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 * HOME
 * ABOUT
 * BUYING GUIDES
 * SOLAR LIGHT ADVICE
   * Bulbs
   * Fixtures
   * Solar Panels
   * Motion Sensors
   * Batteries
   * Casings
   * Dimmers
 * LIGHTING SCHOOL
 * SOLAR PANEL TIPS
 * BLOG

WHAT INFORMATION ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? (click on the image to go the section)

SOLAR PANELS SOLAR FLOOD LIGHTS MOTION SENSOR LIGHTS OUTDOOR FLOOD LIGHTS FLOOD
LIGHT BULBS SOLAR LIGHT BATTERIES


BUYING GUIDES



Solar Flood Lights

Solar Lights

Battery-Powered LED Lights


LED Shop Lights

LED Ring Lights

Amber LED Light Bars


Solar Deck Lights

Solar Path Lights

Solar Spot Lights


Solar Flagpole Lights

LED Interior Lights

Solar Rope Lights



SOLAR PANELS AND LIGHTING

By now the knowledge of why it is more beneficial to use renewable energy
instead of utilizing non-renewable resources has become quite wide-spread yet
not many people are really aware of the real extent of this technology has
brought along. Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular among households
all over the world as they can be used to generate electricity, heat and
lighting. This section will briefly guide you through all the basic information
you should know about solar panels and their possibilities in lighting.

What is solar energy?How solar panels work? Solar lighting.


WHAT IS SOLAR ENERGY?

Putting it in very simplified terms, solar energy is energy that is produced by
the sun or to be more precise – from the solar radiation. Since the majority of
the world’s electric power is still being produced by coal which is
non-renewable natural resource (it is limited), the shift from using energy
produced by big companies to utilizing energy produced by solar panels is having
a serious impact on the development of the industry.



The usage of solar energy is experiencing rapid growth. In 2015 the electric
production of solar power had increased by 33% percent compared to the previous
year. Moreover, different government incentives are being implemented to
motivate households and business owners to invest in solar panels and hence
there is very little chance that this growth will be interrupted. Nevertheless,
the overall share of solar energy in the total production of electricity is
still quite low (less than 2%), which means that there is still plenty of space
for potential and new solutions to be found in this sphere.


HOW DO SOLAR PANELS WORK?

Solar panels contain solar cells or photovoltaics that are able to collect the
solar power and turn it into electric energy. Individual solar cells themselves
are not too large in their size but they can be combined together to form solar
modules or even bigger solar panel systems. That is why it is possible for
different technologies of different sizes and capacities to be run by solar
energy. There are three most common solar panel types available:



 * Monocrystalline Silicon. These solar cells are also known as
   single-crystalline silicon and they contain high-purity silicon. Compared to
   other types of cells, monocrystalline silicon has the highest efficiency rate
   (15-20%) and the longest life expectancy. However, this is also the most
   expensive of all the options.
 * Polycrystalline Silicon. Compared to monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline
   panels are simpler and waste less material in production than monocrystalline
   solar panels, they also have a lower efficiency rate (13-16%) and hence they
   cost less.
 * Thin-film solar cells. These cells contain various photovoltaic materials
   such as amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium
   selenide and they tend to be one of the TOP choices among solar-panel owners.
   There are several reasons for this but the main advantage is that his
   technology is easy to be produced on mass scales. Lower costs of production
   makes the product more available for mass consumption for households of
   various income. Also, they are more aesthetically pleasing than silicon
   panels and easier to be installed. However, thin-film solar panels are less
   efficient (approx. 10% efficiency) than silicon-based solar panels.

Solar panels can be used in various applications depending on the amount of the
energy you want to/ are able to collect as well as depending on the purpose of
their usage. The main uses are:

 * to produce electric energy for buildings;
 * to produce heating;
 * to produce lighting;
 * to use them in different technologies that operate with solar batteries
   (wrist-watch, calculators, chargers, etc.).


SOLAR LIGHTING.



The typical solar lighting system is a lot smaller than the rooftop solar
modules meant to produce a greater amount of power yet the principle remains
very similar. The collected energy is being stored in a rechargeable gel cell
battery which with the help of intelligent control can use this energy to turn
on the LED lights during the evening. Mainly solar lighting is being used to
provide energy for outdoor lights: lanterns, lamp-posts, pathway lighting,
streetlight, flood lights, etc. Solar lighting technologies are very easy to be
maintained and now they come in various designs, styles, and sizes extending the
possibilities of solar lighting and making solar lighting products more
attractive to individual consumers.


