I'm wondering if solar lights will still work long-term if I only use them during power outages. My concern is that I've read these lights, especially the cheap floodlights you find in stores, often die after about a week. If I keep the solar light turned off and only turn it on during a blackout, will it still work? Or do these lights just stop functioning after some time regardless of being off and stored outside?
4 Answers
For enclosed fixtures, emergency backup lightbulbs are usually a better bet. If they’re wired correctly, they can detect a power outage. But about solar floodlights, they typically hold up pretty well as long as they aren’t stuck in shady spots. They might last a year or two, but the lithium-ion batteries can degrade if they don’t get regular sunlight. If you're handy with soldering, you might be able to fix them if the battery fails.
You mention that they die quickly, but I’m curious how you came to that conclusion! It’s not something everyone experiences.
Honestly, the cheap solar lights from places like Walmart last for a couple of years if they get enough sunlight to recharge. If yours are dying in a week, it sounds like they're not getting enough sun—like not being placed in the right spot or having a faulty battery.
If you're planning to rely on those basic solar lights as flashlights, you might want to look into better options. Rechargeable flashlights or a battery bank with USB lamps could be a safer bet. I've used battery banks that stay charged for over a year, and they can power various lamps for hours. Solar yard lights can be weak indoors, and charging them during bad weather can be tricky, which is usually when you lose power.