Solar Lighting

Solar Lighting: A Guide to Cable-Free Outdoor Light

Solar fittings are the answer where no cable can be run: a garden path, a field entrance, a warehouse facade, a building site. They store the sun during the day and use it in the evening. Three things decide the right choice: panel output, battery capacity and the hours of sun the spot receives. Our collection holds 28 products.

1. How Much Sun the Position Gets

A solar fitting must be installed where its panel is not in shade through the day. The shadow of a tree, an eave or the building next door cuts the panel's yield for hours at a time. On models with a separate cabled panel you can put the fitting in the shade and the panel in the sun — in a narrow garden that flexibility is decisive.

2. Output and Hours of Light

The most common class in our catalogue is 30 W; for wide areas and pole applications there are 60 W, 100 W, 120 W, 200 W and 300 W options. The hours of light stated by the manufacturer assume a full charge and clear weather. In winter, when the day shortens, and under overcast skies, that time is shorter; this is not a fault but the nature of the system.

3. Battery and Life

The battery's capacity decides whether the fitting can last the whole night. Models with a lithium battery are more stable in the cold. Having a model whose battery can be replaced extends the life of the product by several years — ask about this point before you buy.

4. Sensor and Operating Modes

Most solar fittings have three modes: continuous low light, full output on detected motion, or a combination of the two. The mode that rises to full output on motion uses the battery most efficiently and is also the most effective for security.

Light Colour

The tone measured across the solar products in our catalogue is predominantly 6500K cool white. That tone is preferred for security and visibility; where the planting is meant to look soft, warmer-toned garden lighting products are more suitable.

Budget

Our 18 products with a published price run from 14 EUR to 160 EUR, with a median of 73 EUR. High-output pole and floodlight types sit at the upper end.