What are the pros and cons of solar patio/deck lighting?

Here are six things to consider before installing solar patio or deck lights:

1. Know what to expect. Solar won’t burn as brightly as low-voltage lighting. In fact,  incandescent lights are about 10 times brighter.
2. Rely on solar lighting more for ambience than function. Consider solar fixtures for soft accent lighting.
3. Don’t write off solar fixtures just because you’re building in a shady area of your yard. On a July night following a bright day, most solar fixtures will stay charged from dusk until dawn, manufacturers estimate. After a cloudy day, or if the fixture is in a shady spot, it might run for six hours instead of all night.
4. Solar fixtures are simple to install: Screw them onto a railing post, activate the batteries and walk away.
5. Batteries need changing about every three years, manufacturers estimate.
6. You’ll pay more per fixture for a solar light than for a typical incandescent lamp, but you’ll save on wiring and power supply, so the cost comes out about the same for both.   

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