A Solar Powered Spotlight - How to Install a Solar Spot Light

This article goes over some helpful tips for installing a solar powered spotlight. Putting up a solar spot light involves deciding where to put it so shines the focused spot of light where you want it to, making sure the outdoor solar spot lights are not in the way of anything and making sure that the outdoor solar spotlights will get enough sun. A solar spotlight is great way to highlight something on your property.
A Solar Powered Spotlight - How to Install a Solar Spot Light
Decide where to put your solar powered spotlight

First, you should decide which object, flower or sign that you want your outdoor solar spot light to highlight and decide if you want to stake the solar powered spotlight into the ground or mount the solar spot light on a wall, gate, fence or fencepost. Choose a location such that the solar powered spotlight is close enough and able to shine a focused spot of light on your object. You could try temporarily staking the solar powered spotlight into the ground or if you want to mount the solar spot light above the ground, have a helper hold your solar spot light up in that spot by hand, preferably after dark, so you can step back and look to see if the solar powered spotlight lights up the spot the way you would like it to.

Make sure the solar spot light is not in the way of anything

Make sure that the solar spot light is in a convenient location that will not be hit by anything nearby, such as a lawnmower, yard tools or a vehicle. You don’t want your solar powered spotlight to get knocked over or damaged.

Make sure the solar powered spotlight will have enough sun

Once you have identified a good possible spot for your solar spot light, check that location to see how much sun it gets. Look for objects, overhangs, downspouts, tree branches or anything that might cast shade on your solar powered spotlight. Check the location for your solar spot light many times throughout a sunny day, to see if the sun will shine on your solar powered spotlight as much as possible each day. Your solar spot light should get as many possible hours of sun per day so that its batteries will be fully recharged each day.

Put up your solar spot light - staked

Now that you have found a good location for your solar powered spotlight, if you are going to mount it staked, then attach the stake point to the solar spot light and push it into the ground. Try to make sure that the solar powered spotlight’s stake is straight upright, so that the solar spot light is level. Push the solar powered spotlight’s stake firmly into the ground by holding onto the stake, not the top or panel of the solar spot light. Turn the mini solar panel of the solar powered spotlight so that it faces south and at night, adjust the angle of the solar spot light so that it aims the light at the right spot.

Or - put up your solar powered spotlight - wall mounted

If you have decided to mount your solar spot light above ground instead, then make holes for the screws in the wall, fence or gate, making sure the solar powered spotlight is level and so that the solar spot light won’t jut out where you don’t want it to. Make sure also that you position it or mark the places for the holes at night, so you are sure that the solar powered spotlight will shine the light in the right spot. Place the screws and securely mount your solar powered spotlight. Turn the mini solar panel of the solar powered spotlight so that it faces south and at night, adjust the angle of the solar spot light so that it aims the light in the right direction.

Congratulations ! By installing a solar spot light, you have now added an interesting, highlighted point of light to your property, or perhaps your solar powered spotlight lights up your house number, making it easier for people to locate your house at night ! Best of all, your solar spot light does not require any wiring at all and your solar powered spotlight is powered by the free power from the sun. You may want to add several more outdoor solar spot lights to highlight other things.
   By Lisa Saffel
Published: 8/14/2009
 
Where would you most likely place solar spotlights ?
To shine on your house number
To shine on a plant
To shine on a flower
To light up a part of your front steps
Use one or more to highlight a sign
To light up an obstacle
To shine upwards onto a wall
Mounted on a wall
On a garage, to light up the door handle
Some other location
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