Q: Dear Jim: I need outdoor security and landscaping lights, but I hate to run wiring because of the sidewalk and damage to my gardens. Has solar light brightness improved to the point where they are usable?
- Ann K.

A: Dear Ann: New designs of brighter solar-powered lights are a perfect match with your security and landscaping needs. With no wiring required, you will not have to dig through any of your gardens and landscaping. Even with do-it-yourself low-voltage lights, it is still a hassle trying to get the stiff heavy cable under or around sidewalks.

Solar-powered yard lights are simple devices. They have three basic components - a light bulb, a rechargeable battery, and a small solar cell panel built into the top of the light. Since they use no electricity, they operate for free and create no air pollution.

To install one, just attach it to your house wall, a deck rail or steps, or push a mounting post into the ground. Generally, it is a good idea to let the sun charge it up for a couple of days first and then switch it on. All models have electric eyes that switch on automatically from dusk to dawn.

The styles of many of the new solar-powered accent and security lights have gone contemporary. For versatility and because they are so easy to move as you change your landscaping, select ones that can be mounted either on a post or against a wall. With advances in solar cell technology and efficiency, the smaller solar cells are integrated into the sleek new designs.

If you've tried older solar lights before and were dissatisfied, you will be surprised at the much brighter light output, styles and features of the new ones. The older dim incandescent bulbs have been replaced with high-tech white LED's (light-emitting diodes), fluorescent and halogen bulbs. Not only are they brighter, but their higher efficiency provides more hours of light at night on a single day's recharge from the sun.

Although not for your garden, the newest designs are solar-powered street number lights. One design that I use is a solar mailbox with my lighted red street numbers on each side. I also have another solar address locator, with 4-inch amber LED numerals up closer to my front door. The numbers are visible up to about 100 feet away.

These not only insure that the

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pizza delivery person finds your house before the pizza gets cold, but it enhances security. If you ever make a 911 call, the life squad or fire department can find your house immediately. From what paramedics say, finding the proper house quickly can make the difference between life and death.

Solar-powered lights that use LED bulbs provide the most efficient and most hours of light at night. After a sunny day, eight to 10 hours of light is possible the following night. LED's are most effective for landscaping accent lighting and marking pathways and steps up to a deck. As a reference, they are generally not bright enough to read by at night.

The brightest solar-powered lights use small compact fluorescent bulbs. These actually produce some usable light that you can work or read near. They typically use four or five-watt bulbs. This may not sound like much light, but at night with no other lights on, it is quite bright. The fluorescent bulbs, like LED's, last a very long time.

For a combination of security and landscaping lighting, select an LED/halogen motion-sensing model. At dusk, the electric eye automatically switches on a dim amber LED for accent or pathway lighting. When motion is detected within 20 feet of the light, a bright halogen bulb comes on for three minutes. This will provide enough light for guests to safely walk to your door and it will definitely scare away prowlers.

Security-only, bright motion-sensing solar lights are also effective. These typically use a remote solar panel so that the light itself can be located in a shady area, like under a roof overhang. The solar panel, less than one foot square, is attached to the light with a tiny wire. These can cycle on and off more than 100 times on a single day's charge from the sun.

Other solar-powered lighting options are flashlights and bright lanterns. Some have a fluorescent and torch light on one side for camping or car emergencies, like changing a tire, and a warning flashing light on the other side. A solar panel is built into the side. The flasher will operate up to 40 hours and the torch light up to 8 hours on a single charge.

Write for (instantly download - www.dulley.com) Utility Bills Update No. 514 - buyer's guide of nine outdoor/indoor solar-powered accent, security and specialty light manufacturers (30 models) listing styles, maximum on-times, bulb types, features, and prices. Please include $3.00 and a business-size SASE.

James Dulley, Illinois Country Living, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244

James Dulley is a mechanical engineer who writes on a wide variety of energy and utility topics. His column appears in a large number of daily newspapers.

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