This is similar to the light that we bought only the brand was "Patriot." Initially, I was very disappointed. We left it outside for two days, and then
tried to use it. It never seemed to have
quite enough juice to get all the way through the night. During the wee hours of the morning it would
start to slowly fade in and out. It
reminded me of some kind of homing beacon for an alien spaceship.
Then we left on our five-week
vacation. I left it charging in the
sunroom, where it would be out of the rain but could still get some
sunlight. That appear to have been just
what it needed it, because now it works very well. Even when I occasionally forget it put it out until noon or when
it has been cloudy all day, it is still going strong in the morning. So every morning I set it out on the back
porch, and every evening I fetch it inside. When the light is facing up, I set it on a soft cloth so as not to scratch the solar panel.
I suppose it is silly, since the savings are negligible, but we've got
it so we might as well use it. It's not
like my time is incredibly valuable.
I think the light is designed to be
attached to an outdoor building. It
would probably work just fine there, although it does not turn on just because
it has gone dark -- you have to flip the switch. It's about the power of an ordinary flashlight. If the "real" light is on, you can't really tell that the solar light is on. So it works great for a night light, but you couldn't read by it or anything.
My conclusion about solar power up
to this point is that it's not yet the sort of thing that pays for itself very
quickly. Over time? Presumably.
Useful for off-the-grid adventures, like camping? I'm sure it would be. Pay your utility bills for the next 30 years
all in one fell swoop? I'm guessing
so. Worth looking into if that's what
you want. But right now, electricity is
still awfully cheap. I'm going to keep
using a solar light, though. It is a
little thing. But that's okay.
No comments:
Post a Comment