Plug-in · 66 ft
66 Feet 200 Led Globe Ball String Lights
5 colors · 2 sizes
4.5 out of 5 (10,770 ratings)From $17.99
Solar String Lights: Where They Work and Where They Do Not
A solar strand needs no outlet, and that is its whole appeal. It also needs sun on the panel, and that is where most disappointment comes from.
How a solar strand works
A small panel on a stake charges a battery built into the panel housing. At dusk a light sensor switches the strand on, and the battery runs it into the night. The next morning the panel starts charging again.
That makes a solar strand perfect for a fence, a garden bed or a tree at the far end of the yard, anywhere a cord would have to cross the lawn.
Where it stays dim
Solar needs direct sun on the panel for most of the afternoon. Under a deep porch roof, on the north side of the house, under a thick tree or in a narrow side yard, the battery never fills. The strand turns on at dusk and fades within an hour.
Winter is harder still. Short days and a low sun mean less charge, so a solar strand that glows all evening in June can run short in December. The lights are not broken. They are simply running on a smaller charge.
- Deep porch roof: the panel never sees the sun.
- North wall or narrow side yard: shade most of the day.
- A week of gray skies: the battery never fills.
- December: short days, low sun, shorter evenings.
Put the panel in the sun, not the strand
The panel and the strand are joined by a lead wire, so the panel can stand in a sunny spot while the lights run into shade. Stake the panel facing south, clear of branches, and let the lead carry the power to where you want the light.
- Switch the strand on and leave it for a full sunny day before judging it.
- Wipe dust and pollen off the panel each season.
- Bring the panel in during heavy snow, which covers it for days.
Solar against the other ways to power a strand
Here is how the Minetom range divides by power, counted from the current catalog:
| Power | Designs | Price from | Most rated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plug-in | 97 | $6.99 | 66FT 200 LED Fairy Lights Plug in with Remote |
| USB | 5 | $6.97 | Color Changing Fairy String Lights |
| Battery | 16 | $5.99 | 6 Pack Battery Operated LED Fairy Lights for Christmas Decor |
| Solar | 18 | $5.84 | Solar Halloween Lights Outdoor |
When to choose something else
If the spot is shaded, choose a plug-in strand and run an outdoor cord. If there is no outlet and no sun, a battery strand with a timer is the honest choice, and it will need fresh batteries through a long season.