SOLAR FLOOD LIGHTS

Flood lights are very useful technology to be included in the exterior
environment of a private property or even larger areas such as stadiums and
parking lots. Also, the functional possibilities of flood lights are very
diverse as they serve various purposes: from providing aesthetical effects to
increasing security of a building or area. The technology of flood lights is
constantly being improved and the latest versions include solar flood lights
i.e. flood lights that utilize solar energy. For several years, solar flood
lights have become available in different designs, thus increasing the
possibilities and efficiency of solar powered flood lights.

What are flood lights?What are solar flood lights?Solar flood light parts.Solar
flood light usage.Solar VS Wired lights.Solar flood light types.


WHAT ARE FLOOD LIGHTS?

Flood lights are lighting fixtures that are able to illuminate different
large-scale outdoor objects and areas such as buildings, stadiums, stages,
pools, etc. While flood lights can be used both for indoor and outdoor objects,
due to their specifics and unique functions they are mainly used outdoors.



The main difference between flood lights and regular lights is that flood lights
produce wide-beam light with comparatively high intensity thus being able to
provide the illumination of much wider areas both indoor and outdoor. Since in
most cases outdoor flood lights are being exposed to different harsh weather
conditions such as wind, rain and snow potentially damaging the lamps, they have
fixtures that are typically made from durable metal casing that protects the
lamps and ensure their endurance. Nevertheless, if being used often, they do
require occasional maintenance and check-up. As for the bulbs being used inside
these fixtures, the most common bulb types used in flood lights typically are
LED, HID and halogen.


WHAT ARE SOLAR FLOOD LIGHTS?



As mentioned before, solar lighting technologies have been made compatible with
flood lights, producing a new type of flood lighting that is more
environmentally friendly and will cost you less throughout the years. Visually
solar flood lighting do not differ much from common flood lights: they look
quite the same and perform the same functions (i.e. illuminate large areas) yet
the principles of how each type of lighting is able to produce light slightly
differ.

Solar flood lights have solar panels attached to them and instead of being wired
to the grid the lights are being turned on by the solar power which has been
collected with the help of the panel and stored in the battery during the
daytime.


SOLAR-POWERED FLOOD LIGHT PARTS.



While manufacturers of solar flood lights are different and they provide
products that vary in their prices and features, the majority of solar flood
lights are based on similar principles and they consist of the following parts:

 * Solar panel. This is the panel which is directly connected with the light
   fixture and will collect the solar energy. It is advised that you mount the
   solar panel in an area that receives at least 8 hours of sunlight per day.
   Usually, the panel is attached to a stand which allows you to adjust the
   angle of the panel for better exposure to the sunlight.
 * Light fixture. Light fixture is the part of the lamp that contains the casing
   and the bulb itself. This part also can be tilted up and down. Mainly you
   will find LED lamps being installed in solar flood lights as LED solar flood
   lighting is the most efficient of all the options available.
 * Light fixture wiring (power cable). A cable that connects the panel with the
   lighting fixture.
 * Main battery unit. The battery with the charging circuit is typically
   attached under the lighting fixture. This is the part which stores the
   converted solar energy and will power your solar flood light. Generally,
   batteries in solar flood lights have to be changed approximately once every
   two years.

Additional features:

 * Built-in motion sensor. A sensor that can detect motion and will turn on the
   flood light only when a movement has been detected within a given range.
   Motion sensors are used both for security reasons as well as to save the
   energy and use it only when it is necessary.
 * Built-in dusk-to-dawn sensor. This sensor is typically used for objects that
   require illumination during the evenings and night hours. As the name already
   indicates, the dusk-to-dawn sensor detects the amount of light and turns the
   food light on only in the dusk to provide light during the night and turns it
   off when the sun is rising again in the morning.


SOLAR FLOOD LIGHT USAGE.



The specifics of solar flood lights do not decrease their functional
possibilities of application. There are many ways of solar flood light usage and
they can be divided into two categories: either in accordance with the location
or in accordance with the functional purposes.

Solar flood light usage based on the location:

 * Illumination in outdoor areas. As mentioned before, flood lights are mainly
   used in outdoor areas as there are numerous target applications for them.
   Outdoor solar flood lighting is typically mounted to illuminate such objects
   as homes, backyards, stadiums, arenas, sports fields, commercial buildings,
   parking lots and so on.
 * Illumination in indoor areas. While this way of application is less common
   due to the more complex connector requirements, it is still possible to use
   solar flood lights in indoor spaces such as theaters and indoor arenas as
   well.

