Solar lantern

A solar lantern is a light that uses solar cells and the energy of sunlight to recharge its battery. They do not require a separate solar panel, external wiring, or the regular replacement of batteries and globes. Even though the solar cells are integrated into the case, solar lanterns are not much bigger than a normal lantern. They are most commonly used to illuminate doorways, balconies, patios, pool areas, and letterboxes. There are also models suitable for taking on long trips in remote areas where there is limited access to power for charging.

The four main components of a solar lantern are the case, battery, light, and solar cells. The cases are available in many styles, ranging from traditional coach lanterns to tough utility lanterns. The rechargeable batteries last many years before needing to be replaced, and new batteries are cheap and easy to install. Even so, the lanterns are cheap enough to make buying a new lantern more practical than changing the batteries. The light emitting diodes (LEDs) used in modern lanterns do not burn out, unlike incandescent and halogen globes, and will last many years and probably outlast the lantern. They also use a lot less power, allowing the lanterns to use smaller batteries that would normally be required. When they eventually start to fail, they suffer a gradual reduction in brightness over a long time, rather than a sudden failure like other globes.

A solar lantern can last throughout the night on the charge obtained during the daytime. Usually, it only takes a few hours to fully charge the battery, so a lantern can still recharge in overcast and rainy conditions. If a lantern has not been exposed to sunlight for several months, the battery will probably be flat and require a full day of charging before use. Solar lanterns can operate for many years with almost no maintenance, and only need the solar cells cleaned occasionally so they operate at maximum capacity and fully charge the battery each day.

Solar lanterns have several advantages over conventional lanterns. They do not require external wiring which can be important if parts of a garden, path or wall need to be demolished to run wiring back to a power source. The lanterns can be easily moved around when required, and put in storage during the winter months when outdoor areas are not used as much. They automatically turn on at night and off again in the morning, and recharge themselves during the day. They are also cheap enough to be replaced if lost, damaged or stolen. Newer models use super-bright LEDs that rival conventional globes for brightness, and they have a pure white color which looks better than the yellow color of halogens.

Solar lanterns have a few disadvantages which are relatively minor compare to their advantages. While they are adequate for lighting small areas, they do not have the light intensity to cover larger areas. The need to conserve power to keep the lantern working through the night requires a low brightness, but some lanterns have a switch that increases the brightness at the expense of running time.

Solar lanterns are an easy and inexpensive way of lighting small outdoor areas. The are durable, long lasting, and will most likely make back their retail price in energy savings. While they may not be suitable for every outdoor area, there are usually many places around the home and garden which are in need of extra lighting that would otherwise be too expensive or difficult to install. They are also great for camping and fishing trips, and handy to have in case of blackouts or emergencies.

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