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CartSolar vs. Wired Landscape Lighting: Here’s How to Choose
Outdoor deck lights can help create the perfect ambience and atmosphere for evening entertaining. They can also enhance the safety and curb appeal of your home. Selecting outdoor light fixtures for a new or pre-existing deck project presents a wide variety of options. Should you opt for plug-in or hard-wired outdoor lights, or commit to energy-saving solar lighting? Both types of landscape lighting offer unique benefits in terms of installation, efficiency, appearance, versatility, and cost. Read on to learn more and explore the many kinds of solar and electric deck lights.
Outdoor Solar Lights
An outdoor solar light captures energy from the sun during the day and stores it for use at night. The process has four key elements: a solar panel / photo-voltaic cell (energy input), a rechargeable battery (energy storage), a sensor (activation), and a bulb (energy output). Solar-powered landscape lights require no external wiring and can be placed anywhere you need mood or accent lighting, safety on stairs and pathways, or household security. External solar lights need adequate sunlight to maintain a charge and their strength may vary depending on the weather, type of fixture, and battery size. Here are a few of the most popular types and benefits of exterior solar lights:
Wired Outdoor Lighting
Instead of threading extension cords around deck furniture and other décor, consider low-voltage landscape lighting (12-volt) with lightweight wiring that tucks away out of sight. Wired LED lights can be placed along the perimeter of your deck, above a dining area, on deck railings, and even recessed into the deck flooring or stair risers. Everything connects to an outdoor lighting transformer that plugs directly into a grounded outdoor electrical outlet. Control options include outdoor lighting timers, outdoor lighting remote controls, and Smart devices. Here are a few of the most popular wired outdoor lighting applications and their benefits:
Outdoor Solar vs. Wired Lighting Benefits
Weather, cost, installation and other considerations all factor in when choosing between solar and wired outdoor lighting. Here we’ll drill down and sort the details.
Solar lights are budget-friendly, easy to install, low-maintenance, and kind to the planet. You can put them almost anywhere and point them at the sky, though climate and weather patterns will influence your choices. Wired outdoor lighting offers more consistency, reliability, and security. You might want to consider solar and wired deck lighting as complementary, using each type wherever it’s best suited. Whichever option you choose, landscape lighting is sure to enhance the beauty and functionality of your deck and home.