Solar flood light usage based on the functional purposes:

 * Aesthetic functions. Sometimes we illuminate objects because we want them to
   be seen during the night for security reasons but sometimes it is nice to
   illuminate objects to improve the ambiance during the evening hours. Do you
   have a gorgeous fountain in your yard or a lovely, old tree stretching
   majestically in front of your house? Solar flood lights can be neatly used to
   expose these objects and it will surely make the atmosphere of your backyard
   more pleasing.
 * Security functions. Installation of solar flood lights as a security tool is
   nothing new. While people are still debating whether illuminating your house
   and yard actually will deter burglars from breaking into it (there are no
   certain statistics on it and the few research that has been conducted reveals
   with very contradictory results), many house-owners believe that if their
   home will be exposed during the darkest hours, it has less likely chance to
   be robbed since the neighbors could be able to notice strange movements
   around the house and motion sensors can trigger light and scare-off the
   burglars making them leave your property.
 * Ensuring light in areas without permanent electricity. In many distant areas
   such as deserts and parts where it is difficult to ensure a permanent supply
   of electricity, solar flood lights can surely help a lot in providing the
   minimum necessary amount of electric lighting. In cases like these the
   question is not anymore about saving the money on consuming less electrical
   energy, but more about having an efficient solution in parts where
   electricity is being constantly interrupted by natural forces or where simply
   there is no external power supply ensured. Thus it also becomes a very good
   solution for different rural lodges and eco-farms.


SOLAR-POWERED FLOOD LIGHTS VS. WIRED FLOOD LIGHTS.

If you have read the article this far, there probably is one great question
circling your mind: why should I choose solar flood lights over the good, old
wired flood lights? To disburden you from this big rumination, a comparison of
each type of flood light advantages and disadvantages is being listed below.



WIRED FLOOD LIGHTS.

Advantages:

 * Wired flood lights work on more power and thus they can produce light of much
   higher intensity. The light beam can be produced brighter according to the
   individual needs, circumstances, and situations.

Disadvantages:

 * Wired flood lights have limited areas where the light can be installed. You
   will always need a permanent electric source nearby and this definitely is a
   problem for remote areas without permanent electric supply.
 * Compared to solar flood lights, wired flood lights are more difficult to
   install and they contain more wiring and cables decreasing the aesthetic
   value of the lighting as well as limiting your possibilities to install the
   lights without a help of a technician.
 * Wired flood lights consume more energy than solar flood lights and this will
   surely be reflected in your monthly electricity bill as well. Unless you
   invest more in additional energy-saving features such as special sensors,
   expect your bills to increase quite significantly after using your wired
   flood lights for the first time. Nevertheless, usage of energy-efficient
   light bulbs e.g. LEDs can make a great difference as well.

SOLAR FLOOD LIGHTS.

Advantages:

 * Solar-powered flood lights can be installed more easily and it takes less
   time to do it. The instructions are very easy and it does not take much
   knowledge or technical skill to perform the mounting and installation
   process.
 * If you want to move your solar flood lights elsewhere, the reinstallation of
   the lights is also a lot quicker than in the case of wired flood lights.
 * The possibilities location-wise are nearly limitless. Solar flood lights can
   be installed almost anywhere with only one condition: they have to be placed
   where the panels would be exposed to the sunlight at least a few hours per
   day.
 * Solar flood lights are cheap to run. While solar panels still are quite
   costly, installing
   solar flood lights surely will pay off in a while. If you will switch from
   your wired flood lights to solar powered flood lights you will most certainly
   see a great difference between your current and previous monthly electricity
   bills.
 * Solar flood lights are environmentally friendly technology. Exhaustion of
   non-renewable resources is a great problem and one of the major causes of
   environmental crisis many countries are experiencing. Using less of
   non-renewable resources and shifting towards renewable energy is one of the
   ways how we can try to slow down the pollution and save the resources for the
   future generations.

Disadvantages:

 * Solar flood lights are more expensive than wired flood lights. As mentioned,
   solar flood lights are cheaper in the long-term span but you will need to
   spend more to make that first investment and buy a solar flood lighting
   fixture.
 * Solar flood lights require more maintenance. Since solar flood lights contain
   many parts that require frequent maintenance (solar panel) and replacement
   (battery), this simply is an extra effort that solar flood light owners have
   to make. Also, keep in mind that the popularity of solar panels has been
   noticed by thieves as well and they have the knowledge of how to quickly
   remove and purloin the solar panels to sell them in the black market. That’s
   why think about some additional security measures if you have numerous
   valuable flood light solar panels located around your property.


