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Do you want to light up your outdoor play area without using any electricity? Choose a solar flood light instead. The floodlight has a wide beamed high intensity light that is used to brightly illuminate the outdoor playing area. The floodlights' solar panels will capture sunlight and store it as solar energy in their built-in batteries to power the lights at night. Most modern solar floodlights are powered by LED technology and come in a variety of shapes and sizes for purposes such as security, nighttime outdoor sports, and illuminating billboards. Other factors to consider include battery type and capacity, wattage, the type of solar panels used, bulb types, color temperature, and so on, as detailed in the Buying Guide below. We also included a list of some of the most highly rated and best solar floodlights to buy online.
Scroll down to learn everything there is to know about solar flood lights and how to choose the best solar flood lights for your needs.
Want to play, enjoy, and relax with your friends at night with a brighter light that does not consume power? Then look for solar flood lights, which are charged by sunlight and store their energy in the solar panel's battery, allowing the light to be turned on at night. So, before purchasing, one must understand what factors to consider, as well as how to install and use them effectively. We have provided a buying guide with all of the necessary information to assist you in selecting the best and most suitable solar flood lights.
Light Brightness:
The first and most important consideration is light brightness, as you will be placing them on a patio, outdoor sports area, or entrance wall to illuminate a large area. As a result, it is critical to check the illumination capacity of a flood light bulb, which is measured in lumens. This will tell you whether or not it can effectively illuminate the area.
- The lumen rating for smaller and accent lights will be 100 - 300 lumens.
- Choose between 300 and 600 lumens for motion activated solar flood lights.
- Choose bulbs ranging from 1000 to 3000 lumens for high-powered outdoor solar flood lights.
- To make floodlighting of residential front porches, choose a bulb with a minimum light brightness of 5000 lumens.
- Light brightness with high luminosity of 6000, 8000, 10,000, or 12000 lumens is available. All you have to do is select the best one for the area you want to illuminate.
Coverage Range:
The light brightness indicates how illuminating the light is, whereas the coverage distance indicates how far the light will travel. Simply put, the coverage distance is proportional to the brightness of the light. Focus lighting with a lower brightness, for example, will project light up to 10 feet or more, whereas a 360-degree open bulb with a high brightness will have limited coverage. A patio/porch floodlight's minimum acceptable coverage distance is approximately 100 square feet. The longer one would be preferable. It is also critical to consider the angle of coverage. Depending on how the bulbs are arranged, the lighting will be covered. Coverage angles of 60 degrees or more are available. For better results, choose the higher angle.
Battery Capacity:
Before purchasing a battery, it is necessary to check its capacity. The rechargeable battery capacity indicates the maximum amount of energy that can be stored in the battery. It is measured in ampere hours (Ah) or milliampere hours (Mh) (mAh). It is always preferable to choose flood lights with higher mAh because they can store more charge and last longer.
- Lead acid batteries have the highest capacity, ranging from 4000 mAH to 6000 mAH.
- The capacity range for lithium ion batteries is 2000 mAH - 6000 mAH, while NiMH batteries have a capacity of 2000 mAH.
- The capacity of NiCAD batteries is 600 mAH.
Solar Panel Construction and Types:
In general, solar panels are classified into three types: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and amorphous. Let us learn more about them.
- Monocrystalline - It is the most efficient in terms of cell efficiency and energy conversion. It is in the desirable range of 15 - 21%, but it is a little pricey.
- Polycrystalline - With a conversion efficiency of 16%, this type of solar panel will provide less efficiency but will be within your budget (affordable) and of good build quality.
- Amorphous solar panels are also known as thin-film solar panels. They are less expensive than other types because they have a lower energy efficiency of about 10% (or less).
Power of the Panels:
The wattage of the panel refers to the amount of power it produces under ideal conditions. It is determined by the efficiency and building conditions. Keep in mind that the higher the value, the better the choice of panels. As a result, the higher wattage panel is needed to power up more lighting. Larger solar panels generate more wattage due to their larger surface area. As a result, high-powered outdoor flood lights will have two or more panels rather than one to generate the energy needed to recharge their batteries.
