Here is a typical manufacturer’s specification for this type of light:

• Elegant solar powered post light with clear window
• Special light reflector inside gives attractive light evenly
• High quality stainless steel construction
• One super bright white LED
• Automatically turns on at dusk
• Quality solar cell from Germany on the top of light
• One Ni-CD (or Ni-MH) AA rechargeable battery inside
• Over six hours working time if battery is fully charged
• Solar Stainless Steel Garden Light. Automatically Turns On at Dusk

photo credit: Kevin Steinhardt

You can see a ton of different solar powered garden lights in the internet. That is how you got here anyway. If you noticed most of the sites on the first page and the second and the third page of Google are sites that are selling these types of lights. I would be bit careful buying online. It is tempting but first go visit your local hardware store or nursery and take a look at some of them. Read the box and talk to a sales clerk who knows about them and how they work  and get your questions answered. If you like a brand, write it down, come back online and see if you can search for the brand and buy it online. If you liked a particular fixture, make sure to get it’s number of the box along it will make your search easier in Google. Definitely buy on line because you will not pay local sales taxes unless the website you are buying from operates in the same state that you live in. When you get your product make sure you first check and see if everything you need is there and if not call the company and get the missing components before you start your work in the garden.

Not it is time to have fun, as there are no wires to worry about you can put these fixtures and design them any way you like… If you just bought one to light up an entrance or a single spot then look for a spot where it can get the most sun light during the day. However it should work even if it is in the shade. If you unit has a photocell that detects motion and comes on upon detecting the motions make sure the photocell stays clean and unobstructed as this can be a reason why the light doesn’t come on even when there is motion around the light.

You are going to like it when the light works and comes on at night.. As a matter of fact you are going to watch for it to turn on and be amazed that it does…