Archive for January, 2010
January 31st, 2010 | 
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Solar powered lights for home gardens have come along way. They used to be unreliable because they broke down easily and only turned on for a few hours before needing to recharge. But in the past few years, the technology behind solar powered lights has improved greatly and solar powered lights has become one of the best way to decorate the exterior of homes. Great thing is they also save money at the same time. There is nothing more mesmerizing than colorful display of lights on a house in the dark of night.
Still, when in the market for solar powered garden lights, it is best to first understand how they work. First of all, they are not like the familiar electric lights we use in our kitchen. solar power lights do not use electricity or battery. So they attract many homeowners who want to be decorative and, at the same time, save money. But, one thing to keep in mind is that they rely on optimum placement in the garden to work properly.
Solar powered outdoor lights use solar panels to absorb sunlight in the daytime. The panels are connected to solar cells that turn the sunlight into energy which is then stored in a battery. At night, the battery powers the bulb until energy is used up. The cycle repeats the next day so that light is available at night. The great advantage of a solar powered garden light is that it never needs any electricity.
Using solar powered lighting is simple, but there are a few small pointers to understand. For example, in order to receive full performance, there must enough exposure to direct sunlight in order to charge the battery. Now, some solar powered garden lights can recharge using any daylight including during cloudy days. But having direct sunlight is the best source. This means that in most places of the world, a solar powered garden light will perform better during summer than in the winter. And that’s just normal.
Also, by it’s nature, a solar power bulb is not as powerful as a typical 60 watt bulb. So lighting may seem dim when compared to traditional light. But it’s enough for some purpose, such as pathway or driveway lighting and evening garden decor. It is best to use as many solar lights as possible since these do not use electricity. The more lights, the better. Additionally, a solar powered LED light might be a better pick than non-LED light because it is brighter.
To summarize, solar powered lights are fantastic for low light duties such as pathway lighting, accenting garden floral arrangements, or mood lighting. They don’t use electricity and can save money in the long term. If the need for light is for reading or other activities requiring brightness, then it’s better to use the traditional light bulbs.
J J Jameson
http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/the-reality-of-installing-solar-powered-garden-lights-720623.html
Our Solar Charged Address Light will light up your home address! From now on your guests will find your address easily with a bright illuminated address number! It will stay bright up to 15 hours per night. It charges by day and automatically turns on at night. No wiring needed. Comes with hardware and instructions for ground and wall installation. 15 x 2 x 6″ with 3″ Numbers Powered by the sun No wiring needed Auto dusk to dawn operation Super durable weather resistant Easy installation All hardware included Up to 15 hours run time with a one day solar charge
we are in the middle of building our stables. i will have no power unless i get a generator. i was looking at solar light. i haven’t used them before. i wondered if anyone else had? are they any good?
and it is solar lights i am asking about, not solar panels.
Layla i have asked on horses as i want to know how good they are in a stable.
not how they work.
th
Solar Light 9sqm 10 LEDs Stable/Feed Store/Shed
£25.99
is what i am looking at…
thinking of getting my friend one who has same problem. QVC has a good double light for £39, check it out on qvc.co.uk, if you buy now, can return up and till 25th January if you find it doesnt work for you, you do have to pay the postage for returned items. hope that helps
Why is it that something that comes free from the sun costs so much to collect? [http://www.chinavasion.com/e277 ]
Patio lights and landscape lights spend all their time outdoors in all kinds of weather yet people seem to insist on burying wires and carrying out major DIY projects when several solar powered lights should do the same job just as well for a whole lot less effort.
The makers of these solar powered outdoor lights have managed to cram a whole lot into a fairly, light inexpensive and good looking package. Especially when you consider that most solar outdoor lighting pumps out harsh white lights and these solar garden lights will throw out a nice amber glow. Flick it onto sensor or permanent low voltage lighting for security lighting in the garden.
There are few better wholesale solar panel deals than this package. Check it out now at [ http://www.chinavasion.com/e277 ] or see more wholesale solar outoor lighting at [ http://www.chinavasion.com/index.php/cName/solar-products/ ].
