Best Solar Outdoor Lights for Deck and Deck Railing
Over the years, solar lights have grown in popularity. From camping lights to solar-powered generators, green energy-fueled products can be found everywhere, including deck lights. Yes, you read that right! If you plan on upgrading the deck lights of your house, we have curated a list of the best solar lights for deck railing.
These lights are compact and have the necessary fitting to accommodate them over railings or on the deck floors or stairs. All you need to do is ensure these lights receive adequate sunlight.
With that settled, let’s see some recommendations for the best solar deck lights. But first,
- Light up your garden’s pathways with these solar lights for yards
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- Light up the perimeter of your garden with these solar lights for fences
OTHWAY Solar Fence Post Lights
OTHWAY Solar Fence Post Lights
You can check out the OTHWAY Solar Fence Post Lights if you have a small deck. The highlight of these solar deck lights is the unique honeycomb design at the bottom of the light, which gives off a pretty design when the lights are illuminated. There are no frills like light mode or motion sensor. However, you do get a runtime of 4-9 hours.
It’s worth noting that the runtime depends on the exposure to sunlight and the type of built-in battery. A cloudy or rainy day may translate into a shorter runtime. Interestingly, the lights are sturdy enough to hold their own against rain, shine, and snow, although there isn’t any definite IP rating.
The lights are bright, and several users have recanted this in their reviews. Installation is swift, and if you follow the guide, you should get your lights up and ready in under 30 minutes.
The OTHWAY Solar Lights are well-liked on Amazon, and they have massed more than 6,000 user ratings. They are sturdy and durable and should last you a long time.
Phereu Solar Deck Lights
Phereu Solar Deck Lights
Up next, we have the solar lights from Phereu. Unlike the ones above, these come in a bunch of 16 lights, and are apt for both deck stairs and deck railings. You can install them in two ways — either go the easy way or use adhesive tape. Or, you can mount them on your deck railing through screws. Either way, these solar deck lights give an elegant look when lit.
The small form factor translates into an easy installation process. At the same time, the lights provide cast a soft glow. For the record, the lights are warm yellow.
The charging time is around 6-8 hours. It can stay upwards of eight hours when fully charged. While they give a soft glow to your porch, these solar lights have some limitations. Regarding durability, the Phereu solar lights have received mixed reviews. On the one hand, we have some users for whom these lights lasted as long as two years, while others have complained that some didn’t even last six weeks.
The Phereu solar deck lights are popular on Amazon and have amassed positive reviews for their adhesion and easy installation process. And when rightly charged, the lights are bright as well.
Alternatively, you can also check out the GIGALUMI Solar Deck Lights.
Greluna Outdoor Solar Wall Lights
Greluna Solar Wall Lights
The Greluna Solar Wall Lights stand apart from the other lights due to its distinctive lightbox. It also comes in two light modes. On most days, you can use the default warm white option. And when needed, you can switch to the color mode. Cool, right?
These lights require proper installation, and you will need to mount these deck lights to deck railings and posts using screws. They are durable, and some users have claimed they continue to work even after snow or winter storms. Now, that’s something. Further, a user has claimed that their solar deck lights from Greluna have lasted for over three years.
The lights are bright and provide enough light to cast a soft glow on your deck. Plus, switching the mode results in vivid colors. These are weatherproof lights and can bear their share of snow and rain.
As prefaced above, these lights sport a unique design at the front. As such, they will complement houses with vintage themes well. If you want your deck to stand out, the Greluna solar wall lights are perfect for outdoor deck lighting.
Alternatively, you can also check out the JSOT Outdoor Solar Lights.
It looks like the Batmobile, works on solar energy, and could be the future of cars
The first mass-produced solar-powered cars are slated to roll off the assembly line this year. Could this be a breakthrough in climate-friendly transportation?
The dream began in 1955, with a tiny, toylike creation called the “Sunmobile.” Built from balsa wood and hobby shop tires, it was just 15 inches long. The 12 selenium solar cells that decorated its exterior produced less horsepower than an actual horse. But it was proof of a concept: Sunlight alone can make a vehicle run.
The years went on, and the dream evolved into a converted vintage buggy with solar panels on its roof. Then a glorified bicycle, a retiree’s garage project, a racecar that crossed the Mojave Desert at 51 miles per hour.
