News

Different Types of Solar Lights

 

Following on from the prior post "What are Solar Lights?" we are now going to introduce some of the main different types of solar lights:

 

Pathway solar lights:

Solar lights can be ideal for use as pathway lights as the aim of lighting here is for guidance so they don’t have to be the constant, bright light that would be needed for say reading. Also as paths often run away from the house and are far from power outlets it is difficult to add in permanent lighting later and can be costly; meaning solar is a great solution.

Solar pathway lights will be directed downwards with the solar panel located at the top and will generally incorporate a stake so as one can simply place the lights into the garden or lawn alongside a path. 

 

Landscape solar lights:

These are similar to pathway solar lights except that they have a wider range of designs and purposes. Some are designed so the light can be directed in different angles so one can position it in their garden how they see fit; whether casting light upwards on a tree or say directly at a garden ornament. Others are more decorative than functional.

 

String lights:

These lovely lights are becoming more and more popular. Without the need for permanent wiring or increasing the power bill one can now add an array of light up decorations to their backyard. Trees, deck railings and handrails are some of the perfect spots to add a touch of brightness for those dark evenings.

 

Security lights: 

If you need security lights for an important area such as the front entrance to a home or around a commercial premises then it's probably a smart idea to stick with wired lights for now. This is due to the fact that you want the lights to be working at 100% efficiency. You can't have several cloudy days in a row or for the batteries to only hold several hours worth of light in them.

However for less crucial areas like a back shed where you want some light if you have to go out there in the evening then solar security lights are great. They are motion activated so the light will only turn on when it detects movement. 

An Introduction to Solar Lights

                       Photo taken by Larala Lights at a solar lights manufacturer.

 

In this post we are going to take a look at solar lights. Solar can be a great alternative to mains powered lights as they are a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative. Solar garden lights have been popular for a number of years now but they are also well known for breaking after a short time, only ever giving a dim light, sometimes not coming on at all and sometimes never working in the first place. Firstly it is beneficial to have a brief understanding of how solar lights work.

Inside the solar panel are 'photovoltaic cells' - simply put these absorb the sunlight when the sun is out and shining which charge the batteries in the solar light and then when the sun disappears in the evening the lights turn on. This creates the main challenge for solar lights which is they need to be positioned to capture the full sunlight and during the day it actually has to be sunny! And ideally sunny all day. For most parts of a country like New Zealand this can be challenging. 

However recently solar lights have seen some improvements. The combination of solar and LEDs allows for a much brighter light and improvements in rechargeable batteries allow for a longer period of light and hold their charge longer. The battery is actually one of the most important components in a solar light (and actually with any rechargeable light). If a light contains a poor quality battery and it only lights up for one hour then it's pretty useless. Lithium ion batteries which are the most common type of battery found in modern rechargeable devices have a longer life and give better performance than older batteries such as Nickel-Metal Hydride battery (NiMH). 

As with many products the price can be a good indication of the quality. If you buy a pack of 12 solar lights for under $5 then the quality is going to be questionable. As manufacturers want to keep costs down they will use cheaper components which in turn create a poor quality product. The vast majority of consumers view solar lights as 'cheap' so they tend to buy the cheaper solar lights with the knowledge they might not work or will cease functioning properly after only a short time; this creates a public perception that all solar lights are poor quality so not many are willing to risk a higher spend on solar lights. Whereas if one does spend an appropriate amount from a reputable supplier or brand then one can actually get a high quality solar light that achieves a decent light output and lasts for a long time.

 

 

 

 

Perfectly portable light!

Here is an article that appeared in Habitat by Resene on the Larala Lights Mini Rec (http://www.habitatbyresene.co.nz/news/light-your-night/)

 

You know that lighting has become clever when you can carry a designer light around with you and put it virtually anywhere. And you can control it by remote. The Mini Rec is a portable LED light which can be placed anywhere, either inside or out. Perfectly sized for table tops the colour of the Mini Rec light can be changed by remote (there are 16 choices). They're reasonably priced so it's tempting to go all out and put them on the outdoor table, on fence posts, bordering the garden, around the deck... They are also superb as night-lights in children's rooms or bathrooms. They're even designed to be hung, and are shockproof. The cordless lights last for 12 hours on a 4-6 hour recharge. 

Way more stylish than your traditional rechargeable LED lantern. 

 

 

The Coolest Ice Bin Around

Summer 2016 / 17

Getting your home ready for the upcoming summer? As we all begin to slowly move our evening activities outside again as the temperature warms up we start to put more thought into our outdoor areas which have been neglected over the winter months. The patio gets an extra sweep, the garden an extra mow and the trees a trim. The BBQ is uncovered and given a thorough clean or an entirely new one purchased. As Christmas approaches the festivities are abundant and the atmosphere joyful. Mid November what an exciting time!

Recap: Better Home & Living Show 2016

Here are a few images from the Better Home & Living Show 2016 held on the North Shore, Auckland.

 

A view of the part of the Larala Lights booth.

 

The Larala LED Egg light glowing white and contrasting nicely with the Luxess Table.

 

The Larala Lights Giant Sphere - a 60cm glowing orb as a feature in your garden really adds to any space.

Better Home & Living Show 2016 - North Shore

The 2016 Better Home & Living Show 2016 is coming up the end of this month. The show runs from Friday the 28th to Sunday the 30th at the North Shore Events Centre, 10am-5pm each day. As usual there will be a great array of innovative products on display and Larala Lights will be running some great show discounts so make sure you swing by. If you want some free tickets just contact us through the contact form!

World of WearableArt (WOW) 2016

Larala Lights is selected in the "Top 10" at the Auckland Home Show 2016

Out of 500 exhibitors at the Auckland Home Show (New Zealand’s Number 1 Building & Renovation Expo) we’re proud to have been selected in the Top 10 for 2016. The Show runs from this Wednesday to Sunday at the ASB Showgrounds so come down and check it out. There will be heaps of great, innovative products on display.

 

Win a free double pass to the Auckland Home Show 2016!

Here's how you can win a double pass valued up to $44 to the Auckland Home Show:

On our Facebook post simply tag the person you will take to the Show and tell us what your favourite Larala Lights lighting design is.

Competition ends Sunday the 4th Sept at 8pm and at which time the winners will be selected at random. They will be notified Sunday evening and tickets sent out Monday once we have delivery details.