Solar fairy lights give you the same warm festive glow as electric ones, with no plug point, no wiring and no electricity bill.
Every festive season, the same problems come back. Extension cords trail across the balcony. Plug points run out. The lights go dark the moment there's a power cut. And the electricity bill climbs every month you leave them on.
Solar fairy lights solve all of that. Here's how they work, how they compare to regular electric lights, and how to get the brightest glow from yours.
How Solar Fairy Lights Work?
They charge themselves in the sun by day and switch on by themselves at night. Each set has three simple parts:
- A small solar panel on a stake turns sunlight into electricity.
- A rechargeable battery inside the panel unit stores that energy through the day.
- A string of LED lights runs on the stored energy after sunset.
A built-in light sensor notices when it gets dark and turns the lights on automatically. At sunrise they switch off and start charging again. You set it up once, and it runs itself every day.
Solar vs Electric Lights
Solar wins on running cost, placement and convenience; electric lights only win when there's no sunlight at all.
|
|
Solar fairy lights |
Electric fairy lights |
|---|---|---|
|
Running cost |
Free, powered by the sun |
Adds to your electricity bill |
|
Plug point needed |
No |
Yes |
|
Where you can use them |
Anywhere the sun reaches |
Only near a socket |
|
Switching on and off |
Automatic at dusk and dawn |
Manual, or a separate timer |
|
During power cuts |
Keep glowing on their own battery |
Go dark |
|
Safety outdoors |
Low-voltage, no live mains wire |
Mains wiring exposed to rain |
|
Setup |
Push the stake in, drape the lights |
Run extension cords to a socket |
|
Better for the planet |
Clean solar energy |
Uses grid power |
The one thing to plan for: the panel needs a spot that gets direct sunlight for most of the day.
Where to place the panel for the brightest glow
The more direct sunlight the panel gets, the longer and brighter your lights shine at night.
- Face it south. In India, a south-facing panel catches the most sun through the day.
- Avoid shade. Keep it clear of trees, walls and roof overhangs, especially between 10 am and 4 pm.
- Keep it away from other lights. A porch lamp or streetlight shining on the panel can trick the sensor into thinking it's still daytime.
- Tilt it towards the sky. Angle the panel up rather than flat against a wall.
- Give it a full first charge. Leave the new set in sunlight for a full day before the first night.
5 tips to make your lights last
A few minutes of care every month keeps them glowing season after season.
- Wipe the panel every few weeks. Dust and bird droppings block sunlight. A soft, damp cloth is all you need.
- Handle the wire gently. Untangle the string slowly instead of pulling it, so the copper wire and LEDs stay intact.
- Store them properly off-season. Coil the lights loosely, switch the unit off, and keep it in a dry place.
- Recharge after long storage. Give the panel a full sunny day before using the lights again.
- Check the switch. If the lights don't come on, make sure the unit is switched on and the panel isn't sitting in shade.
Bring home the glow
Solar fairy lights are the easiest way to make your balcony, garden or entrance glow every night, at zero running cost. Set them up once, and let the sun do the rest.
Shop Varistor Solar Fairy Lights, now at 20% off MRP.