Shopping for bright, environment-friendly solar lamp posts?
Well, you’ve come to just the right place!
Everyone wants their compound to be bright and well-lit, especially at night. A solar lamp post enhances the safety and security of your home and makes it look elegant and beautiful at all times.
It also helps significantly cut down your power bill and conserves the environment, undoubtedly making it a product worth considering.
Solar lamp posts are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and can range from simple square lights that don’t draw any attention to elaborate vintage, Victorian-style units that look like something out of a movie. They’re also designed with different modes, levels of power, and features.
With so many different options, choosing the best one can be incredibly daunting. To help you make the right decision, we’ve reviewed some of the most efficient, reliable, and beautiful solar lamps available in the market.
So, let’s dive right in!
What’s In This Buying Guide
Contents
This guide includes comprehensive reviews of some of the best solar lamps to help you find the model that best suits your needs.
We’ve also included a detailed buyer’s guide, along with information on how to properly maintain your model so you know what to do before and after you make your purchase.
However, if you’re more concerned about security than aesthetics, then make sure to check out our reviews of the best solar-powered security lights.
And, if you’ve decided to replace all the lights in your house with solar-powered ones, take a look at the best solar-powered flashlights.
Best Solar Lamp Posts
- 1Best overall: Kemeco ST4311AQ LED Solar Post Light
- 2Best for residential applications: Gama Sonic Baytown II Solar Light
- 3Best for walkways: Sterno Home GL23716BK Solar Street Light
Kemeco ST4311AQ LED Solar Post Light
Best Overall
Brightness
130 lumensNumber of LED
12Automated Operation
YesLED color
Warm whiteWeight
4.2 lbs.
Gama Sonic Baytown II Solar Light
Best for residential applications
Brightness
130 lumensNumber of LED
10Automated Operation
YesLED color
Bright whiteWeight
5.1 lbs.
Sterno Home GL23716BK Solar Street Light
Best for walkways
Brightness
50 lumensNumber of LED
12Automated Operation
YesLED color
Bright whiteWeight
13.13 lbs.
1. Best overall: Kemeco ST4311AQ LED Solar Post Light
An ingenious combination of one of the best solar-powered technologies and classic cross-stylish design, this Kemeco model provides a beautiful landscape and enhances security by brightly illuminating the surrounding.
Features:
Energy-efficient and warm white LED:
The Kemeco post light boasts upgraded SMD LEDs that shine at around 130 to 150 lumens, depending on the weather conditions and geographical location.
Automated function:
The Kemeco ST4311AQ automatically turns off at dawn and turns back on at dusk. You’ll just have to push the switch situated beneath the solar panel the first time.
After that, the light will turn on and off itself.
Rechargeable batteries:
The solar panel of this model charges the three Ni-MH 2300mAh batteries, ensuring that your compound or garden remains illuminated at all times.
Durable construction:
Boasting an aluminum body and ripple glass solar panels, the solar lamp is incredibly durable and long-lasting. It’s also weather-proof, so you won’t have to worry about storing it when it’s raining or snowing.
Simple setup:
Like most solar lamp posts, this model is also incredibly easy and straightforward to install and does not need any wires. You can fix it on the included mounting base or place it on a separate 3-inch (or longer) round post.
Maintenance-free:
This unit is incredibly easy to use and requires little to no maintenance. You just need to wipe the solar panels with a clean, damp cloth regularly so that they absorb maximum sunlight during the day.
Best for large spaces:
You can place the Kemeco ST4311AQ in your backyard, garden, patio, or any outdoor space that receives enough sunlight. By placing it on a long post, you’ll be able to illuminate a larger area.
Limitations:
This solar lamp is a bit heavier than other models that resemble it in features and functions. Its glass solar panels can also shatter easily if the lamp post accidentally falls or tips.
Summary
Although the Kemeco ST4311AQ has a few flaws, it still boasts all the features and qualities needed for enhanced performance. It will allow you to increase security and add elegance to your compound without spending much money.
2. Best for residential applications: Gama Sonic Baytown II Solar Light
The Gama Sonic Baytown II is an excellent money-saving and energy-efficient replacement for traditional gas or electric-powered outdoor lighting.
It beautifully illuminates your garden or patio and makes a stylish addition to the exterior of your home.
Features:
Solar-powered design:
This solar lamp post is completely powered by the sun and comes with a lithium-ion battery pack that charges when sunlight reaches the unit’s solar panel.
