Newbie buyers must be wary of cheap gimcracks manufactured in Asian countries that conk off after a few months of basic use. These seem to have invaded the market. Here are a few pointers to note before you decide on which one to buy.
Size of the alphabets/numbers: The solar light won’t do you any good if people cannot read it from a distance. Reasonable-sized numbers and alphabets are important for easy readability. The average size of the numbers/alphabets is about 2” wide and 3 ½ “tall. You can get bigger ones or custom-sized ones as well. But this is considered the standard and usually suffices, unless the person is visually challenged.
Weather-resistance: Outdoor solar address lights are usually made of high-quality Polyurethane and offer excellent weather resistance. These are lightweight and budget-priced. If you choose a metal one instead, then look for stainless steel or copper with a weather-resistant seal to prevent rusting.
Solar cells: The most important variable is the quality of the solar cell itself. Depending on the size and the price of the solar address light, it may have a three to four-inch solar cell that can give you up to 8-10 hours of illumination depending on the amount of sunlight it receives. On a grey day, the duration might reduce to three to four hours. You can always rig it up with an external, bigger solar panel if you wish to extend the usage hours beyond the stipulated time. Also, periodically clean the solar panel as dust and debris can reduce energy absorption.
LED: You can either choose an LED with a cool white finish or a yellow warm one. Colored ones are not suited for address-plaques as they reduce visibility. Speak to the manufacturer or the salesman about the warranty for the LED. Most LEDs work for thousands of hours without fading or malfunctioning. But it’s better to be aware of the warranty.
Style: Solar address lights typically have a polyurethane or plastic housing with separate alphabets/numbers that can be glued or attached to it using straps. The other, slightly cheaper variety has an opaque panel with translucent numbers that glow when illuminated. The latter is easier to maintain and there’s no dearth of designs to choose from. With the first variety, the quality of the straps is as important as the rest of the factors because it can warp with sun exposure or become loose over time. There’s nothing worse than discovering a number or two missing and searching for it in the grass all day.
A solar address light is a great investment. One that provides complete value for every dime you spend on it. All you need to do now is browse through our selection of solar panels for homes and offices.