How to Choose the Best Solar Post Cap Lighting

The best solar lamp post lights will be an asset to the overall look of your home. Great-quality products are durable and function efficiently with an aesthetically-pleasing design. Here, you’ll find the specifics on what goes into leading solar LED post lights.

Waterproof

As with any electrical device installed outdoors, resistance to rain and snow are a must for solar post caps. Without some degree of water resistance, outdoor lighting may quickly be damaged when exposed to the elements.

The IP rating system, or “Ingress Protection” rating, is a standardized method for the degree of protection against liquids, dust, etc. that a device includes. An example of an IP rating is IP23. The first number, in this case 2, corresponds to the solid protection rating. The second number, in this case 3, refers to the liquid protection rating.

When determining how waterproof solar power lamp post lighting is, look at the second number in the IP rating. A number 4 means that the product is safe from water spray coming from all directions. A number 6 means that the product is safe from high-pressure jets coming from all directions. A number 8 is the highest liquid IP rating and means that the product is safe from immersion in water (to a level expressed by the product maker) (Source).

Size

Post caps need to be the correct size to fit the measurements of the poles that you’re looking to install them onto. Otherwise, the lights won’t fit and you won’t be able to install them.

The typical range of post size that solar pole lights fit onto is 3” by 3” to 6” by 6”. 4” by 4” are standard dimensions for wooden posts on porches and patios, so many post lights accommodate this size.

Number of Lights in Pack

Depending on the number of posts that you have in your yard, the number of post cap lights sold in a pack in a crucial detail to consider. Purchasing outdoor lights in bulk, with more units in a single pack, may be an affordable alternative to buying lights individually. Buying a multi-pack of lights will also ensure that all of the lights are the same and will match perfectly for a cohesive look.

Post Compatibility

Post cap lights vary in the type of poles that they may be installed onto. This is a critical factor to consider because if you buy a light fixture not designed for the type of pole in your yard, you may not be able to install it properly (if at all).

There are three main materials used to construct patio, porch, and landscaping poles: wood, vinyl, and PCV. Many post cap lights are designed to be installed onto wood posts because this is the most common type of pole found on residential properties.

If your home features PVC or vinyl posts, there’s no need to worry. There are still plenty of post cap light options available to you. Just be sure to take exact measurements of the poles on your property. Then compare them to the dimensions of the solar post caps that you’re considering.

Design

As with any component of your outdoor decor, you may want to ensure that your post cap lights appear cohesive. Many homeowners may consider matching the color of their posts to the color of their post cap lights so that the two coordinate. So, if you have wooden posts, consider light fixtures in black or brown colors. For vinyl and PVC posts, white and light-colored caps may be a more fitting option.

Homeowners with white picket fences may be concerned about matching shades of white when purchasing post caps. In this situation, the distinction between ivory and “bright white” can become crucial.

Post cap lights may have glass panes surrounding the bulb. This detail not only adds a touch of elegance to the overall design but also may reduce the harshness of the light emitted by an LED bulb.

Run Time From Charge

Solar lights from different manufacturers may vary in the number of hours from a single day of charge. The amount of light that a solar fixture can provide largely. Depends on the amount of sunlight an area receives over the course of a day. The quality of the light can make a difference, too.

Solar post lights are almost always “self-contained.” It means that the solar panels are located directly on the fixture itself. So, the panel will draw energy from the sun wherever the post cap is installed. The light manufacturers almost always advertise the number of hours of light you can expect from a single day’s charge. During the winter, you may expect the light to operate at 30% to 50% of its full capacity, due to the lessened amount of sunlight (Source).