Disadvantages of using Solar Lights

Solar lights have advanced so much throughout the years making it a great way to harness the power of the sun. We can use it in many ways to supplement our lifestyles so that we can become less dependent on traditional sources of energy. Being able to grab power from rays of sunshine that come down from the sky is amazing in itself. But, with this amazing technology also comes some disadvantages that have kept this from becoming mainstream in our daily lives.

One of the biggest downsides to solar power is that its not always available. There is no guarantee that the sun will be shining all day, every day so dependability can be a major drawback for some. Because of this you will have to have a way to collect all the energy into a battery of some sort. Most solar lights have built in rechargeable batteries that collect all of the power during the day. At night, they can usually run about 8 hours on average depending on the lights you purchased. If it is cloudy or rainy all day then your lights wont have a full charge which can put a damper on your evening. These variables are all dependent on where you live and how much sun you get year round.

If you already have low voltage lighting in your yard and like the amount of light they put off, you might be disappointed in outdoor solar lighting. Solar lighting doesn’t get as bright as most low voltage systems since they don’t run off of electricity. This can be a concern for some people that are looking for bright lights.

Solar lighting also tends to fade through the night as the batteries are being drained. If you like to entertain well into the night then you might get caught out in the dark if your lights go out. Some people want the consistency that low voltage lighting provides and find this to be a major issue with solar lighting. Everyone has different needs so it all depends on what your expectations and needs are.

Depending on what kind of solar lighting you get, some models can be disposable depending on how they are built. A lot of solar lights are built in a non-modular form which means if the bulb goes out then you have to replace the whole unit. On low voltage lights you would just replace the bulb. This typically occurs in you have lower priced units so it might be a good idea to do some research and ask some questions so you get the lights you want.

The only reason I am discussing the disadvantages of solar lighting is because I feel you need to know the positives and negatives before you plan on making the switch. I feel the positives far outweigh the negatives but you need to know what you are getting into before you make an investment. Check out my other articles for the many advantages of solar lighting.

Check back for updated articles at Solar Lights For Your Home!