Solar Lamp Posts

Solar lighting has been around for some time now and frankly some types of solar lights are very effective while others are not. Just about all of the solar lighting available today however, lacks the warmth and classic design of the old time gas lamp posts. There is a new product on the market today that incorporates that look and classic design but uses modern solar power instead of gas or cabled electricity to provide that nice warm glow.

Solar lamp post lights come in many sizes, shapes and configurations but they all share some common attributes. All of them use a small solar panel located on the top to gather energy from the sun. That energy is then stored in a battery pack. LED (light emitting diode) lights provide the illumination and they in turn are powered by the battery pack. The battery pack is usually a nickel medal hydride or lithium Ion type and is easily replaced. The similarities of the solar lamp post lights seem to end there. Some varieties of use six LED some use eight while others use ten. Some manufacturers use a patented cone in the center of the head of the lamp to reflect and amplify the light. The materials used to construct the solar lamp post vary from powder coated aluminum to polycarbonate. Power coated aluminum will stand up to the elements much better and is easy to touch up if it gets nicked or scratched. Beveled glass is also preferred for the lens material because of its classic look and clarity. Other materials can get chalky from the sun over time.

Solar lamp post lights sit on top of a decorative black pole that is about 7 feet high. You can get them in a one, two or even a three head configuration. The more heads you have, the more LED lights you have and the brighter the lamp. These lamp posts can also be wall mounted or just the head is available to replace an existing gas or electric lamp that sits a top of a three inch diameter pole. Placement is critical for these solar lamp posts. They need a full 4 to 5 hours of sun to fully charge the battery pack. With a full charge they have no problem turning on automatically at dusk and then off again at sunrise. The light they emit will be about as bright as a gas lamp post.

The lamp post lights are shipped in several pieces. There is the head, the light mechanism, the base and the pole, so some assembly is required but it is not difficult. Most have an on/off switch and it is best to switch the light off the first time it is used. Leave it off for a couple of days to let the battery pack fully charge then switch it on and the lamps will operate automatically. No gas tubing or electrical cable is needed because they are powered by the sun. The battery pack is easily replaced and the lighting mechanism is easily replaced so maintenance is a snap.

It is best to pour a small concrete pad and use the lag bolts that are included with the lamps to bolt them to the pad, then you know they are there to stay. These lamp posts can be quite attractive at the end of a driveway, on top of a brick or stone wall, in gardens, around apartment buildings or any where you want the classic look and feel of an old time gas light that is powered by the sun.

For more information about solar lamp posts click Solar Lamp Post