Three mounting options:
The versatile Gama Sonic Baytown II comes with excellent accessibility. You can use the light as an outdoor wall sconce or mount it on flat surfaces, like columns and pillars.
You can also fit the lamp at the top of a 3-inch lamp post for a modern look.
Bright white light:
This model has a brightness of 130 lumens, and its bright-white lamp works for up to 10 hours on a full charge.
Its integrated photocell sensor detects light, automaticallyturns on the lamp at dusk, and turns it off at dawn.
No electrical wiring required:
The installation of this unit is incredibly easy and only takes a few minutes. It doesn’t need any complex electrical wiring, and you can just place it in an area that receives a lot of direct sunlight.
Low maintenance:
Once you’ve installed the solar lamp post in a spot with plenty of direct sunshine, you can leave the rest up to the solar panels and the sun.
The model won’t need much maintenance, and you’ll just have to occasionally wipe the solar panels with a clean, damp cloth.
Weather-resistant and durable:
Constructed with cast aluminum, this unit is built to last and withstand all weather conditions. Its monocrystalline solar panels further boast tempered, weather-resistant glass that ensures reliability and longevity.
Automated operation:
Featuring a “Dusk to Dawn” photosensor, the Gama Sonic solar lamp will automatically turn on when the sun sets and will turn off once the sun rises. The lamp can work throughout the night on a complete solar charge.
Best for residential applications:
This model is ideal for DIY enthusiasts who want to upgrade the lighting of their gardens or patios without breaking the bank.
It’s the perfect addition to all outdoor spaces and is an excellent replacement for existing gas-powered or electric outdoor lighting.
It also enhances the security of your house and allows you to easily roam around your garden and enjoy the views at night.
Limitations:
The body of this solar lamp post has a few brittle materials that might break or get damaged if the lamp falls.
The unit also has a short battery life compared to other models, so the light may turn off during long winter nights.
Summary
The Gama Sonic Baytown II is perfect for compounds that need to be well-lit, particularly at night. Since it comes at a reasonable price, you won’t have to break the bank to add a little light to your life!
3. Best for walkways: Sterno Home GL23716BK Solar Street Light
With durable cast aluminum construction, the Sterno Home Solar Street Light ensures years of solid use, while its beautiful black finish blends with almost every style of outdoor décor.
Features:
Solar-powered LED light:
The four amorphous solar panels of this model generate DC electricity when they’re exposed to direct sunlight.
The DC electrical current is then used to power three AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries for dusk-to-dawn operation.
Automated design:
This solar lamp post automatically turns on at dusk, making it incredibly simple and convenient to use.
Weather-proof construction:
Boasting an elegant and beautiful vintage design, the Sterno Home solar street light features durable cast aluminum construction and a black rust-resistant finish.
It is also designed with plastic lenses that can endure all sorts of harsh weather conditions.
Bright illumination:
This lamp post has a light intensity of approximately 50 lumens and can create a beautiful ambiance in almost every outdoor garden. The twelve bright white LEDs further provide cool light for an extended period of time and do not need any maintenance.
Easy installation:
All the main components of this lamp are already integrated, so it’s extremely easy to install. You just need to assemble the post, lamp, and base structures before installing the unit wherever you like.
Best for walkways:
The Sterno Home solar street light is an innovative lighting solution ideal for lighting up driveways, backyards, patios, and walkways with an efficient and renewable source of energy.
Its elegant vintage-style finish further adds style and enhances the beauty of your garden, patio, and home.
Limitations:
This model is not very bright, so it’s not a good option if you want a lamp post for security.
It’s also not suitable for places with frequent bad weather.
Lastly, the included concrete anchors need a drill bit that has a diameter larger than 0.5”, so it can be a bit difficult to anchor the lamp post in the spot you’ve chosen.
Summary
The Sterno Home solar lamp post can undoubtedly define the style and mood of any outdoor space. With four solar panels, twelve bright white LEDs, and durable cast aluminum construction, it certainly deserves a place on our list of top picks.
Solar Lamp Post Buying Guide
What are Solar Lamp Posts and How Do the Sensors Work?
Solar lamps are solar-powered lighting solutions used to illuminate gardens, driveways, pathways, and other outdoor places. They provide adequate lighting, decreasing the risk of theft and allowing you to safely move around outside at night.
These units feature photovoltaic panels or solar panels that absorb energy from the sun and transform it into electricity to power the lamps.
They’re incredibly easy to install in all outdoor areas, and you can use them to improve or decorate your yard as well. Since they use sunlight as a power source, they’re cost-effective, environment-friendly, and extremely energy-efficient.
