There are several ways to provide lighting for the driveway, but perhaps the most energy-efficient to date are the solar driveway lights. Solar can be converted to electrical energy more effectively today than it was in the past. Today, the lights coming from these devices are amazingly brilliant and require less power. With the advancement of technology, three elements make the solar panels much better that any other type of lighting fixture.
Three Beneficial Elements
First of all, solar panels in driveway lights today are more efficient than before. Even with a relatively small size, the panels can create more energy out of less light. This enables the batteries to store more energy than before. If the solar lighting fixtures in the past lasted only for hours, modern solar lighting fixtures last longer to ensure that the entire area is lit the entire night.
Second, the storage capacities of these devices are higher in comparison. With the incorporation of Lithium and NiCad technology, energy transformed from the light of the sun can be stored in greater amounts and in smaller batteries as well. In addition, the batteries do not easily get damaged and thus last longer.
Third, solar driveway lights now have more efficient LED bulbs. LED bulbs require less energy in order to light up. These bulbs also make use of energy quite efficiently. They do not need a massive amount of energy to produce bright light. One of the best features of LEDs is their ability to maintain proper functioning order even after several months of use.
All these three elements make solar driveway lights more effective than any other type of lighting these days. However, homeowners also have the option of installing solar garden lights as an alternative. This is useful if the sides of the driveway contain beautiful landscaped gardens also require lighting at night.
Types of Solar Driveway Lights
1. Surface Mounted Lights
Surface mounted lights are easy to install. You simply need to mark a line about 6 to 12 inches on both sides outside of the driveway line. Mark where the devices will be installed and give them even distances, 2 meters apart for example. The next step is to secure the devices one by one to the marked spots following the instructions provided by the manufacturer. You can use epoxy to mount each device to the surface, but you may also use other mounting options as recommended by the manufacturer.
2. Flush Mounted Lights
Installing this type of light fixture makes the driveway look really nice. However, the units have to be installed properly and perfectly flush with the surface to look good. In addition, they can be driven upon without causing any damage to them. Surface mounted lights can be damaged upon impact so they need to be placed a bit farther from the edge of the driveway, but flush mounted types do not need such protection because they are designed to become part of the surface.
The downside to installing flush mounted fixtures is the difficulty in installation. They have to be installed while the concrete is still fresh, that is, unless you want to start boring holes on the ground. It is not an easy project for a typical DIY enthusiast, but with extra cash, you can have it fixed by professionals.
In addition, the light coming from the fixtures may not be enough to light the surroundings of the driveway. Surface mounted solar driveway lights brighten up the space around them, thus making them better in terms of overall lighting. When purchasing these devices, make sure to keep in mind these considerations.
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