SOLAR FLOOD LIGHT TYPES.

Similarly, as there are numerous ways of using solar flood lights, they can also
be divided into three main types by their functionality and application:



 * Security (motion activated) solar flood lights. These lights are used for
   security purposes and they trigger the lighting system only when a movement
   has been detected within a given range (depends on the specifics of the
   sensor). Moreover, if you are using surveillance cameras then it is very
   advised to use them in combination with security flood lights since night
   vision surveillance cameras are still very expensive;
 * Landscape solar flood lights. Landscape floodlights serve purely aesthetical
   functions as they are used to illuminate objects on a ground level and make
   them look nicer in the dark.
 * Work flood lights. Since their main aim is to provide light in different
   outdoor areas where work is being performed e.g. construction fields, work
   lights are more endurable and their fixtures are more robust usually
   including adjustable tripod-style stand. These lights are also usually being
   transported a lot and hence it is a great advantage to use solar-powered
   flood lights which can be installed and reinstalled much easier than wired
   flood lights.


SOLAR MOTION SENSOR LIGHTS

Flood lights have become a casual part of the exterior of every larger home. You
can see them placed in many backyards, stadiums, parking lots, arenas, and
outdoor stages as well. Generally speaking, there is no other light that would
serve the purpose of illuminating large areas and objects better than flood
lights. They are very handy as they serve both aesthetical and security
functions.

Moreover, the newest generation flood lights can be complemented with different
additional features that make them more energy efficient and increase the
possibilities of their usage. One of such feature is motion sensors that control
when the light is being turned on and off by detecting movements. Combining
motion sensor flood lights with solar panels to use solar energy instead of
electricity to run the light is also nothing revolutionary and it doubles the
energy efficiency of the lighting. Further on you will be briefly introduced
with the specifics of solar motion sensor flood lights, explaining why this
happens to be one of the best choices out there in the outdoor lighting market
up to this moment.

What they are?How they work?Motion sensor types.Usage.


WHAT ARE SOLAR MOTION SENSOR FLOOD LIGHTS?



The basic principle of solar motion sensor flood light is similar to the one of
regular flood light. The lighting fixture consists of the casing and the bulb
(in the majority of the cases it will be LED bulb) which can create wide-beam
high-intensity light. Then there is also a solar panel which is connected to the
lighting fixture with a cable. Under the lighting fixture, there will be the
main battery unit which stores the collected energy and the sensor which will
trigger the light to turn on after detecting a movement. Thus solar motion
sensor lights are not working constantly, plus they do not consume any
electrical energy which means that this is a very energy-efficient solution to
pick. Solar motion sensor flood lights are used both for safety reasons
(illuminating dark pathways, hallways, porches, etc. when you’re coming home
thus enabling the visibility) and security purposes (scaring burglars off as
their movements will be detected, triggering the flood light).


HOW MOTION DETECTOR LIGHTS WORK?

Motion detectors are small electronic devices that detect infrared waves. It
means that the detector does not detect the movement itself but rather the heat
waves that moving objects are radiating. Each detector has a particular field of
view (usually it’s a semicircular field of view which can be up to 240 degrees
with adjustable distance range) and once a moving object has been detected
within this field, it triggers the light. The amount of time for how long the
light stays on depends on the settings of the timer, but usually, the given
range you can choose from is anywhere from 1 to 20 minutes. After the given
time, the light is automatically being shut off until another movement is being
detected.

PIR motion sensor operation. Source – http://www.blog.kslemb.com/

During the daylight time, the detector is not reacting to the movements since
the photocell installed in the detector will deactivate the light. Of course, it
might happen that the detector detects quite unnecessary movements such as pets
and flying leaves but this can be eliminated by adjusting the settings of
distance range and narrowing the field of view. Also, pet immune motion sensors
are available. These sensors can measure the weight of an object and ignore
animals of a certain weight, thus making sure that the light is not being turned
on every time a passing cat or bird happens to enter the field of view.

Although the light is being turned on and off automatically, it does not mean
that you cannot operate it manually as well. It is also possible to use the
switch to keep the light on all the night in case you need it to and turn back
to automatic detecting mode afterward.


MOTION-ACTIVATED FLOOD LIGHT SENSOR TYPES.