It is a dream of perpetual motion. Of travel that doesn’t do damage to the planet. Of journeys that last as long as the sun shines.
There are problems with this dream, big ones. Clouds come. Night falls. The laws of physics limit how efficiently solar panels can turn light into energy.
But one start-up claims it has overcome those problems. Now, its founders say, the dream can be yours for as little as 25,900.
Aptera Motors, a California company whose name comes from the ancient Greek for “wingless,” is rolling out the first mass-produced solar car this year. It’s a three-wheel, ultra-aerodynamic electric vehicle covered in 34 square feet of solar cells. The car is so efficient that, on a clear day, those cells alone could provide enough energy to drive about 40 miles — more than twice the distance of the average American’s commute.
The Aptera must undergo safety tests before the company can begin distribution, which it hopes to do by the end of this year. Even then, it’s not clear that consumers will want to buy something that looks like a cross between the Batmobile and a beetle. The shadow of an initial attempt, which ended in bankruptcy, hangs over the founders as they gear up to launch their new product.
But the Aptera’s creators, Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro, think the world needs a car like theirs. Transportation is the largest source of planet-warming pollution in the United States. The Biden administration has made it a priority to reduce vehicle emissions, and several major automakers have pledged to phase out cars and light trucks with internal combustion engines.
After years of dreaming, maybe the time for driving on sunshine is finally here.
Solar panel power
Anthony and Fambro didn’t set out to build a vehicle that could run on solar power. They just wanted to make a more efficient car.
Burning gasoline, it turns out, is not a very efficient way to travel; as much as four-fifths of the energy produced by an internal combustion engine is lost as heat, wasted overcoming wind resistance or used up by fuel pumps and other components, according to Energy Department data.
All-electric vehicles perform much better, but they’re still not perfect. About 10 percent of the energy that goes into them is lost converting alternating current from the electrical grid into direct current for the battery. Inefficiencies in the drive system eat up another 20 percent, and the car must still deal with wind resistance and friction, through regenerative braking systems can reduce some waste.
From top to wheels, the Aptera is designed to eliminate as much waste as possible. Its creators say the car is 13 times more efficient than a gas-powered pickup truck and four times more efficient than the average electric vehicle. At least 90 percent of the power produced by the Aptera’s solar panels goes toward making the vehicle move, the company says.
How to design for efficiency
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Aerodynamic shape The vehicle’s body — curved at the nose, wide along the sides and tapered toward the trunk — is built like a small, speedy aircraft. This reduces drag, or the force of air flowing against the motion of the vehicle.
Reduced drag The Aptera’s undercarriage swoops like a dolphin’s belly. This serves to reduce the drag that comes from the turbulent air between the vehicle and the ground.
Less friction The engineers tested at least 10 kinds of tire to find the one with the least rolling resistance” — the friction that comes from the wheels against the ground. They also opted to design the car with three tires, instead of four, eliminating a touch point where energy can be lost.
Lighter frame Because lighter cars require less energy to move, the Aptera is built with ultra-light carbon composites and fiberglass. Its arched shape, which mimics the physics of an eggshell, keeps it strong as steel. Some of its parts can be produced on a 3D printer, lowering costs.
Energy-saving interior Inside the vehicle, heat is automatically removed from the car while parked, lowering air conditioner load. Electronics are built with wires that offer the least resistance, ultra-efficient LEDs and low-power displays and “sleep modes” for the main screen when not in use.
Accumulated efficiencies All of this adds up to a car that requires very little fuel. The Aptera uses just 100 watt hours of energy per mile — about as much as a desktop computer consumes in 30 minutes.
The Aptera can be recharged the same way a standard electric vehicle is fueled — by simply plugging it into an outlet. Its extreme efficiency means the car can go 150 miles after just 15 minutes at an ordinary charging station.
But an average electric car would need a solar panel “the size of a semi truck” to go farther than a few miles, Fambro said. Meanwhile, a relatively small number of solar cells can propel the Aptera.
“It only works if you have a super-efficient vehicle,” Fambro said. But once he and Anthony realized how far the sun alone could take them, “there was no other plan than to make it a solar vehicle.”
LEFT: A sun-powered car, one of the world’s first, in London in 1960. RIGHT: Aptera Motors CEOs Chris Anthony, left, and Steve Fambro with the three-wheel Aptera solar electric vehicle at the company’s production design facility in San Diego.
