DIY: Solar Landscape Lights
Solar landscape lights are better for your budget and easy to install because of their mobility. Not only will solar lights add interesting lighting accents to your landscape, but they will also generate light without putting a strain on your electric bill. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Select solar landscape lights based on the location where you're planning to install them. There are two main types of solar landscape lights -- self-contained lights that each has a solar cell, which are best for sunny areas in your yard, and lights that are powered by a separate solar cell panel, which are best for shady areas. When you're making this decision, consider any shade in the area from buildings, landscape structures, trees, shrubs and plants.
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Design the placement of your solar landscape lights. Solar landscape lights can help to light driveways, walkways or stairs, or you can use the lights to accent landscape features such as flower beds, gardens or ponds. Landscape lights can also provide lighting for outdoor recreation areas such as swimming pools and patios.
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Install the solar landscape lights according to the manufacturer's instructions. Most smaller landscape lights are mounted on ground stakes that you simply push into the soil. If you're installing solar landscape lights that operate via a separate solar cell panel, install the panel in a spot that receives plenty of sunlight all day long.
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Place the solar landscape lights as desired, and then adjust the lights after observing them at night when the solar cells are fully charged to achieve the lighting scheme you want. If you're designing a lighting accent for a flower bed, garden or large tree, try to space the lights evenly. If you're lighting a walkway or driveway, stagger the lights so that they aren't directly across from each other on either side of the path.
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Tips & Warnings
In general, solar landscape lights look best when you don't arrange them in straight lines. Try a staggered, rounded or other type of arrangement for the best lighting effects. Because you don't have to bury any electrical wires for solar lights, you can move and adjust the lights more easily.
Don't ignore the directions that came with your solar landscape lights. Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully and follow the directions exactly for installing, operating and maintaining the solar landscape lights. Also, check with the manufacturer to find out whether you can buy replacement batteries, bulbs and other parts, because some manufacturers don't sell replacement parts for some landscape light models.
Don't hammer the solar landscape lights into the ground, unless the instructions that came with the lights tell you to do so. Most self-contained solar landscape lights have their solar cells on the top, so hammering will damage the cells.
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