Outdoor and solar lighting: ratings, placement and expectations
Outdoor fittings are judged on an ingress rating, and solar output depends on where you put the panel.
What this covers
- Reading an IP rating
- Sheltered is not the same as outdoors
- How solar fittings actually perform
- Winter performance
- Panel placement
- Battery life
- Motion sensors outdoors
- Brightness expectations
- Mounting and access
Reading an IP rating
IP ratings have two digits: the first is protection against solids, the second against water. IP65 means dust tight and protected against water jets, which is the usual minimum for anything exposed. IP44 is splash resistant and suits sheltered positions only.
Sheltered is not the same as outdoors
A fitting under a deep porch experiences far less water than one on an open wall. Manufacturers rate for the harsher case, so a lower rating can be acceptable under genuine shelter. Wind-driven rain reaches further than people expect.
How solar fittings actually perform
A solar light stores what its panel collects during the day. Output and run time therefore depend on direct sunlight hours, not on daylight. A panel in shade for half the day will underperform its specification permanently, and that is not a fault.
Winter performance
Shorter days and lower sun angles reduce solar charging substantially in winter, at exactly the time you need the light most. Expect reduced run times, and consider mains or rechargeable fittings for anything that has to be reliable year round.
Panel placement
Where the panel goes matters more than where the light goes. Fittings with a separate panel on a lead let you put the panel in sun and the light where it is needed, which is a significant practical advantage over integrated units.
Battery life
Solar fittings contain a rechargeable battery, and that battery is the wear item. Most are replaceable on better fittings and sealed in cheaper ones. A solar light that has stopped working after a couple of years usually needs a battery rather than replacement.
Motion sensors outdoors
Motion sensing extends battery life considerably by running the light only when needed, and it is the reason many security fittings last all night. Sensitivity and range vary; consider what will trigger it besides people, particularly near a road or a tree.
Brightness expectations
Solar security fittings quote lumen figures at full output, which is often a short burst on motion. Sustained low-level output is a different and much lower number. Reading which figure is being quoted prevents disappointment.
Mounting and access
Anything outdoors will need cleaning, and solar panels in particular need the surface kept clear to work. Mounting a fitting somewhere you cannot reach guarantees it will be neglected. Access is part of the specification, even though it never appears in one.
How this applies when you are buying
Solar fittings need real daily sun on the panel, not just daylight, and output falls in winter and in shaded positions. The IP rating tells you what the fitting survives: IP65 is protected against jets of water and is the usual minimum for anything exposed.
Solar post lights, security fittings and motion-sensor outdoor lighting, with the IP rating stated per fitting.
On the shelf at the moment
These come straight from the A & E Bowery Lighting shelf as you read this, not from a list typed when the article was written, so the prices and the availability are current.
- Gama Sonic Outdoor Solar Post Light with Pier Base – $179.99
- daphino 2500LM Solar Lights, Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights, 3-Head, 2 Pack – $18.99
Where to go from here
All of the above is the reasoning we use behind the counter at A & E Bowery Lighting when someone asks. If you are weighing up two options and the listing does not settle it, ask: +1 212-219-3888 during opening hours, or service@bowerylights.shop, answered within one business day.
If you order from us
Standard shipping is a flat $11.95 anywhere in the United States, and it is free once the order passes $99. Weekday orders normally leave A & E Bowery Lighting the next working day, with three to seven business days in transit after that. Unopened items can go back within 30 days of delivery. Shipping Policy · Refund and Returns
Related sections of the shop
Related reading
- Base types: E26, GU10, G9 and how to identify yours – The base code is the one specification where being close is the same as being wrong.
- Colour temperature: choosing between 2700K and 5000K – The number that decides whether a room feels comfortable or clinical.
- Lumens, watts and what actually makes a room bright – Wattage equivalence is a rough translation. Lumens is the measurement.
Who wrote this
Written by the team at A & E Bowery Lighting, a lighting, bulbs and fixtures shop at 131 Bowery, New York, NY 10002. The guidance here is what we tell customers across the counter, and it is based on the products we actually stock and the questions we are actually asked. Where we are not certain of something, we say so rather than fill the gap. More about the shop · Contact us