Impractical but inspirational
When the first solar vehicle, the tiny Sunmobile, debuted at a General Motors trade show 65 years ago, even its inventors were skeptical about its prospects. GM officials told the magazine Popular Mechanics their creation was of “no practical application to the automotive industry at present.”
But that challenge was exactly what appealed to Danish adventurer Hans Tholstrup. Feeling guilty for his fossil-fuel guzzling exploits — flying around the world, driving a speedboat around Australia — he wanted to do something to benefit the planet.
In 1982, Tholstrup and racecar driver Larry Perkins unveiled the “the Quiet Achiever” — a boat-shaped, single-driver construction topped by a 90-square-foot solar array. A tiller served as the steering system, and the wheels and brakes were borrowed from a bicycle. Eating orange slices to stay hydrated and camping by the side of the road, they took 20 days to drive 2,560 miles across the Australian continent. Their average speed was 15 miles per hour.
Tom Snooks, the project’s coordinator, recalled Tholstrup comparing the journey to the flight of the Kittyhawk: impractical but inspirational, and a sign of advances to come. “If it will motivate just one more idea and thought in the development of solar power,” Tholstrup said, “then the venture will have been well worthwhile.”
In 1987, Tholstrup launched the “World Solar Challenge” to encourage others to improve upon his record. Soon solar races were springing up around the globe, attracting competition from car manufacturers and high school students alike. The vehicles evolved from Tholstrup’s “bathtub on wheels” to bullet shapes to three-wheeled cars with curved, winglike solar arrays. By 2013 the World Solar Challenge introduced a “cruiser class” competition in an effort to spur development of more commercially viable vehicles.
“It makes for a really fun design challenge,” said University of Michigan mechanical engineer Neil Dasgupta, faculty adviser to the school’s highly decorated solar car team. “And we’ve made tremendous advances.”
The team’s 2017 vehicle, which placed second in the World Solar Challenge, weighed just 420 pounds and averaged almost 50 miles per hour.
Solar cars have to be small and sleek, Dasgupta explained, because of inefficiencies in solar panels. Photovoltaic cells are limited in what wavelengths they can turn into electricity. They don’t perform well when they get hot. Even the best solar panels only convert about 23 percent of the sunlight that hits them into energy. You can get much more power more quickly by simply plugging into a charging station.
Total reliance on solar power also poses practical problems. It means the car can’t be parked in a garage or under a tree. Once the battery is full, any additional energy that hits the solar panels is lost.
“This is a niche kind of thing,” said Timothy Lipman, co-director of the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California at Berkeley. The Aptera, which seats two, wouldn’t work for a large family, a commuter in cloudy Seattle, a plumber who has to lug around equipment.
Advances in solar cars could benefit the broader automotive industry, Lipman said. They might lead to the development of lighter materials and make the case for greater efficiency in electric vehicles. Manufacturers could add solar panels to augment car batteries. Maybe the technology will find use at national parks and remote military installations.
But Lipman thinks it will be difficult for sun-powered vehicles to find broad commercial success. A Chinese manufacturer was still seeking funding to produce its prototype when it ran into financial problems last year. The Dutch champions of the first “cruiser class” race in the World Solar Challenge launched their own start-up, Lightyear One, and aim to start deliveries of their large, four-wheel hatchback at the end of this year. Still, the Lightyear car’s price tag, about 180,000, puts it out of reach of most buyers.
Anthony and Fambro know how easy it is to fail. Four years after founding Aptera in 2006, they left the venture amid disagreement with other leadership — auto industry veterans who wanted to build a traditional four-wheeled vehicle to qualify for federal loans. But the money never materialized. The company was liquidated in 2011, and its intellectual property sold.
Business analysts treated the collapse as a case study in the perils of launching an automotive start-up. Cars are more expensive to make than software. Federal regulations are difficult to navigate. Consumers are wary of change.
But Aptera’s inventors took a different lesson from that experience: “The traditional design process doesn’t allow for breakthroughs,” Fambro said. “Because anything that’s a breakthrough is seen as something that’s polarizing, and they don’t allow polarizing things to exit the research clinic.”
If the Aptera was going to succeed, they decided, they couldn’t make compromises to satisfy a federal requirement or a market-research firm’s recommendation. They had to be willing to be different.
