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Solar Christmas light questions answered

Straight answers on winter sun, run times, colors, timers and how solar compares with plug-in lights.

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These pages answer the questions people ask before and after buying solar Christmas lights. Most come back to one fact: December has the least sun of the year, and a solar set can only spend what its panel collected that day.

Start with do solar Christmas lights work in winter, which has December sun figures by city, then how long they stay on at night. A timer stretches a short charge further, as solar lights with remote and timer explains.

Deciding whether solar suits your yard at all? Are solar Christmas lights worth it sets out the pros and the downsides, and solar vs plug-in Christmas lights compares running cost and brightness. If the spot has no outlet and little sun, lights without electricity compares solar with battery sets and power stations. For the look of a display, see warm white vs multicolor.

Multicolor bulb lights strung through the snowy branches of a spruce during a snowfall

Solar Christmas lights with timers and adjustable panels

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Frequently asked questions

Do solar Christmas lights work in winter?

Yes, but on less charge. PVWatts data give a flat panel in Chicago about 22% of its June sunlight in December, so expect shorter nights of light, especially after cloudy days.

How long do solar Christmas lights stay on at night?

EnergySage puts typical run time at 8 to 14 hours on a full charge, most commonly 8 to 10. In December a set often starts the night on a partial charge, so it may switch off earlier.

Should I use the timer on solar Christmas lights?

In winter, yes. The Solar Centre's manual recommends its 6, 8 or 10 hour timer in winter, so the lights shut off before dawn and keep charge for the next evenings.

Sources

  1. PVWatts CalculatorNational Laboratory of the Rockies (U.S. Department of Energy)
  2. Solar Christmas Lights: Are They Worth It?EnergySage
  3. Solar Fairy Lights User GuideThe Solar Centre

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