There are three main sensor types which have been available for individual
consumers namely:



 * Passive infra-red (PIR) sensor lights. PIR sensors are currently the most
   popular of both sensor types available. PIR sensor works by measuring
   infrared light which is emitted from objects generating heat. These objects
   typically are humans and animals but those can also be cars and other
   vehicles. A crystalline material detects the infrared radiation which has
   entered the detector’s field of view and it sends out signals to the control
   system which immediately triggers the light. To be more precise, the sensor
   is not activated just by the body heat itself – the detector actually
   analyses the changes in the condition measuring the heat differences that
   have occurred in the field (heat condition before and after the object has
   entered the field). In other words, the PIR sensor detects the broken field
   of a “normal” temperature caused by the heat of a moving object entering it.
 * Active sensor lights. Although active sensors also detect infrared light, the
   detecting principle is slightly different from PIR sensor: instead of
   analyzing the heat difference of a field when it has been broken by any new
   object, active sensors actively (thus the name) transmits stimuli (three most
   common signal formats used in active sensors are tomographic, ultrasonic and
   microwave) constantly detecting, measuring and comparing the changes. One of
   the reasons why active sensor lights are being used less than PIR lights is
   the fact that due to this regular activity, the sensors consume greater
   amount of energy.
 * Dual motion sensor lights. This is known as one of the best options out there
   in terms of preventing any false alarms which can be quite annoying and
   discourage many people from installing motion sensors. These sensors are
   switching the lights on only when both factors – motion and body heat – have
   been recognized thus eliminating a chance that some flying objects such as
   leaves or falling branches might trigger the lighting.


THE USAGE OF SOLAR MOTION DETECTOR LIGHTS.

As mentioned, solar motion detector lights can be used for various purposes
regarding both security and safety.

 * Security purposes. Solar security flood lights are typically installed in
   front of houses and in empty areas (parking lots) that need to be watched for
   unwelcome visitors during the night. It is a common view among house-owners
   that security flood lights can help to scare off a burglar once he will be
   surprised by the light unexpectedly being turned on. Also, the light can warn
   the people inside and enables the visibility of the area allowing them to see
   the cause of the movement.
 * Illumination and energy saving. Imagine how much energy is simply being
   wasted by keeping the light on on your porch or in the hallway in your
   apartment building all night long. While there is no doubt that the light is
   needed simply for people to be able to make their way into their homes
   safely, it still seems rather illogical to have the lights on not knowing
   whether someone actually needs them. That’s why motion sensors are so handy
   once it comes to energy-saving making sure that the light is being used only
   when someone is in a need for it in a certain part of the building/area.


OUTDOOR FLOODLIGHTS

The invention of artificial lighting has undoubtedly marked a very crucial
turning point in the world’s history. It has transformed nearly every aspect of
our lives: the way we work, live, do household chores, travel, study, etc. Ever
since the first bulb was introduced, the development of lighting technologies
has advanced into numerous solutions applicable to different situations.

We have one sort of lamps for home, another type of lamps for illuminating
streets and completely different lamps for floodlighting events and concerts.
Not only fixture types and designs have changed but also new types of bulbs have
been introduced resulting in a choice that has never been wider and more
diverse. Due to their multi-functionality which cannot be substituted by any
other type of lamps, flood lights deserve particular attention in the whole
range of artificial lighting products. This section will briefly guide you
through the topic of outdoor floodlights and explain their technicalities so
that you know in what circumstances and situations outdoor flood lights should
be used and what to expect from this gear.

What they are?UsageBuying guideIndoor and Outdoor lights


WHAT ARE OUTDOOR FLOOD LIGHTS?

To explain the specifics of outdoor flood lights, one should start with
understanding the technicalities and basics of outdoor floodlight lamp as a
separate lighting category in general.



Flood light is artificial lighting which can produce wide-beam light of high
intensity. This allows illuminating very large areas such as parks, parking
lots, stadiums, stages, etc. but the latest trends show that apart from
professional purposes more and more flood lights are being installed in private
homes either for aesthetic or security reasons, or both. While the majority of
flood lights are being used outdoors, there is a certain demand for indoor flood
lights as well, for example for theaters, art galleries, opera houses, etc. The
paragraph, however, will solely focus on the outdoor flood lights and their
aspects – functionality, ways of application and things to be considered upon
purchasing.


THE USAGE OF OUTDOOR FLOOD LIGHTS.