“That’s the march of technology,” Anthony said, before paraphrasing Apple founder Steve Jobs. “People don’t know what they need until you show it to them.”
LEFT: Aptera’s creators say the car is four times more efficient than the average electric vehicle. RIGHT: The Aptera can be recharged the same way a standard electric vehicle is fueled — by simply plugging it into an outlet.
‘That’s how the future happens’
After a decade spent pursuing other ventures, Aptera’s creators bought back the company in 2019 and launched a crowdfunding campaign to restart development.
Their timing was good. Electric batteries had gotten much cheaper and lighter. Solar cells had become more efficient. Advances in computing enabled the inventors to simulate the vehicles on their desktops, speeding up the design process. Even the constraints imposed by the coronavirus pandemic spurred creativity, Anthony said.
When Aptera began taking preorders last December, it sold out of its planned first batch of 330 vehicles in 24 hours. Almost 7,500 people have now put down deposits for a car.
One of them was Tyler Perkins, the 27-year-old assistant manager of a small airport in Oklahoma City. A technology buff who had been following the company since he was a teenager, he said he was drawn to the Aptera’s “funky, radical design” and wanted to make a hopeful bet on tomorrow.
“They’re actually like, ‘let’s build a futuristic car, because if we don’t do it no one will,’ ” Perkins said. “And that’s how the future happens.”
Concern about climate change already motivated Perkins to become a vegan and drive a hybrid. He wanted to switch to an electric vehicle, but his apartment building offers no charging station. Then the Aptera came on the market. Even without federal tax credits (which only go to four-wheeled electric vehicles) it costs almost 10,000 less than other EVs. Sure it’s small, but all he needs is space for himself and his camping gear.
“I think it will work great for me,” Perkins said, “as someone who is trying to be as efficient as possible and have a minimal impact on the environment.”
Not every Aptera fan fits the stereotype of an avid environmentalist. Nick Field, a 36-year-old accountant in London, is drawn more to the car’s long range and high performance; it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and hit top speeds of 110 mph. As far as he’s concerned, the Aptera’s low climate impact is just a fringe benefit.
“I’m in the category of, ‘I want to enjoy my life,’ ” Field said. “I just like fast cars. … I think it’s really cool.”
Anthony acknowledged that the Aptera is not for everyone. But it has more appeal than its skeptics give it credit for, he said. The car’s high efficiency means it puts less demand on the grid than ordinary electric vehicles. It could be ideal for delivery trucks and Postal Service vehicles, which don’t travel far and spend lots of time idling. Outdoor enthusiasts will probably like the option to venture far from charging infrastructure without worrying about fuel. And the notion of parking an Aptera in the sun and returning to a car that has more fuel than when you left it — free, clean fuel — is a powerful idea at a time when the world is looking for transformation.
“We see solar as the main driver of our business,” Anthony said. “It enables so many things.”
He considered the dreamers who first conceived of solar cars: Tholstrup subsisting on orange slices during his cross-continent journey, engineering students building racecars after school. He thought about the early developers of electric vehicles, who had faith in a future that didn’t run on gas. He remembered the investors who shied away from the Aptera’s first incarnation, saying “who is going to buy your weird egg-shaped creation?”
“It’s the same thing with anybody who does anything first,” Anthony said. “It’s always: Why would you do that?”
When Aptera hits the road, he’ll have his answer.
About this story
Editing by Lyndsey Layton, copy editing by Sue Doyle. Graphics editing by Monica Ulmanu. Photo editing by Olivier Laurent. Design and development by Andrew Braford.
Correction: In an earlier version of this story, the graphic depicting the drag coefficients of various moving objects gave an incorrect figure for a bottlenose dolphin. Its drag coefficient is 0.01, not 0.001.
Qi2: Here’s What’s new With the Popular Wireless Charging Standard
Imagine a world where your everyday devices effortlessly charge without the hassle of tangled cables. A world where you can power up your smartphone, wearables, and electronic gadgets simply by placing them on a charging pad. This is the reality that wireless charging, powered by the Qi standard, has brought to our lives. And now, with the latest iteration, Qi2, the possibilities are even more exciting.
In our fast-paced lives, convenience is key, and Qi2 wireless charging is designed to make your life easier. It takes the concept of wireless charging to new heights, promising enhanced capabilities and improved efficiency that can transform the way you power your devices. But what exactly sets Qi2 apart from its predecessor? How does it make your charging experience even better? Let’s delve into its world and explore the advancements that can revolutionize the way you interact with their devices.