A 10 watt solar panel, for example, will generate 10 watts of electricity per hour, which is denoted by 10 watt-hours. If your bulb has luminosity, you will need to use higher watt-rated panels. Low power lights produce a few hundred lumens of light and are powered by 1 - 5-watt solar panels, whereas larger lights require 10 - 20 watt solar panels to function properly.
Charging and operating times:
A solar powered light will require a battery to store the solar energy and convert it into light. As a result, before purchasing a solar flood light, make sure to check the battery's charge time and run time.
- Charging Time - A quick charging battery will ensure that you have adequate lighting with minimal sunlight. This will brighten the area even if the weather or climate changes.
- Run Time - This tells you how long the lights will stay on after a full charge. The batteries require 4 to 8 hours of sunlight to fully charge. The run time varies according to the light setting and the number of modes. For the best results, select the one with a long run time.
Bulb Types:
The solar floodlight's illumination will be provided by the bulb. In general, various bulb types are used in regular, wired outdoor flood lights. The most common bulbs are LED, CFL, halogen, HID, and MH, with LEDs being the best-suited bulb type for any solar powered lights, and here are the reasons why.
- Energy Efficient - It uses less energy while producing more light. As a result, it is an excellent choice for solar and battery-powered lighting. Its diodes are more durable than any other bulb type, especially for glass envelopes, making it ideal for outdoor lighting.
- Longer Lifespan - It has a life expectancy of up to 50,000 hours. This results in the lights remaining maintenance-free for the duration of their lifespan.
- Compact Fixtures - Because LEDs have small form factors, more compact fixtures will be produced.
Color Temperature:
Color temperature indicates the color of light emitted by a bulb/lamp. It is expressed in kelvins (K). For both indoor and outdoor lighting, the color temperature of a given lamp must be checked. The reason for this is that you can select a bulb with a specific color temperature that corresponds to the user's mood in their office, living room, or bedroom. The lower the color temperature of the bulbs, the more orange the light will appear. A bulb with a higher color temperature will produce a cooler, blush color.
Sensors:
Photosensors and motion detectors are two sensors that play an important role in solar-powered lighting. This is because the sensor saves battery power by turning on the light only when motion is detected or when it is necessary, rather than all of the time. Let us learn more about them.
- Motion Sensors - It detects movement in a specific range that moves around the flood light. When motion is detected, they turn on the light. Passive infrared sensors/PIR (scans infrared heat changes to detect motion in monitored area), active sensors (send microwave & thus monitor change to detect motion), and combined sensors are the three most common types. Most solar lights use PIR sensors with motion activated sensors to detect motion because they are easily adjustable and will not pick up motion of objects such as windblown objects or tree branches, which are common in the outdoors.
- PIR Sensor Adjustment - Most solar flood lights with motion detectors allow you to adjust the PIR sensor's detection range, distance, light sensitivity, and delay time. The angle to detect motion will be determined by the range and distance settings. Some motion sensors detect motion at an angle of 180 degrees all around the sensor, whereas others detect motion at an angle of 360 degrees. The detection time or delay setting determines when the light will illuminate after detecting motion. The light sensitivity setting determines the level of darkness required for the sensor to begin picking up motion. The sensor begins to work at night and stops during the day. The solar powered floodlights with motion sensors will detect movement in a wide angle of 120 - 180 degrees over a long distance of 15 - 40 feet.
- Photosensor / Dusk to Dawn Sensor - It turns on the light automatically when it is dark outside and turns it off when it is bright outside in the morning. Without this feature, you must manually turn on and off. So, look for dusk to dawn lighting or lighting that turns on automatically at night. Choose flood lights with this sensor because they will not illuminate during the day to waste energy and will turn on and off automatically.
Construction Materials:
Plastic and aluminum are the two most common materials used for flood light casings. Most high-power flood lights have aluminum casings to protect the light's inner parts from outside impacts that could damage the light. Most low-cost flood lights and low-power lights will have plastic casings to save money. However, the plastic will not indicate poor quality because the lights are made of durable plastic. As a result, it will protect the light from water damage and impacts while also making it resistant to low and high temperatures. If you find a solar flood light with an aluminum casing for a lower price, don't think it's a big deal; instead, the flood light has poor water-proofing, making it easily damaged in heavy rain.