Duration : 0:1:27
Posted in solar powered lighting | 
Tags: exterior+lighting, outdoor+lighting, patio+lights, security+lighting, Solar+panel, solar+powered, wholesale | 
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Solar powered landscape lighting is becoming very popular these days and was even featured on Good Morning America, August 28, 2008. There is really no reason to use traditional wired landscape lighting unless there are areas of the garden that just do not get enough sunlight. Solar lighting is powered by the sun and must have some sunlight in order to operate properly. Five hours of sunlight is usually enough to keep the battery charged and ready for operation come nightfall. The lights use a photoelectric cell that turns them on at dusk and off in the morning.
Solar Lights are made from a variety of materials, such as plastic, metal or stainless steel. The lighting mechanism is almost always LED lights. LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) are quite bright, draw very little current and last a very long time, typically up to 50,000 hours. There is a battery to store the power, usually Lithium Ion or more commonly Nickel Metal Hydride. These batteries last about 2 years before they have to be replaced. The very inexpensive plastic lights do not have replaceable batteries, something to consider. There is a small solar panel on top of the light fixture to generate power during the daylight hours to keep the battery charged, so the light will function at night. These lights are very safe and quite easy to install. Just find a location that gets ample sunlight, use the ground mount stake and drive it into the ground. Be careful not to hit the stake with a hammer if it is made of plastic, it may be damaged. Some lights can even be mounted on walls, posts or fences and often come with all of the mounting hardware necessary.
There are a wide variety of lights to choose from as well as a variety of applications. Solar walkway lights, light up paths or walkways. Solar spotlights light up trees and other outdoor features. Solar Shed lights light up remote storage sheds with easy installation and minimal wiring. Solar address lights are self explanatory and there are even patio umbrellas with solar lights for that dinner party on the deck after sunset. The lights usually come in sets but the number of lights in a set varies. Some have two per set; some have four and some six. Prices seem to vary considerably with some sets costing $30 to $40 and others closer to $100. The difference in cost is reflected by the quality and brightness of the lights, how long they will last and styling.
So if you are considering installing solar powered landscape lighting you might want to ask yourself a couple of questions first. Is there enough sunlight to keep the lights powered? What kind of application will they be used for? What kind of styling do I like? Am I looking for lights that will last a long time or do I just need them to last a little while? How and where will I mount the light and is all of the mounting hardware included? There are prices, styles and types for any budget or taste. Solar outdoor lighting is a great way to improve the look of your home and to improve the outdoor safety of your home. They are very easy to install and on top of every thing else, they will lower your energy costs.
Bob Gambrell
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/solar-powered-landscape-lighting-672508.html
Solar lighting for all structures. This Solar Shed Light has 24 LED bright lights and is perfect for any small room or structure around the yard. The GS-16L can be used in any size shed, barn, greenhouse, boathouse, boat cabin, and a small storage room on the edge of a house. It is maintenance free with no electrical wiring needed. The low voltage it uses provides safe use and installation. The solar panel is adjustable with an attached compass. The battery is long lasting, more than enough charge for the amount of time the light is needed in those structures. Light burns up to 2 Hours with full charge Built in night Light to find switch easily Super efficient monocrystal Solar panel Power of solar panel: 1.5 Watt at full sun Light source: 24 Super bright LEDs Type of battery: 4xAA 1.2V 1.200mA rechargeable battery
Although they haven’t been stolen YET, I expect my solar power lights to get stolen sooner or later. I was wondering if you know a good way to prevent them from getting stolen (other than moving them somewhere else or not putting them out at all)?. Oh, and i would not like to make a cement foundation for them or buy different ones -lol. Any help will be greatly appreciated 
oh, and please make the answers reasonable, don’t be crazy.
Drill a hole through the base of each one, just below ground level, and string a plastic-jacketed steel cable through them all; then bury the cable in a shallow trench between the lights.
In the Herefordshire countryside a couple use solar panels at home to heat water and generate electricity and help them to lead the good life.
Duration : 0:5:57
Posted in solar power lights |
Tags: carbon, eco, electricity, emmissions, energy, environmental, footprint, green, home, POWER, renewable, SOLAR, sustainable |
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Portable solar energy power stations may sound, to some, like a dream. They can think of many places where portable solar would be useful, such as the RV they love to take camping, or the boat they use for long fishing trips. They cannot imagine, though, that portable solar energy power stations actually do exist.
Portable solar energy power stations have many practical uses, which we will discuss later, but what is portable solar power?
Description of Portable Solar Power
Portable solar power is energy generated from sunlight, the generator being of a size and form that can be moved readily from place to place.
