Solar Spot Lights

1. That perfectly trimmed topiary in your front yard deserves to be appreciated 24/7, so highlight it with a well-placed solar spot light. All it takes is a beam of light to add some drama to your nighttime landscape by accenting key plants, fountains, ponds, or architectural elements on your house.

2. You can train a solar security light on your front door and other entrances to your home so it's easier to find your keys and spot danger. Or, focus the light the other way to quickly catch varmints of the human and animal varieties in your yard.

3. Solar flood lights cast a diffuse glow over a large area, and therefore are great for security or functional lighting. In contrast, solar spot lights shine a direct beam in a specific direction and are ideal for accent or task lighting.

4. When choosing a place to install your solar spot light, make sure it won't interfere with mowing or walking paths and that it's in a hidden location that won't detract from your landscape. Get a solar spot light in an attractive or interesting form, like a rock or gnome, if it will be placed prominently.

5. Solar spot lights use small photovoltaic cells on a panel to capture the energy from the sun's light and store it in a rechargeable battery to power the light at night. Since they don't need any electrical wiring, solar spot lights are easy to install and won't raise your utility bills. They're also environmentally friendly!

6. A solar spot light's solar panel can be integrated into the light fixture, but it must get direct sunlight during the day to work at night. If your light will be installed in a shady spot, choose a model with a freestanding panel that can be placed in the sun and connected to the light by a wire.

7. Solar spot lights usually use energy-efficient LED bulbs; the more LEDs, the brighter the light will be. You'll need about 18 LEDs for security lighting, less for accent lighting. Look for models with high-quality batteries that store plenty of electricity, so you'll get the brightest light for the longest time possible each night.

8. Solar motion lights conserve the battery's hard-earned power by only lighting up in response to movement, and are a smart choice for security lights. Instead of running for a certain number of hours a night, solar motion lights can be activated a certain number of times for a certain length of time.

9. Since solar security lights automatically turn on when it gets dark, they're a much better choice than conventional flood lights that require you to remember to flip a switch. Solar motion lights trick potential hoodlums into thinking you have nothing better to do than man a switch all night.

10. To make your home seem taller and more impressive, place solar spot lights at the base of each corner and shine them vertically up the side of your house. It's like giving your home a face lift.