If you have a yard and have ever thought about lighting it at night, then you have probably heard about solar yard lights. The key to solar outdoor lighting is the solar power pack, which houses photovoltaic solar panels, a microprocessor control system and batteries. It is attached to specifically designed lights having reflectivity and high energy ballasts.

The economic and environmental advantages of solar energy and how it relates to solar outdoor lighting are more widely recognized every day. 

In principle, it's very simple. A solar panel in the lighting unit converts light to electricity. During daylight, even on cloudy days, this solar generator (solar panel) charges long-life batteries, which store the created energy until it is needed. The energy of the sun is harnessed to produce light and essentially power.

A solar yard light consists of:

• A plastic case

• A solar cell on top

• A single AA Nicad battery

• A small controller board

• An LED light source

• A photoresistor to detect darkness

In reality, solar outdoor lighting is a bit more complex. In addition to large-capacity batteries and solar panels, outdoor lighting systems also incorporate charge regulators, which stop the flow of solar generated electricity when the batteries are charged, and then resume charging when more power is needed.

Solar Powered Lighting is very dependable. It's never too cloudy to collect solar energy. Truly, if there's enough sunlight to see well, there's enough sunlight to collect and store energy. Solar Power collection even occurs when it is raining. The typical system can store enough energy to operate for 5 consecutive days without sun.

Solar powered outdoor lighting is virtually maintenance free, because the batteries require no water or other regular service.  Of course, no light bulbs either!

Solar Powered lighting systems provide convenience, beuaty, reliability and efficiency. In essence, each  light has its own "power plant"- a solar panel that is energized by the sun, so you do not depend your local power plant or switches and transformers for them to function. Since each solar electric light operates by itself, every light is programmed through its own control system, to turn on and off as needed. 

Solar systems outperform traditional wired systems - no one can argue this.  When compared to the traditional system's costs for cable, trenching, consturction, metering equipment, and electric bills continuing on a monthly basis, the solar system's cost advantages can be dramatic and immediate.