No matter if you have solar outdoor flood lights or you still stick to good old
wired outdoor floodlights, the options, and situations where you can use them is
still as diverse as ever. Typically outdoor flood lights are used:



 * As front-door lights. Integrated with motions sensors, outdoor flood lights
   can surely make your way into your home a lot easier and safer illuminating
   the backyard or just the porch.
 * As backyard and garden lights. Even during the darkest hours, some people
   feel calmer and safer if their backyard and/or garden is illuminated. This
   can help to spot any unwanted movements, as well is very useful if you’re
   organizing garden parties.
 * As parking lot lights. Parking lots are particularly attractive spots for
   automobile thieves and hence it is necessary to ensure their visibility
   throughout the whole night. Since flood lights have capabilities to
   illuminate such vast areas, they are perfect for brightening any car park.
 * As driveway lights. Similarly, as there is usually need to illuminate porch
   so that one could reach the entrance of house safely without groping in the
   dark for the keyhole, there is also a need to see the way to garage by
   floodlighting the driveway so that you could safely drive your car in and
   park it.
 * As an extra safety tool. Along with different alarms and locks, outdoor
   security flood lights are also one of the safety tools meant to deter the
   burglars and increase visibility in case some unexpected movements and
   “visitors” have been identified. For these purposes, motion detector outdoor
   floodlights happen to be the most effective options as they will make an
   unpleasant surprise for the burglar and most likely will make him change his
   mind.
 * To highlight outdoor objects. Whether it’s a sculpture, fountain on a
   gorgeous old tree, outdoor floodlights are a great way how to highlight these
   outdoor objects so that people could enjoy their beauty during the evening
   hours as well.


THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING OUTDOOR FLOOD LIGHTS.

As said, outdoor floodlights now come in different designs and features e.g.
energy-efficient solar outdoor flood lights that use solar energy instead of
consuming electricity and motion-detecting outdoor flood lights that turn on and
off only when a movement has been detected rest of the time-saving energy in
“switched-off” mode. So it is only reasonable that for people who have never
dealt with purchasing flood lights it can be quite confusing process to go to a
store and get the product that would most appropriately match the needs and have
the desired outcome.

The main factor which should clarify your choice should be the purpose of the
flood light you are about to order as for instance flood lights meant for
illuminating pathway surely will not be alike to the ones used for security. In
order to know where to begin from, here are some of the aspects you should look
for or inquire your retailer about upon making your outdoor flood light
purchase:

 * Brightness. Different flood lights designed for different purposes have
   different brightness, for example, flood lights meant for illuminating stages
   and stadiums are a lot brighter than flood lights meant for highlighting a
   pathway or smaller objects. If you want to install security flood lights,
   look for lamps with 500-1000 lumens of light, but for less bright lighting
   you should surely go for smaller lumens.
 * Range. Range is the distance of the objects you would like to be illuminated.
   Take this aspect into thorough consideration because once in a while we get
   to hear about the cases when the neighbors of outdoor flood light owners are
   complaining since the lights are illuminating their property as well and
   disturbing sleep.
 * Detection zone. This is the width of the area that needs to be floodlighted.
   If you want to illuminate the whole backyard, you will need lamps with much
   wider detection zone whereas for illuminating just a single object, let’s say
   a tree, the detection zone can be a lot smaller.
 * The Ingress Protection (IP) rating. IP rating indicates the degree of
   protection provided against accidental contact, intervention of different
   objects, dust, etc. This is a very important factor to consider in the case
   of outdoor flood lights as being located outside they are constantly in the
   risk of being damaged due to different weather conditions. The classification
   system is based on letters IP generally followed by two (in rare cases –
   three) digits:
   * The first digit of the IP rating indicated protection against intervention
     by solid objects for instance number 1 means that the lamp is protected
     against a solid object which is larger than 50 mm (for instance hand)
     whereas value 5, means that the fixture has such a high protection that
     very limited ingress of dust is possible.
   * The second digit indicates the degree of protection against moisture for
     instance value 1 means that the lamp will be protected only from vertically
     falling drops of water but the highest indicator 8 protects the whole
     object from fully immersing in the water.


WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDOOR FLOOD LIGHTS AND OUTDOOR FLOOD LIGHTS?

Generally speaking, indoor flood lights provide a lot softer light than the ones
meant for usage in outdoor environments. They also are smaller in size and
usually easier to be installed. The wattage is also greater in the case of
outdoor flood lights.


OUTDOOR FLOOD LIGHT BULBS

No matter what sort of product you are buying, it is very necessary to consider
its every aspect to ensure that you have made the best possible choice out of
the vast wholesome. If you want to be a smart consumer, this principle
definitely has to be kept in mind when buying lighting as well. In terms of
outdoor flood lights, one should consider not only the type of fixture and
additional features such as motion detectors or solar panels attached to solar
outdoor flood lights, but most surely careful attention has to be paid to the
choice of light bulb as well. In this section, you will be briefly guided
through the most common types of outdoor flood light bulbs available and a
general comparison between all the types will be provided.