IP Ratings:
IP ratings are used to measure the dustproof and waterproof nature of a light fixture and are represented by two numbers. The first indicates the level of protection against solid objects (from 0 to 6), while the second indicates protection against liquid damage (measured between 0 – 9). The IP ratings of the various flood light parts vary.
A fixture with an IP rating as high as IP66 or IP68 and as low as IP44. The IP ratings of flood lights with more parts will be lower. A motion-activated light with an IP68 rating will hardly be noticed. Most motion detector activated solar flood lights have IP ratings ranging from IP44 to IP64, which provide a higher level of protection against liquid and solid damage. They work well in areas with calm weather, high winds, and sporadic downpours. Most high-end dusk to dawn solar floodlights have an IP65 rating, which means that all parts of the solar light are completely dust-proof and can withstand water jets protected by the nozzle. As a result, the light is used outside in all weather conditions all of the time.
Other Features:
Here are some extra features that will help you use these solar flood lights safely and effectively. Examine them out.
- Modes - Each light has a unique set of modes, such as bright or dim, normal on, or motion sensing. Lights can be customized with unique and extra useful modes. For example, when motion is detected, the light turns dim and then bright.
- Mounting Hardware - There are various types of solar flood lights for wall mountable units, pole mounted lights, and ground mounted lights. All you need to do is ensure that the light has the appropriate mount for the area where it will be installed. A few manufacturers provide flood lights that can be used with various types of mounting hardware for separate fixtures.
- Cable Lengths - The length of the cable connects the solar panel to the fixture. All you need to do is inspect the area where you intend to install these lights. Preferably, the cable length should be sufficient. Alternatively, simply purchase an extension cable, but keep in mind that longer cables will have an impact on the performance of the solar panel.
Size:
LED diodes are small light sources that do not take up much space in an LED floodlight fixture, whereas other components in the fixture are much larger. Before selecting a fixture, you must consider the location and available space. Lights are available in sizes ranging from 5X5 inches to 20X20 inches. As a result, if it falls within these parameters, attach the LED light. This solar powered flood light has larger and wider panels than LED flood lights. They are detachable and allow you to fix them to the roof, but they do not take up less space when installed.
Price:
Another important factor to consider before purchasing. Solar flood lights range in price from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars, depending on the brand and other features/factors. Choose a floodlight that fits your budget but performs well. We recommend that you consider all of the aforementioned factors before settling on the best option that falls within your price range.
Warranty:
In most cases, the warranty provided on a given product determines its durability and reliability. The majority of the brands provide a one-year warranty on their products. The warranty on solar-powered products is entirely brand dependent, as only a few well-known brands offer a few months of warranty, whereas most non-well-known brands offer a few years. This causes customers to be perplexed about their product selection and quality. We recommend that you go with customer reviews on the products, their customer support policies and interactions, and so on.
What exactly is a Solar Flood Light?
Solar flood lights are lights that are powered by a solar panel and a battery. They do not require any other power source and will not draw from your home or off-grid solar power system.
How can I extend the life of my solar flood lights?
Install the light where it will still receive direct sunlight but will be protected from the harshest weather, such as under a roof eave. You're better off investing in a high-quality light than attempting to extend the life of a low-quality model. Furthermore, if the light has a motion-detection mode, using it will only turn on when someone comes within range, preventing the battery from draining.
How does this solar flood light function?
The solar powered flood light will illuminate the area by producing a wider beam of light for up to 120 degrees. These lights are ideal for illuminating larger outdoor areas because they have the same wattage or lumen output as a spotlight.
You've probably figured out what the best solar flood lights are and what makes them unique and high-quality. However, if you want to ensure that you're finding what you're looking for, you should look for certain factors, including those we mentioned earlier. By carefully comparing your options, you will be able to select the floodlight that has the qualities of the item, such as brightness and durability. You can benefit from energy efficiency and savings, as well as simple installation and maintenance, if you choose the right one. After reading our reviews, we hope you find the right floodlights and are able to use a feature-rich item that you require. Purchase your solar flood lights right now!
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