Landscape lighting is used to illuminate outdoor spaces like gardens, yards, pathways, or staircases. They serve various purposes such as adding an aesthetic glow to your outdoor space and providing visibility into your garden at night for safety and clarity.
You can find solar and wired landscape lights in the market. Both options have their own perks and drawbacks. So, we will be discussing details about solar vs wired landscape lighting, which is the best choice for your outdoor area. Keep reading to learn more.
In-Depth Explanation of Solar Landscape Lighting
Solar landscape lights use solar energy as a power source. They have a photovoltaic cell attached to the fixture and do not require an electric connection to your home. The cell stores energy in a solar battery that is used to turn on the LED bulb at night.
Solar lights have remarkable benefits and some drawbacks. We have mentioned them in detail below to help you pick the best lights for your outdoor spaces.
Pros & Cons of Solar Landscape Lights
Let’s check out the features of solar landscape lighting to see if they are a good choice for your outdoor lighting or they might not be a suitable option for your yard.
Pros
- Solar lights significantly cut down on your electricity bills because they harness free energy coming from the Sun.
- They are environment friendly and reduce your carbon footprint as they use a renewable energy source.
- They are easy to install. You can read the instructions and install them yourself easily.
- These lights are easier to maintain as you just have to replace the battery to keep your lights working well.
- Solar lights add a soft glow to spaces pathways in your garden and plants to make them appear aesthetic at night.
Cons
- While solar lights have a lower initial cost, they require frequent battery changes to keep functioning well. This adds up to their cost in the long run.
- They are not a good option if you want to install landscape lights for security purposes because their light gets dim on cloudy days and their illumination isn’t strong enough.
- They require consistent maintenance and monitoring because solar cells on the fixture can be covered with elements like dust, leaves, or snow.
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Wired Landscape Lighting
Wired landscape lights are operated like any other light in your home as they require proper electrical wiring and connection to turn on or off. Here are some perks and drawbacks of using wired lights for your outdoor spaces.
Pros & Cons of Wired Landscape Lights
Let’s see if wired lights are what you need for your yard.
Pros
- Wired lights have mainly a one-time initial cost because they don’t require battery changes. Once the wiring is installed, they are ready to work.
- They are resistant to harsh weather conditions because their fixtures are made up of strong materials like aluminum and stainless steel.
- They provide strong and consistent lighting making them good for security purposes.
- They offer better customization options as you can get them in different colors, voltages, and brightness levels.
- They have a lifespan of up to 15 years especially if you use LED wired lights.
Cons
- Wiring of the wired lights can only be installed by experts. Similarly, only experts can do their maintenance. So, installing these lights is a complex process and requires a big initial investment.
- These lights are not energy efficient if your home is operated by non-renewable energy resources. So, this makes them a not-so-good option for the environment.
- Using these lights can increase your electricity bills. However, if you go for LED bulbs, you can reduce your bill.
- Installing these lights requires precautions to avoid any electrical mishap.
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Solar vs. Wired Landscape Lighting: Which Is the Best
Now, you’ve got an idea of the benefits and downsides of both solar and wired lights. Let’s look at their comparison to see which is the best choice for your outdoor area.
1. Installation
Solar lights are pretty much DIY. You can install them simply by reading the instructions in the manual as they do not require hard wiring. They come ready with the cell attached to the fixture.
On the other hand, installing wired lights is a big task. They require the installation of wires that can only be done by an expert.
2. Cost
Solar lights save you costs in many ways like you won’t need to hire an expert to install them, won’t need expensive wiring, save on your electricity bills, and get them at a cheaper price. However, you would need to change batteries so, these lights keep requiring investments especially if they are installed in large numbers.
Wired lights will require initial costs for wiring, hiring an expert, purchasing expensive wires, and their installation. Plus, outdoor bulbs are expensive as their fixtures are made up of sturdy material. As these lights use electricity, this increases the bill cost as well.
But once the lights are installed, they can work for over a decade without needing replacement or maintenance. So, this makes them a cost-effective option in the long run.
