Half the String Died: Series vs Parallel, Explained
The old myth about holiday lights says one bad bulb can kill the whole string. For solar LED strings, that…
Category Solar Basics
The Winter Sun Angle Problem: Repositioning Panels for Low Light
Three things happen to the sun between November and February, and all three of them take charge out of a…
Do Solar Lights Work in Winter? The Honest Answer
People ask whether solar lights work in winter expecting a yes or a no, and the honest answer is more…
Why Do Solar Lights Even Have On/Off Switches?
It is the smallest component on the entire fixture, a half-inch slider on the underside that most people never touch…
Charging Solar Lights on Grey Fall Days
There is a specific week in late October when the sky turns the color of wet cardboard and stays that…
North-Facing Yards Need Different Lights. Here’s Why
Why do the solar lights on the north side of your house quit by nine while the front walk glows…
mAh vs Wh: Decoding Solar Light Battery Labels
Here is the warning I wish someone had given me at the battery rack: mAh is not a measure of…
What a Blinking Red Light on Your Fixture Means
I want to confess something embarrassing. For three weeks last October I walked past a wall light that blinked red…
What Shorter October Days Do to Solar Light Runtime
The myth says solar lights fail in fall because cold damages them. It is a tidy story and mostly wrong,…
How Long Do Solar Lights Take to Charge? (Honest Answer)
How long do solar lights take to charge? Six to eight hours of direct sun for a full charge on…
Do Solar Lights Need Direct Sunlight? How Much Shade Is Too Much
Do solar lights need direct sunlight? No – they’ll charge in shade, and then dim by 9 p.m. like they’re…
Are Solar Lights Safe? Fire, Heat and Weather Myths, Answered
Are solar lights safe? Yes – and I say that as someone who made a living fastening a few hundred…
What mAh Means on Solar Lights (and the Runtime to Expect)
Solar light battery capacity is the most misunderstood number on the box. Manufacturers print mAh in a font bigger than…
Warm White vs Cool White Outdoor Lights: How to Choose
Warm white vs cool white outdoor lights is the decision people agonize over, and it shouldn’t take longer than a…
How Do Solar Lights Work? A Plain-English Walkthrough
The question I get from neighbors more than any other is ‘how do solar lights work,’ and the answer is…
