Should I Install Low Voltage or Solar Driveway Lights
When you’re installing driveway lighting, or really any kind of landscape lighting, the first big decision that you will have to make is whether to install solar powered light fixtures or ones that run on a low voltage circuit. There are a few positives and negatives to each approach.
The main appeal of installing solar driveway lights is that they are incredibly easy to install. Each unit is completely self-contained, so you won’t have to run any wires or do anything other than stick the lights into the ground. After this, the only maintenance that is required is changing the batteries once every year or two once they wear out and can no longer hold a charge. They are also powered by a completely green source of power, so they won’t cause you to have higher electrical bills now or in the future.
Unfortunately, the ease of installation and green power benefits come at a price. These lights are not nearly as reliable as low voltage lights, especially at the lower end of the price spectrum. Since the lights are solar powered, cloudy days or being placed in the shade might leave you with lights that won’t turn on. On top of this, the lights are many times much dimmer than their low voltage companions. Many times this won’t be a problem for driveway lights, as you don’t need them for bright task lighting anyways. But, keep this in mind if you plan on lighting your driveway with a solar powered spotlight.
There are many benefits to installing a set of solar powered driveway lights. However, there are also quite a few downsides to it as well. If you want the easiest installation possible, you should install solar powered fixtures on your driveway. However, if you Are willing to sacrifice a little bit of time and energy in favor of more dependable lights, installing low voltage lighting is the way to go.
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