Solar Step Lights – As solar-powered lighting becomes more viable in terms of the units’ price and illumination capability, one use that adds safety and decoration to your outdoor areas is solar step lights.
Although we call them “step lights,” they are the same design as the lights you can use to install into driveways or walkways, patios, or decks.
They are usually flush-mounted and sit within the structure and light upwards as opposed to other solar lights like posts or spotlights that are designed to light downwards.
Some can sit on top of the steps – these have the advantage of being portable and can be moved as needed – but they can cause clutter and are easy to thieve.
Savings with Solar Step Lights
Solar step lights have a small solar panel, rechargeable battery, and LED bulb all contained within them. These lights will collect, store, and release the sun’s energy as light while using zero electricity in the process.
They are usually not incredibly powerful, so you will need to place them regularly in their intended location. For that reason, you will find them sold in sets of 6,8,10 or more, rather than individually.
Because they are mounted in the step, deck, or driveway, they require a little more expertise to install than the standard post lights or pathway lights (which often are stake-mounted and stick into the ground.)
You will need a drill and screwdriver at the least, but the beauty of them is that there is no wiring to an electricity supply, like with standard lights – so you don’t have to worry about hiding cables either.
Being mounted like this also means that they will have to be well-made. Take care to get ones that are made of robust and durable materials like stainless steel because they may be walked on, driven on, or have things dropped on them – solar lights always have to be strong to stand up to all weather conditions, but step lights need to be extra strong.
These lights are becoming popular because they can save money over electric lights, and they are easily maintained.
Using no electricity means that the only cost associated with them is the initial cost – and online retailers are ensuring that this is being reduced.
Once they are installed, there is next to no maintenance required – the LED bulbs last for many thousands of hours, and they even turn themselves on when darkness falls, so they require no switches and are very convenient.
Solar step lights are an excellent idea if you have children or older adults around your house or property. They can light up outside steps that can get wet and slippery or even iced up in winter so that they can save nasty falls or accidents.
