How to Use Solar Lights to Light Your Backyard
The use of solar technology has come a long way and now has a broad range of applications for residential use. You can now create a beautiful party atmosphere in your backyard or convert a dark corner of your property to a secure haven with the energy- and cost-efficient installation of a few solar lights. These simple devices require no wiring--only simple mounting on a 4-by-4 post or being staked into the ground. Some of the newest solar lights even have remote control on-off switches and the standard dusk till dawn photo-eye automatic settings. Some of the new solar lights use LED technology that creates very bright light that last for up to 10 hours on a single charge from the solar photovoltaic cells. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Solar lights as required for your application:
- Solar flood lights
- Solar pathway lights
- Solar post-mounted lights
Instructions
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Create a quick sketch of your backyard or the area that you are trying to light up. Make this a scaled drawing by making ¼ inch equal to one foot so you can more accurately plan the placement of the lights.
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Identify the dark areas on your sketch and then place an "X" on the drawing to show where you will install the solar lights.
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Determine which solar lights will work best for your application. Ground-level lights can light a pathway, while lights that mount on top of 4-by-4 wood posts and also wall-mounted spotlights provide bright overhead lighting. Using a combination of all these devices works best.
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Purchase and install the solar lights according to your plan by following the manufacturer's installation instructions for each separate solar light. Most lights will come with whatever stakes or mounting brackets are necessary. Earthtech Products sells a wide variety of solar-powered lights made specifically for gardens and landscaping, as does Overstock.com, SolarLightStore.com, and most retailers.
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Tips & Warnings
Follow the manufacturer's recommended installation instructions.
Purchase solar lights with an on-off switch.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit suspended lights image by Dumitrescu Ciprian from Fotolia.com