Although solar lamp posts look a bit like their traditional counterparts, they have a few key differences.
Firstly, the lamp’s cap houses one or more solar panels.
Secondly, a solar lamp post boasts built-in batteries that charge during the day with the electricity that the solar panels produce. Once it gets dark, the sensor switches on the light, and it operates on battery power.
If you live in sunny areas and the batteries have a large capacity, then the lamp will last the entire night; otherwise, they will run out of juice, and the lamp will turn off sometime during the night.
Why buy a Solar Lamp Post?
Bright outdoor lighting serves a wide range of purposes and has many benefits for commercial properties and residential homes.
It adds elegance and beautifully complements a building, creating the perfect ambiance for hosted events while warding off any dangerous threats.
Whether you want a solar lamp post for design, safety, or functionality, here are some reasons why this unit is the perfect alternative for any outdated and old electric or gas lighting:
Affordable
Trying to cut down on your power bill?
Since outdoor solar lamp posts absorb sunlight to power their rechargeable batteries, they don’t require any sort of trenching, wiring, or digging whatsoever, making them incredibly cost-efficient.
Most new models also use LED light bulbs, which further help reduce spending as they generally consume less energy and have a longer life than traditional bulbs.
Eco-friendly
Solar lamps are an easy and efficient way for you to reduce your carbon footprint. Along with using energy converted from the sun, these units are also environmentally friendly because of the materials they’re made with.
For example, models with LED light bulbs boast an average lifespan of 10 years, which means you won’t have to constantly throw away dead and old light bulbs.
Safety
Solar lamp posts are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they also protect your workspace or residence from potential threats.
If your home or building has security fixtures or seems to be occupied, then the chances of the property getting vandalized or broken into are considerably reduced.
If you live in an area with frequent power outages and bad weather, exterior solar lights will be especially beneficial, as they’ll continue to work normally because of their rechargeable batteries.
Electrical lamp posts are also a threat to the safety of pets and young children as they can trip if the extension cables are lying around.
Hassle-free
Standard electric or gas outdoor lamps have a few limitations.
One of their biggest disadvantages is that you can only install these fixtures near an electrical or gas connection. Most electric lamp posts are also incredibly complex and need professional assistance for proper installation.
The entire process is expensive and time-consuming since contractors generally charge per visit and need an electrician and landscaping team to dig holes and lay proper wiring.
On the other hand, installing a solar lamp post only takes a few minutes and does not need any costly routine maintenance.
What to look for When Buying a Solar Lamp Post
With the increase in the popularity of solar lamp posts, the market is full of options to choose from.
To ensure you get a unit that best suits your needs, we’ve highlighted some of the most critical factors you should consider before finalizing your purchase:
Brightness
The efficiency with which a solar lamp post illuminates the outdoors is one of the key factors to consider.
We advise you to choose a unit that can illuminate a wide area. The brightness of a light is usually measured in lumens, so it’s better to go for models with a higher lumen count instead of those with a greater number of LEDs.
The ideal lumen count depends on the purpose of the lamp post:
Lighting modes
Solar lamp posts come in several different color modes, including colored, bright light, and warm light options.
Most models offer either a cool or a warm option, and your choice will primarily depend on where you’re planning to place the lamp posts.
Warm white has a hint of yellow and offers a gentler light texture, whereas a harsher bright white lamp has a blue hue and uniformly illuminates the ground without creating any patterns. The right color will ultimately depend on your preference.
It’s better to go for a unit that features both options if possible.
Energy efficiency
Solar panels are generally divided into four types: Concentrated PV Cell (PVC), Amorphous Silicon Solar Panels (A-SI), polycrystalline (p-si), and monocrystalline (mono-si).
Monocrystalline solar panels have an energy efficiency rate of 20%, which is more than enough for most applications.
In addition, they’re more durable and have a longer life than other types, making them ideal for commercial usage. However, they are a bit more expensive compared to other solar lamp posts.
On the other hand, polycrystalline solar panels are incredibly cost-effective and boast 15% efficiency. However, they’re not space-efficient and are sensitive to higher temperatures.
Commonly known as thin-film panels, amorphous silicon solar panels have an energy efficiency rate of 7% to 10%, making them the least efficient of all types.
The panels are flexible, cheap, and easy to produce but have a shorter warranty and lifespan.
Lastly, concentrated PV cells are the most energy-efficient solar panels, having an efficiency rate of 41%. However, they need a cooling system and a solar tracker to maintain the high rate.
