel to the rest of the unit.

This design makes a lot more sense and allows the solar lights to be installed in dark areas where it is needed most while the solar panels that collect energy from sunlight can be outside. Being solar powered is great because it saves from using electricity that will increase your utility bills while providing the light you need at night. It might not be as bright as typically wired bulbs but are cheap enough so you can install multiple units if necessary.

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solar shed lights

1. Locate the Solar Shed Light Position

When planning to install solar shed lighting for your shed or other detached storage facility, you first want to consider where you want the light to come from. This is where you should put up the solar light so that it is easiest to turn on and off in the dark. That means it is a good idea to place the unit somewhere closer to the entrance so you do not have to go searching in the dark for the on switch. Also look for a stable, smooth and flat surface for mounting the light.

2. Determine the Solar Panel Position

Instead of jumping ahead to install the lighting fixture, simply make a physical or mental mark where you want to place the light. Then go looking for where to position the solar panel that will connect to your solar powered shed light. This is where the source of energy will come from to keep the batteries freshly charged every sunny day. It might take a little time as you may want to watch the position of the sun throughout a day before deciding. Also keep in mind the angling differences between the various seasons. Try to avoid spots where there are shadows and always look to maximize exposure to the sun.

3. Putting It All Together

Now you need to determine the distance between where the solar shed light will be fixed and where the solar panels will be positioned. You want to make sure that you get a cable long enough to reach those two points. There may be a need to drill a hole if you are passing the line through a wall to get inside. Finally, you can set everything up and securely install all the components. The brightness level often equals that of solar spot lights or task lights. Enjoy your newly lit shed powered with free electricity.

There are some differences that separate solar security lights from normal solar lighting fixtures. For one it is not meant for decoration but rather a much more functional purpose. The bulb must be brighter and produce a strong beam of light that can cast light over a wider area than your typical task lighting. It will also require more power to be effective and produce a bright enough light. This means that the battery pack will tend to be larger as well as the solar panel to keep that battery well charged.

Solar Powered Security Light and Motion Sensors

Since solar powered lighting systems are limited in the sustainable brightness they offer, the solar security light will have to rely on a motion sensor to keep potential intruders away. The motion sensor will turn on the light only when it detects movement so that you are conserving battery power when it isn’t necessary to have the solar lights on. There is another technique that actually provides a lower wattage light and then it switches to high beams when a motion is detected. This is still rare with solar security lights because of the limitation in the power of the battery.

Usually, you can adjust two settings on the motion detector to conserve battery power. The sensitivity of the motion detector’s trigger can be adjusted as well as the area that it will encompass in terms of both radius and distance. Then there is also the lighting period so shorten or lengthen the amount of time the light is on when the trigger is activated.

LED Solar Security Lighting

What makes a solar security light an economically feasible option are the advanced bulbs used. Typically designed around a 6 volt halogen bulb, new models are incorporating the use of a super bright LED bulb instead. These LEDs give off less heat and thus conserve energy while lasting a very long time. It isn’t unusual for the LED lamp to outlive the life of your solar security lighting system because they are designed to burn for as many as 100,000 hours. This means you may never have to change the LED lamp throughout the life of the security system.

Installing and Positioning Your Solar Security Light

It is important that you place the solar panel in a position or area that receives as much direct exposure to sun light as possible. There is a lot to be said about planning the install before you actually purchase the equipment because there are slight differences in models that your particular installation might benefit from. If there is little or no direct sunlight where you want the LED solar security light installed then it makes sense to find a product that comes with an extended cable between the solar panel and the light itself. This will allow you to position the solar panel on the roof for example while running the line to the rest of the unit.