3. Maintenance
Maintaining solar lights is super easy as you just need to replace the batteries that do not need rocket science. You can easily maintain them yourself. Their maintenance also needs cleaning of the cells so that they keep absorbing light well. So, that can be an additional chore to your life.
Generally, wired lights do not require much maintenance. In case the wiring needs to be fixed, you would need to hire an expert because it is a technical process. These lights are made up of robust material, so they can resist extreme weather conditions.
Once you install them, you can use them for years to come without worrying about their maintenance.
4. Aesthetic
If you prefer a soft glow outdoors that aesthetically lightens up spaces, solar lights can do the job right. They are not too intense and work perfectly to highlight pathways and gardens.
Wired lights are more suitable if you love hosting outdoor parties as they offer an intense and continuous brightness. You can also get customized dimmable lights in different colors.
5. Security
A study conducted by the New York City Police Department shows proper outdoor lighting reduces the index crimes by 39% at night.
If you want to install landscape lights just for security purposes, solar lights are not the best option because they get dimmed on cloudy days and overall do not offer a much brighter light.
Wired lights are your go-to option for security purposes as they give you enhanced visibility at night.
6. Lifespan
If you are using LED solar bulbs, they can work for over a decade. But solar cells and batteries are required to be changed every few years. In other words, solar bulbs have a longer life and batteries have shorter.
Wired LED lights can work for up to 15 years. So, if you do not want frequent replacement of bulbs, opt for wired lights.
The following table will give you more clarity about solar vs wired landscape lighting.
| Feature | Solar Lights | Wired Lights |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Easy (DIY) | Requires an expert |
| Cost | Lower upfront cost, recurring costs for changing batteries | Higher upfront cost, lower long-term cost |
| Maintenance | Easy (replace batteries, clean cells) | Minimal (replace bulbs occasionally) |
| Aesthetic | Soft glow, ideal for pathways and gardens | Intense, continuous brightness, customizable colors |
| Security | Not ideal (dim on cloudy days) | Ideal (enhanced visibility) |
| Lifespan | LED bulbs: 10+ years. But require battery change every few years | LED bulbs: up to 15 years |
Choosing the Right Lighting for Your Outdoor Area
There are some other factors to consider while choosing the right lighting for your outdoor area. You can pick the lights based on the purpose you want them for, the place you want to illuminate, and your budget. Let’s check out these factors.
1. Considerations for Space and Design
If you want to illuminate smaller areas like walkways, go for solar lights. However, opt for wired lights to illuminate larger areas.
Solar lights work well for odd spaces like nooks and areas under the stairs. You can also use wired spot lights for this purpose.
2. Functional Requirements
Identifying the purpose of installing landscape lighting will give you a better idea about choosing the best type. For example, if you want to create a relaxing environment in your garden, solar lights are the best option. However, if you want a bright alert environment or you love to host parties, go for wired lights.
If you want more control over the brightness levels, go for wired lights as they come with dimmers that you can even control with your smartphone.
Go for wired lights if you live in areas where the weather is cloudy most of the time or it snows there.
3. Budget Constraints
Solar lights might be the best option for you if you do not want to invest heavily on wiring upfront. However, if you have the budget to install wired lights, you can choose them as they don’t have frequent maintenance costs.
Conclusion
Landscape lighting is good for creating a calming environment in the darkness of night. They make your space visually appealing, enhance visibility, and create a sense of security.
When it comes to solar vs wired landscape lighting, you can choose the best type based on preference, budget, space, and purpose. You can read about different types of outdoor lighting on our blog.
Get Quality Landscape Lights at the Best Price From RC Lighting
RC Lighting offers sustainable indoor and outdoor lighting solutions of higher quality. We are one of the leading outdoor lighting manufacturers in China offering a vast catalogue of outdoor lighting solutions to choose from.
Our products are not just aesthetic but also energy-efficient. We provide our clients and partners with lighting solutions within their budgets.
We have a vast variety of landscape lighting available. So, if you are looking for the best landscape lighting solutions for your outdoor spaces in any form, feel free to contact us here. We will get back to you ASAP.