Bulb typesBulb comparison

Choosing the most appropriate of all the bulbs will not only help you to gain
the expected result out of your purchase (desired lighting effect that coincides
with the particular purpose and situation) but also can have long-term benefits
financially-wise since wisely chosen bulb can be considered as a great
investment for the future and save you a quite significant amount of money that
you would otherwise spend for the electricity.

LED flood light bulbs

The main principle of LED bulbs is based on light-emitting diodes that are
incredibly energy efficient as they produce low amounts of heat and consume very
little energy to produce the light. At the very beginning, LED lights were used
as single diodes yet the technology has expanded to clustering several bulbs
together and now the possible application ways are very vast including outdoor
flood lights. Although outdoor LED flood light bulbs are still quite costly,
engineers and researchers are constantly seeking new solutions how to better
substitute sapphire-based technology with something cheaper (for instance
silicon wafers);



HID outdoor flood light bulbs

High-intensity discharge outdoor lamps are a quite common choice as HID lamps
are rather energy-efficient and long-lasting. However, there is one drawback you
should consider and that’s UV radiation produced by most types of HID lamps.
Although it can be easily solved with special UV blocking filters, pay strict
attention to this factor if you want to decrease the health-risk to the very
minimum. The basic types of HID lamps are:

 * Metal halide lamps (ceramic MH);
 * Mercury vapor lamps;
 * High-pressure Sodium vapor lamps;



Fluorescent outdoor flood light bulbs

CFL bulbs are another choice to opt for especially if you cannot spare much
money on the bulb. They are not the most long-lasting and many people are
deterred because these lamps contain mercury and they need to be properly
disposed but if you are responsible enough and can take care of decent
maintenance, you can surely consider fluorescent bulbs to be installed in your
flood lights;



Halogen outdoor flood light bulbs

If you need your flood lights to be quite bright, then this is an option that by
no means should be ignored. The beam of light produced by halogen lamps is very
intense yet this is not the most energy-efficient of all the possible options so
carefully consider your priorities when making this choice.




OUTDOOR FLOOD LIGHT BULB TYPE COMPARISON.



When analyzing and comparing all the options listed above, one can take numerous
factors into account, but in case of outdoor flood lights the main aspects
considered shall be:

 * energy-efficiency;
 * color specifics;
 * endurance;
 * other physical qualities, such as lifespan.

From this perspective, LED lights should be your TOP priority and there are
several reasons for this:

 1. LEDs are the most energy-efficient of all the bulbs. Although there are many
    options available to substitute completely inefficient incandescent bulbs
    that waste most of the energy in heat, outdoor LED flood light bulbs are
    still the leaders of energy efficiency. For instance, if compared to CFLs,
    LED consumes the same amount or less energy and they can last significantly
    longer providing light up to 50,000 hours;
 2. It takes a very short time for LED bulbs to attain its maximums brightness;
 3. LED bulbs are very environment-friendly choice. Since they do not contain
    any mercury (unlike from CFLs), when disposed LEDs do the least damage to
    nature and what’s even more important – they do not cause any threat to your
    health. Also due to their comparatively long life-span, there will be less
    need for you to change the bulbs thus decreasing the amount of the bulbs
    disposed.
 4. Very suitable for connecting with portable generators. Due to their numerous
    advantages solar outdoor flood lights are becoming more and more popular and
    since LED bulbs have low power requirements, they are the ideal choice for
    being run with solar panels. It means that it will take less for the panel
    to collect the necessary amount of solar energy to run the outdoor flood
    light up to its full capacity and brightness. As mentioned above, some of
    the options are more suitable for particular purposes, for instance, if you
    are looking for a really bright and steady beam of light, you should go for
    halogen bulbs or if your budget is very limited, then CFL bulbs will do as
    well but keep in mind that long-term thinking can save a lot of worries you
    might face in the future.


SOLAR LIGHT BATTERIES

While consumers of solar lighting tend to ask a lot of questions about solar
panels, a lot of them somehow seem to be quite careless about the choice of the
battery. The battery is an important part of the panel since it is storing all
the collected solar energy so that it could later be used for the designated
purpose such as providing lighting during the night. In reality, though solar
light batteries are quite varied and every type of battery has its advantages
and disadvantages that should be thought through before making the purchase.