Most portable solar power units use photovoltaic panels (PV panels) in one way or another. Some are amazingly small, and can be carried in a pocket, while others must be moved on a flat-bed trailer or truck.
Examples of Portable Solar Power
You may already be using portable solar power without realizing it. The following are examples of different sizes and styles of portable solar power.
1. Pocket calculators have been using portable solar power for years. Expose the calculator to sunlight, and it stores solar power for use. You can then carry this solar power into a field or up a mountain track.
2. Garden lights, or lights around a swimming pool now use portable solar power. If you want to rearrange your lights, or you decide to carry one as a flashlight, the portable solar power goes with you.
3. A multipurpose portable solar power unit is the fold-out solar panel that can be carried in a case the size of your day planner. Wherever you take it, you can open the panel to charge your cell phone battery, GPS, or other similar “gadget” you carry.
4. “Powerfilm” products are paper-thin PV panels – further examples of portable solar power. These products can be easily carried to charge almost all Lithium, NiCad or NiMH batteries. You can recharge batteries for boom boxes at the beach or while camping. You can recharge your digital camera or camcorder while on a hike. As long as you have sunlight, you have portable solar power.
5. Flexible PV panels, rugged and durable, give portable solar power for hikers and campers. This portable solar power can be rolled up like a sleeping bag, and then set up anywhere. You can drop it, step on it, dampen it while crossing a stream – and it will still give you power.
6. Larger portable solar energy power stations can consist of one or more photovoltaic panels (PV panels), simple wiring for the input jack, and a battery – sometimes referred to as a power pack. A commercially-produced portable solar power unit like this may also include a small fluorescent light, and a connection to your vehicle’s cigarette lighter plug.
Examples of Innovative Portable Solar Power
Portable solar energy can, as we said, be carried with you. It can provide electrical energy when you travel to a remote third world village on business. It can provide military units with necessary electrical energy while they are on the move. It can power a small heater in a winter camping tent, or provide a reading light for campers. It is valuable and convenient.
As our demand for that value and convenience increases, portable solar power is becoming more innovative. Portable solar power is being added to clothing and backpacks. It is being added to handbags. You need never worry about cell phones, laptops or other electronics going dead again. Portable solar power is yours to use, anywhere, free.
Did you know about these products? Some are experimental, but others area on the market.
1. If you want “lady-like” portable solar power, you might choose the “Power Purse” as a lovely accessory. This purse is more than an accessory, though. It can power up small electronics. Designed by Joe Hynek in a handbag competition, this little black bag is covered with laminated portable solar power panels. It has a short plastic handle, and can easily be carried anywhere. Imagine the possibilities.
2. But a purse is not always appropriate. If you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, in a field, you might be happy to have the “Juice Bag” backpack on your shoulders. A Juice Bag is a worldwide patented portable solar power backpack. Flexible ballistic nylon solar panels make it lighter than solar bags with stiff glass solar panels. Take off your Juice Bag when you need to recharge items such as cameras, cell phones, or GPS units. It generates electricity in both direct and indirect sunlight.
3. Portable solar power is also available in a cozy jacket with multiple pockets. Hikers, military personnel, and travelers can fill the pockets with cell phone, GPS, laptop, camera, and other electronic devices. Then slip the 3 ounce portable solar power panel into a special holder on the back of the jacket, and you can generate energy for your electronics.
Portable solar energy power stations make use of these ideas and more. They may be large enough to generate sufficient electrical power for a small village, or small enough to be carried by a child. Whichever it is, portable solar power is definitely “on the go” in many places and in many ways.
Anna Hart
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/portable-solar-energy-power-stations-134223.html
Malibus new Solar Powered Metal Mission Lights are charged by the sun all day, and then turn on automatically at night with a patented light sensing technology to instantly beautify any outdoor landscaping. The Solar Powered Metal Mission Lights requires no wiring, which makes installation simple. Additionally, solar products cost nothing in electricity and are easy to maintain. Features Pro-grade cast aluminum construction Ultra Bright white L.E.D. Clear / faceted Impact resistant globe Recharges by sunlight; no electricity costs Lasts up to 10 hours with full charge (typical life will depend on sunlight and time of year) Metal & Black finish AA rechargeable NiCad batteries included Dimensions: 5.25″W x 28″H