Use the latest eco-friendly products to add a GARDEN GLOW now the evenings are drawing in
Extend your summer SPECIAL
FAB FESTOONS
Perfect for a patio swag or hanging along a fence, these warm white festoon lights feature 15 LED bulbs each with a 20cm drop along a 4.2m length of cable. Choose from 8 lighting effects, including static or flashing to instantly get the party started. IP44 rated, these lights are best stored away over winter. 15 Drop Bulb Solar Festoon Lights, £34.99 lights4fun.co.uk
Solar lighting has come a long way in recent years and can transform how you spend your evenings in your outside living space. From enchanting decorative stakes, strings and pendants to step, post and fence lights that will safely guide your way, there are endless styles, finishes and uses to choose from.
Quick and easy to install, many of the latest products have their own solar panel discreetly built in, not only eliminating any unsightly wires but also making them a cinch to pick up and move as needed. Technological improvements also mean that today’s solar lights stay brighter for longer and some come with built-in timers, flash and colour-changing effects plus clever energy-saving settings that help the lights shine out even on cloudy days.
Costing next to nothing to run, bar the occasional replacement battery, they’re a smart buy in these budget-conscious days. But when it comes to quality, there’s a huge range on the market and not all are made to last more than a season. And while solar lights will never provide the same brightness and consistency of mains-powered, some give better results than others, depending on the type of panel and batteries used. So it really pays to know your options. Whether you’re after an on-a-whim garden update or you’re planning a more considered outdoor lighting scheme, here’s all you need to know to buy worth-your-money solar lights…
A solar light is essentially made of a solar panel with a battery inside to store the sun’s captured energy. This is then used to power a single or series of LEDs (light emitting diodes) for as long as the energy reserves last, or until the circuit is broken by an on/off switch or light-level sensor (aka photoresistor).
The performance of a solar light depends on the quality and nature of the PV (photovoltaic) cells in the panel, so how efficiently these capture and convert the sun’s rays into energy. It also depends on the size and power of the battery, so how effectively that energy is stored. There are various types of solar panel and battery available, each with their own capabilities and limitations, and it’s the quality of these that govern the performance, lifespan and overall cost of the product.
WHICH SOLAR PANEL IS BEST?
Long summer days and winter nights mean tha