Battery typesWhich battery specs to look at?Battery comparison
Li-ion (Li-phosphate LiFePO4) solar light batteries

Currently, Lithium-ion based batteries are the most popular of all the options.
In opposite to lead-acid batteries, Lithium-ion batteries have very high
specific energy, they can provide high capacity and low self-discharge rate, and
they also offer a long life span. Also, they require minimum maintenance
throughout the usage which makes the product very suitable for individual
house-owners.



Lead Acid solar light batteries

Within the solar market, this currently is one of the leaders in terms of solar
batteries and there are several qualities of Lead Acid solar batteries that are
the reasons for this: lead Acid batteries are cheap, have long life-expectancy
and comparatively low self-discharge rate. Plus it does very little time for
this battery to be fully charged which means that it can be used in areas where
the sunlight frequently tends to be interrupted by cloudy weather allowing you
to quickly collect and store the energy even when the weather conditions are
seemingly bad.



Ni-Cd solar light batteries

Nickel-based batteries usually come in AA or AAA sizes but there a few
manufacturers out there who are producing Ni-Cd solar batteries as well. The
product is quite cheap and thus very available to the average consumer. However,
since there are still quite a few drawbacks, these type of solar light batteries
are still not the best choice to make. The main disadvantages include low energy
density, high self-discharge rate, and low life cycle. Another notables concern
related to the usage of Ni-Cd batteries is that cadmium is a rather toxic metal,
thus seriously polluting the environment once disposed in the landfills. Due to
this, most western countries have applied special laws related to recycling of
Ni-Cd batteries.



Ni-MH solar light batteries

In the 1990s Ni-MH batteries were introduced and they gradually have substituted
Ni-Cd batteries. They have quite similar properties but they have higher
capacity and they do not contain any highly toxic components thus this surely is
a more environment-friendly choice to make. The only significant drawback for
Ni-MH solar batteries is that they have very high self-discharge rate. In other
words, these batteries lose quite a lot of energy even when not in use. Although
the technology of Ni-MH batteries is being improved to provide low
self-discharge products, the best one you can get so far is a battery that can
maintain up to 85% of their charge after not being used for a year.




WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN SOLAR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES?



Of course, an average consumer has very little knowledge on the physics and
different specifics of rechargeable batteries. If you are not buying the product
in the retail store where you could inquire the assistant for a consultation,
but let’s say making the purchase on-line, it is quite important to have at
least the basic understanding of what each rate means in terms of using the
battery for the designated purpose be it running solar lights or providing the
whole household with energy. The most important factor that differs among the
battery types and should be considered is the battery capacity.

The storage capacity is the most important factor for every battery as it will
tell you whether the given storage capacity will be enough for your purposes. Of
course, you must understand that either having solar-run pathway lights or
running the whole house on solar you need less energy and thus lower capacity
for the former one, yet it does not answer the question of how high capacity you
exactly need. Small formula can help you figure this out.

Example: You have a battery for your solar system that is 12 volts (push) and
105 amp hours (storage capacity). Storage capacity can be calculated by
calculating the watt-hours. You just have to multiply the volts (V) x the amp
hours (AH) and divide by 100. In this case, the calculation would be:

Volts x Amp Hours / 100 = Watt Hours

12V x 105AH = 1260 / 100 = 12.6 Watt Hours

In other words, a fully charged battery will store enough energy for 12.6 hours
powered on 100-watt appliance.


SOLAR BATTERY COMPARISON.

Although you have a brief description of each solar battery type given above,
you might still have some doubts about which one of them you should really opt
for.

Based both on the opinion of retailers and consumers, Li-ion based batteries are
currently the best possible option for storing solar energy.



Their average self-discharge rate is only 2-8%, and life cycle can reach up to
2000 which means that theoretically, their lifetime expectancy in solar lights
can be even up to 6 years (for other types it’s 2-3 years). Although the
cheapest of all the options is Ni-Cd, it is only used in low power solar flood
lights, where Ni-MH batteries are going to be a better option.

For high power solar flood lights, you have to choose between lead-acid and
lithium-based batteries. Lead-acid batteries are currently cheaper, but they
have much lower specific energy, which means that they require more cells
(increasing size and weight of the battery) to store the same amount of energy
as lithium-based batteries. Li-ion batteries are becoming gradually cheaper,
plus the high price pays off within a time since higher life expectancy means
you will have to change the battery less often. Unlike Ni-Cd and Ni-MH
batteries, Li-ion based batteries require no maintenance and this is a good
aspect for the average users, who cannot invest much of their personal time in
constantly checking-up with the condition of the battery.









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