Solar Powered Flood Lights
Solar powered flood lights offer the perfect solution for those wanting to make use of incredibly powerful lighting without having to empty out their wallets. One of the main issues with lighting in this category is that it can be an enormous utility drain because of the high levels of brightness it offers. Where solar alternatives come into play is that they are able to provide you with said brightness but at a fraction of the long-term cost.
No matter what your reasons for needing to make use of flood light technology are, it is safe to say that you want to be able to do it reliably and as cost effectively as possible. Today, we are going to tell you about how you can meet those objectives via solar. Once the initial installation is complete, you are going to be smiling all the way to a more economic, bright, and efficient future.
What Is Solar Powered Flood Lighting?
There are many different varieties of solar flood lighting available on the market, but what they all have in common is the means by which they power themselves. That means is of course the sun. Anything that relies on solar relies almost exclusively on the power of the sun’s core to operate. What does this mean for you though? Why is that a good thing when we have been using electricity from the power company for so long?
Well, the omission of wires is the first benefit. This is because we are not sourcing any electricity from mains sockets when using solar. There are several other reasons why this is a superior power source to most other options. It is endless, free, and completely self-sufficient. All you need to do is place your lighting in an optimal outdoor location, and it will soak up the sun’s rays throughout the day, which will in turn be used for self-sustaining functionality.
This also means that once you have paid for the initial flood light units themselves, you will not be spending another penny unless it is for parts replacement. This makes a welcome change from hard wired lighting that drains your resources every time it is powered on. Combine all of this with zero-emission technology that does not have a negative impact on the environment, and it is very difficult to beat solar when it comes to comparing power sources.
Despite all robustly achieving the same end result, there are a few different solar powered flood light model varieties. We will explore how said varieties work in the next section.
How Do Solar Powered Flood Lights Work?
Every solar flood light array is powered by one or more photovoltaic cells. These cells are woven into the bulb housing and are the platform used to absorb photon rays from the centre of the sun. When these rays strike a voltaic cell, the energy is then dispersed via built-in power inverters that send it through a circuit and into a desired location for use.
At their core, this is how all units of this type work. With that said, there are different solar led flood lights available and precisely how they operate varies slightly from model to model as follows.
Standard units
These flood varieties are the most basic option and are designed to meet the needs of most residential and even light commercial users. While they will not come with a host of additional features as do some of the more expensive model varieties, they will definitely provide enough illumination for almost any house and will even be bright enough to offer some (albeit light) security depending on the size of your property.
Security flood units
You will find this variety installed everywhere from business grounds to police, fire and rescue, and border security hotspots. Sometimes, even residential areas utilize them too. They often have everything from motion sensors to timers and alarms fitted to highlight any unwanted attention from potential intruders.
Landscape lighting
Landscape flood light variants are often used primarily for decoration. You will frequently see them featured in backyards, potentially in an assortment of colors. They are often installed to make an exterior space look more visually appealing.
Work lights
Used mainly in areas where construction or other types of manual work are taking place, these lights are usually the brightest of all model types with up to 20,000 lumens or more in some cases. They are designed to create maximum visibility to optimise worker and pedestrian safety.
All-in-one varieties
All-in-one units are a cross between standard and security light variants. They come equipped with limited additional features like motion sensors while they are usually also wall mountable. They probably will not quite have the same brightness capacity as a full security specification unit, but they will certainly be capable of offering excellent visibility and boosting residential or even commercial safety.
How to Choose the Right Solar Powered Flood Light
Now that you know what solar powered flood lights are, how they work, and why they will benefit you, it is time to help you reach a decision about which model or set of features is going to best suit your individual needs. The following list summarises the main areas to consider when shopping for one of these units if you want to get the most out of your purchase.
Brightness
Brightness for all lighting is measured in something known as lumens. Flood lighting is no different. Your lumen requirements are going to depend entirely on where you are going to place your light. The brightness range is anywhere from 300 to as much as 30,000 for the brightest options out there. Pay attention to the rating because this also determines how far the light reaches.