Settings & Automation
Nearly all modern solar lamp posts boast an automated function where they automatically switch on and off.
However, you will also find models that you have to turn on or off manually. It’s better to opt for automated lamps, so you don’t have to worry about turning them on as soon as the sun sets.
Some solar lamps come with extra settings and features, such as multiple illumination modes, motion detectors, and more. It’s advisable to have a model with at least two or three extra features, as they will enhance your safety and make the lamp easier to use.
Installation
You can install a solar lamp post by either staking it or planting it.
Staking requires you to drive the lamp deeply into the ground to ensure that it’s stable. On the other hand, you need to fill a decorative planter with dirt, plants, and stones to stabilize the lamp post.
Staking is easier, but you might need to remove some plants that are already rooted deep into the ground to ensure the lamp post is installed deep enough to avoid any accidents.
Planters may be more aesthetically pleasing as you can hide them and fill them with small stones and flowers, but they’ll need a bit of room.
Your decision will ultimately depend on which installation option looks better with the space you will install the lamp in.
Make sure you also choose a unit that comes with the required screws and an installation manual. This will help you install the lamp in a matter of minutes without any professional assistance.
Height
You don’t want your solar lamp post to loom over the rest and look out of place, but at the same time, you don’t want it to be so small and short that it remains hidden.
You can illuminate your garden with a dim, simple, medium-height lamp using a planter, but this height might not be suitable for other areas, such as walkways.
Similarly, your front porch might look better with a shorter lamp post with all the additional features, as it will create an alluring and inviting effect that all your guests will appreciate.
Durability
It’s advisable to choose a solar lamp post that’s sturdy and waterproof so that it can withstand all types of weather conditions. Make sure you consider the materials a model is made of and its waterproof rating before finalizing your purchase.
Charging Time and Battery Life
It’s better to go for a unit with a longer runtime and can charge even on cloudy and gloomy days.
The runtime and charging time of these lamp posts primarily depend on the location and season.
Models with lower battery capacities are ideal for areas with frequent bad weather, as they can charge even if there’s a low solar irradiance.
It’s also better to opt for lamps with a charging time of around 6 to 7 hours and a discharge rate of approximately 10 to 12 hours.
Furthermore, solar lamp posts use different types of batteries, including lead-acid, lithium-ion, Ni-MH, and lithium iron phosphate batteries.
Lead-acid batteries are the most cost-effective of all types and have a life of 3 to 4 years. Lithium-ion batteries are more expensive and can last for around 5 to 6 years.
Lithium-Ion Phosphate batteries are even more advanced and costly. They need 3.2V to charge, which means they’re paired with smaller solar panels and charge quickly, even on rainy days. They also require less maintenance and have an average life of around 9 to 12 years.
Lastly, Ni-MH batteries are more pocket-friendly compared to other types and have a lifespan of 2 to 3 years.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Solar Lamp Posts
To help you better decide whether you should really invest in solar lamp posts or not, we’ve reviewed and discussed their pros and cons in detail, andin our opinion, the benefits undoubtedly outweigh the drawbacks but make sure you compare the two yourself before deciding whether to get one or not.
Pros
Cons
Maintenance of Solar Post Lights
Solar lamp posts need very little care and maintenance as compared to other lighting units. However, to avoid repairs and ensure optimal performance, you can follow these maintenance tips:
Solar Lamp Posts: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you replace the batteries of a solar lamp post?
It’s advisable to replace the batteries of a solar lamp post after every two or three years. The entire process is incredibly easy, and you can complete it by following these steps:
- 1Turn off the unit’s manual switch.
- 2Detach the pole or post, and remove the lamp head.
- 3Unscrew the screw caps and remove the top cap of the LED light.
- 4Unscrew and open the battery compartment situated on the back of the top cap.
- 5Replace the battery. Make sure the new battery is the same type and has the same voltage and capacity as the older one.
- 6Screw the top of the light back in and reattach the lamp head and pole.
How long does a solar lamp post work after one charge?
Solar lamps convert sunlight into electricity, so the more sunlight they absorb during the day, the longer and better they’ll work at night. Most models reach a full charge after at least 6 hours of sunlight, and they’ll usually work for 8 hours after a full charge.
Final Verdict: What is the best Solar Lamp Post?
Having reviewed multiple different solar lamp posts, we have concluded that the Kemeco ST4311AQ is the best solar lamp post because of its automated operation, energy-efficient LEDs, weather-proof construction, and quick and easy setup.
However, make sure you take a look at all the models discussed above to find the one that best suits your needs!
