With the explosion of electricity prices, more and more households turn to solar lighting for outdoors. But, is its light as efficient as wired lighting? What are the advantages and limitations of each? Solar lighting VS wired lighting, which one chooses for the garden? We take stock.
Solar lighting VS wired lighting: understand the bases
TheSolar lighting The solar energy is converted from solar to electricity by means of what is called the "photoelectric effect". In simple terms, photons, or particles of light, strike the cells of solar panels, stimulating electrons and generating an electric current. Throughout the day, this electricity is stored in batteries. It will then enable to supply LEDs that will return light at nightfall, unlike wired lighting, which depends on the electrical network and requires connections to operate.
Benefits and limitations of solar lighting
The advantages of solar luminaires
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Easy installation: Unlike wired lighting that requires wiring, solar lights can be easily installed anywhere, without connection fees. They are perfect for areas without electrical access. You can thus lighting a terrace without electricity, in all ease.
Autonomous lighting: end the power outages that come to ruin your summer evenings: the solar lamp is totally autonomous!
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Ecological lighting : Depending on the years, global electricity generation releases about 40% of CO2 into the air. By choosing solar lighting, you use clean energy that helps preserve the environment.
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Economic lighting: The light generated by a outdoor solar lamp - A bill of light electricity.
The limits of solar lamps
Solar lighting has long suffered from a bad reputation, especially in terms of performance. But all this is only a distant memory. Since then, new solar solutions have emerged and have enabled us to face the problems of:
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Light efficiency: solar lamps had a lower brightness than traditional lighting. This is no longer the case today.
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Battery: solar lamp batteries tended to deteriorate rapidly, and this may still be the case with low quality models.
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Resistance to weather: Due to the rain, the lamp and reflector may tend to tarnish on some models.
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Recharging system : If the device was not exposed southward, it often did not store enough energy. It is today of ancient history if you opt for quality solar lighting.
The advantages and limitations of wired lighting
The advantages of traditional lighting
- A quality of permanent lighting: In summer or winter, the quality of this lighting does not vary.
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Cheaper to buy: wired terminals, appliques or spots are often cheaper to buy.
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Easy installation: provided that the place where you want to install the lamp is already wired, the installation remains simple. Lumihome offers solutions such as the exterior lamps, ultra easy to install.
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Practical options : wired lighting also presents some options for some models.lighting with detector, for example.
The limits of wired lighting outside
The fact that wired lighting depends on the electricity grid necessarily has some disadvantages, such as:
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Limited installation flexibility: The location must be electrified, which limits the installation of wired solution in the garden. However, there are well thought out alternatives that easily settle. spots picket Lumihome or external recessable spots 230V.
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Recurrent power outages: which happens frequently in summer with the many stormy activities.
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A great dependence on fluctuations in electricity prices: If there is a sharp increase, the electricity can become salty.
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High installation costs: If the cables are not present at the desired location, the installation will involve costly work.
Can solar lighting replace electric lighting? Spoiler: Yes, provided you make the right choice
Run the low-end!
At first glance, we might think that wired lighting remains the most reliable and efficient solution. We have seen it, solar lighting has its limits, and this will inevitably be the case if you choose the first prize. Indeed, if you buy low-end solar lighting, do not expect incredible performance and lifetime.
Say yes to quality!
The solution: opt for quality solar solutions. More expensive to buy, they are able to replace your electric lighting perfectly. So, what more do they have?
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New generation photovoltaic panels: The high-end models are made up of quality panels that incorporate single crystal sensors with amplifier. With these technologies, solar lamps are able to capture light even if the brightness is low, as in cloudy weather or in a shaded place. The solar products Lumihome are of course equipped with them. Find this technology on our website Led Genova solar terminal, and on many other models.
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Powerful and interchangeable Li-Ion batteries : “low-end solar luminaires generally have a battery that is equally good, explains Christophe Coelho. So it quickly deteriorates and stores little light. Besides the quality, the problem with this type of battery is that it is often irreplaceable. So you are obliged to change your entire device. At Lumihome our batteries guaranteed 3 years are interchangeable and designed with lithium-ion.
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Resistant lamps : quality solar luminaires are made of stainless steel and then covered with a corrosion-resistant coating to withstand the weather.
So, solar lighting VS wired lighting. You will understand, solar solutions have everything to please... still have to choose quality. For an informed choice, do not hesitate to combine the two types of lighting to enjoy the benefits of each while minimizing their respective limits.
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