Operating time
Some of the best products in this category require a charge time of roughly 4 to 6 hours and can operate for 10 hours or more. Others require the same amount of time to reach a full charge and operate for slightly less. Realistically, in a relatively well-lit area, even 6 hours will definitely be enough to achieve a full charge. You ideally want something that takes less time to charge and is capable of running for longer.
Sensor or switch
Built-in sensors can automatically detect levels of natural daylight and turn your unit on or off automatically. Other varieties rely on manual switches. There is no written rule about what is more effective here in terms of practicality because it is all about preference. With a sensor, you are only using your lighting when you need it without a second being wasted.
Battery type
As with other solar technology, you might opt for a product that has an additional backup battery option rather than purely relying on photon rays. Backup batteries mean that if daylight hours are low and, therefore, ray absorption is low in turn, you will not have any blackouts. Other battery types are fuelled exclusively by voltaic cells and have no backups.
Durability
This is a very important area to consider for those who want to make use of solar flood light technology in a commercial setting or anywhere that safety and security are crucial. The average homeowner needs a decent lighting unit that will withstand the weather and water if they want it to have a long lifespan. Check the weather and waterproof ratings for your preferred option, and ideally go for something with a strong metal housing because it will last well.
Brands
There are some well-established brands manufacturing tried and tested products in the solar flood light category. You may wish to choose an item that comes with the added quality and service assurance that popular brands have to offer. Here are some of the leading manufacturers of these product types: Lepower, Topmante, Vosonx, Aootek, Litom, Sansi, Baxia, and Urpower. Any product you acquire from the above list of manufacturers will likely satisfy your demands because they are already successfully used by thousands of happy customers.
Top 5 Best Solar Flood Lights
To help you make the right decision when you browse through the available solar flood lights, we are now going to provide you with a list featuring what we feel are 5 of the best models on the market at the moment.
5. Ring Solar Floodlight
This is one of the best premium options available and comes directly from Amazon, so you know the quality is going to be top-notch. With a 1200-lumen output as part of the housing along with a built-in motion sensor and a high-efficiency solar cell array, you can trust this technology to keep watch on your property for you at all times during the night.
The app integration means that you can connect the system with the popular Amazon Alexa devices for voice-controlled optimisation as well as to access a host of other practical features like the remote on/off feature and setting customisation plus interaction with the Ring doorbell system. Not only is this an efficient lighting option, it is also a genuinely effective home security option too. On all fronts, it is a great addition for those who want to protect their home remotely and conveniently. Sadly for some though, it must be wall mounted.
Pros
- Great all-round security option for your home
- Durable build quality thanks to Amazon
- Low cost for the quality offered
- Good active use time
Cons
- Not the brightest lighting unit on the list for those who want to prioritise this area
- Potentially complicated installation and set-up process
Check Price on Amazon
4. FISHNU 100W Rechargeable Flood Light
For those in need of the perfect portable job site option, this unit is probably going to meet all of your requirements especially if you use several of these lights at once. Thanks to its compact, portable design with a built-in carrying handle, it is really easy to carry around a busy construction site and place anywhere you deem necessary to maximise visibility. With a 1000-lumen output, it is also going to be hard to miss.
For enhanced practicality, you can also charge the unit with a car charger. It is perfect for onsite top-ups if you do not have much daylight access. The rugged metal and rubber frame make this a hard wearing option too. A negative here is the charge time versus work time. You are only going to get 4 hours maximum use out of a full charge, which will take between 4 and 6 hours.
Pros
- Sturdy and durable design
- Excellent level of brightness
- Easy to use and no installation required whatsoever
- Cheap, considering its intended heavy-duty purpose
Cons
- Low usage time
- Not the brightest unit available when compared to other items being used for this purpose
Check Price on Amazon
3. Egreat 2 in 1 Outdoor Solar Light with Motion Sensor
If you are looking for an effective landscape option, then this may well be the one for you. Due to being mounted on a stake, installation is incredibly easy. But that is just the start of the positive benefits offered here because the 6000k brightness is going to be more than enough to light up even the darkest of areas.
