GARDEN SHEDS

Solar Lighting in Garden Sheds

You can bet on it, the next time you need something in a hurry from the garden shed, it will be dark and probably raining, and you won't be able to see a thing. The cheapest and simplest way to provide lighting on your shed is to put in some solar lights.

Installing electric lights into a shed can be a nuisance, having to dig trenches and lay cables, working out quite expensive, especially if you will only require lighting occasionally. A much simpler and cheaper option for providing light may be to use solar lighting in Garden Sheds.

The typical solar light that you would find suitable for garden sheds work on a simple system. During the day, the UV energy from sunlight is collected by the solar panel on the light and stored in a rechargeable battery.  The energy stored in the battery is subsequently used to power the light.

You are probably familiar with the many types of solar lights that are used in gardens. The kind of solar light used outdoors can be very simple, each with its own mini-solar panel, battery and light. The types of solar lighting used on a shed work in the same way as the garden variety, but come in separate pieces. Obviously the solar panel part must be located on the outside of the shed, in a way that the panel is positioned to collect as much sunlight as possible. The light part is inside the shed, where the lighting is required. It can also be positioned outside the shed, but make sure it is waterproof and relatively weather resistant if you do intend to put in outdoors.

To make it really easy, solar lights suitable for garden sheds are usually provided as kits containing

• the solar panel and mounting to be attached to the outside of the shed
• a light with an on/off switch
• some wire to connect the two together

It really is a matter of attaching the solar panel and the light where you want them using a few screws, and joining them with the wire. The entire process takes less than ten minutes once you have decided where the parts go. Traditionally fluorescent tube lights have been the lighting of choice for sheds and workshops as they require lower energy, and have a much greater lifespan than ordinary household light bulbs. More modern solar panel lights use LED which provide a strong white light, ideal for finding thing in the dark!

If you are wondering about the cost, then rest assured that the solar panel light kits won’t break the bank. They retail at approximately €20 - €50, but bear in mind that they are a one-off expense, and no further running costs are required.

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