When it comes to lighting your outdoor spaces, the choice between solar and wired lights presents a common dilemma. Each option has its unique advantages and can significantly impact the ambiance, functionality, and sustainability of your home’s exterior. Let’s dive into the key differences and benefits of each to help you make an informed decision.
Solar Lighting: Harnessing the Power of the Sun
Advantages:
Energy Efficiency: Solar lights are powered by sunlight, making them an environmentally friendly choice. They reduce your carbon footprint and help you save on energy bills.
Easy Installation: Since they don’t require wiring, solar lights can be installed easily in almost any location. This flexibility is perfect for garden paths, patios, and remote areas.
Low Maintenance: Modern solar lights are designed to be durable and require minimal maintenance. Simply ensure the solar panels are clean and unobstructed.
Considerations:
Reliability: Solar lights depend on sunlight to charge. In areas with less sunlight or during cloudy days, they may not perform as effectively.
Brightness: Typically, solar lights are less bright compared to wired options. They are ideal for creating a soft, ambient glow rather than intense illumination
Wired Lighting: Consistent and Powerful
Advantages:
Reliable Performance: Wired lights provide consistent and powerful illumination regardless of weather conditions. They are perfect for areas that need bright and dependable lighting.
Versatility: With a range of designs and power levels, wired lights can cater to various needs, from security lighting to highlighting architectural features.
Control Options: Wired systems often come with advanced control features, including dimmers, timers, and smart home integration.
Wired LED lights are often chosen by outdoor lighting professionals, though the ingenuitive homeowner would likely be able to figure out how to install them without help. Wired lights have a lot of flexibility because they are not constrained by availability of the sun. This means they can be placed in dark corners or under plants that wouldn't ordinarily be able to get light. There is also a bit more flexibility when it comes to the type of lighting available. Wired lights can shine up, down and side to side without any trouble because they are not reliant on a solar panel that must be facing up.
There are a few drawbacks to using wired LED lights. First, it is certainly more difficult to install them on your own. The wires need to be buried underground to ensure they won't accidentally get broken or become a tripping hazard.
Considerations:
Installation Complexity: Installing wired lights can be more complex and may require professional assistance
Of course, In order to give you a better choice, we will provide wired and solar versions of the same product, choose the one that suits you
The right distance between your lights is essential for creating a balanced lighting design. Pathway lights typically look best when spaced six to eight feet apart, while a gap of 10 to 15 feet is best for floodlights that cover a wide area. Pathway lights are one of the most integral parts of your outdoor lighting scheme. They serve a dual function: guiding your way and contributing to the overall look of your landscaping.
The choice between solar and wired landscape lighting is not always straightforward. You must consider the context of your landscape, personal preferences, and whether you can accommodate wired lighting where you want it. If you still have questions, speak to our outdoor lighting specialists today. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have about solar lighting and the features of specific fixtures to help you make the right choice for your home.