Expect 8 hours of use on a full 4- to 6-hour charge and peace of mind thanks to the highly durable build quality that features excellent water and weatherproof resistance ratings. This is all backed by a fantastic 12-month warranty, so you can feel totally secure about your purchase. For those wanting some additional security, there is a built-in motion sensor to ensure that any unwanted intruders are swiftly identified. This is a welcome addition to an already impressive lighting unit.
Pros
- Durable weatherproof build quality
- Very effective brightness level
- Easy to install
- Cheap price
Cons
- Plastic housing that is not going to be the hardest wearing
- Accessible at ground level, which makes it easy to tamper with
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2. Ledmo Remote Controlled Solar Powered Flood Light
For those looking for optimum brightness and practicality, it would be incredibly hard to beat this 20,000-lumen output option. These units would be well suited to construction sites or any outdoor setting where maximum visibility is an absolute must. You can choose to use the full 20,000-lumen capacity or slightly subdue it based on visibility levels using the included remote control.
It is made out of a solid metal housing with an excellent weather and waterproof rating. These units are not likely to be damaged by the elements, impacts, or unwanted tampering from potential intruders. There is also a 5-year warranty, which is one of the best for any product in this category. It will cover your every need should anything go wrong. 5 years inspires confidence as the manufacturers clearly have a lot of faith in the product.
Pros
- Amazing level of brightness
- Incredibly durable build quality
- Multiple light modes
- Excellent 5-year warranty
Cons
- Costly
- Wall mounted, which may make installation difficult for some
Check Price on Amazon
1. Aootek New Solar Lights 120 Leds
For those searching for a streamlined and highly effective product for residential use at a very reasonable price, these Aotek LED flood units are perfect to suit almost all residential needs with some useful additional security features for peace of mind. The included LED array provides an excellent level of brightness, and thanks to their placement on the front and side of the unit, they can cover an extremely wide viewing angle.
Featured here too is reflective material for enhanced visibility and motion sensor technology in conjunction with three different light modes. All in all, you are getting a lot of value for the low cost. Durability is not much of an issue thanks to excellent weather and waterproof ratings, but the downside is the fact that these units are wall mounted, which could be an issue for some. Other than that, it is hard to argue with the features and high degree of functionality being offered here.
Pros
- High level of brightness
- Excellent security features
- Decent use time of 8 hours on a full charge
- Great durable build quality
Cons
- Wall mounted, which will be difficult for some
- Plastic housing that does not have the damage resistance of metal
Check Price on Amazon
Pros and Cons of Solar Powered Flood Lights
Now that you have had a full rundown of the many benefits that you will reap when installing solar powered floodlights outdoors, let’s summarise the reasons for and against acquiring one of these units.
Pros
- Massive energy and cost savings in the long run
- Easy to install and use compared to wired options
- Cheaper to buy up front (usually) than wired options
- No hazardous waste materials being emitted into the environment
Cons
- Not always as bright as conventional flood lighting
- Model options more limited in some areas like work lights and security lights
- Build quality not always as hard wearing as conventional lights
- Reliability sometimes an issue if you do not have guaranteed frequent sun access
All in all, the above points thoroughly cover what’s great and, at times, not so great about these sun powered lighting units.
Conclusion
After reading through this article, you have now been fully educated on the world of solar flood lighting and why it is such a breakthrough invention. You can spare money, time, and even the environment by choosing one of these products to illuminate a residential, commercial, or even construction setting.
And you can do it all with utmost convenience, thanks to a lack of complicated circuitry and wiring. There is a solar flood light option to suit anybody and everybody. Simply shop according to the guidelines you have been provided with today, and you are sure to be satisfied.