Overview of Qi Wireless Charging
Qi wireless charging operates on the principle of inductive charging, where power is transferred between a charging pad and a device without the need for physical connections. This technology has revolutionized the way we charge our devices, providing a cable-free experience and improved device durability. Qi charging has become the go-to standard for many manufacturers, making it compatible with a wide range of devices.
Evolution of Qi to Qi2
Qi2, the latest advancement in the Qi wireless charging standard, builds upon the success of its predecessor while introducing several key improvements. With Qi2, users can experience faster charging speeds and broader device compatibility. Interoperability among different Qi-enabled devices is also a significant FOCUS, ensuring seamless charging experiences across various brands and models.
Increased Power and Efficiency
One of the notable advancements in Qi2 is the increased power delivery and efficiency. Qi2 supports higher wattage charging, enabling faster charging of compatible devices. This means reduced charging times and improved convenience for users. Additionally, Qi2 optimizes power transfer efficiency, minimizing energy loss during the charging process and maximizing overall charging performance.
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Extended Range and Spatial Freedom
Qi2 brings improvements in the wireless charging range, offering you greater flexibility and spatial freedom. With Qi2, charging devices over extended distances becomes a reality, thanks to advancements in technology. Qi2 addresses potential limitations and ensures reliable charging even at vast ranges, further enhancing the convenience of wireless charging.
Qi2’s Compatibility and Integration
Compatibility is a crucial aspect of any wireless charging standard, and Qi2 excels in this area. It maintains backward compatibility with previous Qi-enabled devices, allowing users with existing Qi-compatible devices to continue enjoying the benefits of wireless charging. over, Qi2’s integration into various industries, such as automotive, furniture, and public infrastructure, opens up new possibilities for wireless charging adoption.
Safety and Standardization
Safety is of paramount importance in wireless charging, and Qi2 incorporates advanced safety features and adheres to industry standards. The standard includes enhanced foreign object detection, ensuring that only compatible devices are charged, and minimizing the risk of accidents or damage. Adherence to standards is crucial for consistent and reliable charging experiences across different Qi2-compatible devices.
Future Prospects and Innovation
The prospects of Qi2 are promising, with ongoing research and development aimed at further enhancing wireless charging technology. Longer-range charging and faster charging speeds are some potential advancements on the horizon. Qi2’s impact is not limited to smartphones and wearables; it also holds the potential for integration into emerging technologies like electric vehicles and Smart homes, transforming the way we interact with and power our devices.
Qi2 represents a significant leap forward in wireless charging technology, offering enhanced charging capabilities and improved efficiency. With faster charging speeds, broader device compatibility, optimal power transfer efficiency, and extended range, Qi2 is poised to revolutionize the wireless charging landscape. Its compatibility with previous Qi-enabled devices, integration into various industries, and commitment to safety and standardization make it a compelling choice for consumers and manufacturers alike. As wireless charging continues to evolve, staying up to date with standards like Qi2 ensures that you can make the most of the convenience and efficiency.
Solar 30000mAh Power Bank External Battery 2 USB LED Powerbank Portable Mobile Phone Solar Charger for Xiaomi Mi iPhone Samsung
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In May 2004, King Master Technology Co., Limited Company Limited was established.
In October 2008, we attended Hong Kong Electronics Fair and Dubai Fair.
In 2009, we attended Dubai Fair, India Fair, Hong Kong Fair and IFA Fair in Germany.
In 2010, we attended CES Fair in America, Hong Kong Electronics Fair in April and October, and Shanghai Electronics Fair In June.
In April 2010, with the expanding of our company, we moved into a new factory.
In 2010, we started to develop our own brand, and had flagship store on Tmall.
In 2011, we attended Hong Kong Electronics Fair in April and October, Tai Wan Fair In June, we attended CES Fair in America, and CEBIT Fair in Germany.
In 2012, we attended CES Fair in America in January and CEBIT Fair in Germany in March.
In 2012, there are 3 sets of SMT machines and 150 staff in our factory. And we strengthened to Promote of our brand.
In 2013, our company introduced some new products, such as Power bank, Phone case, etc.
In November 2013 our automatic equipment was put into use, which increased daily production capacity and shortened the leading time.