Sun lamps for winter
The 15 Best Sun Lamps to Help With the Blues in 2023
wellness
By Brittany Gibson
Published Feb 6, 2023
Additional reporting by and Olivia Kappler
Dana Dickey
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. You can learn more about that process here.
By now, you’ve likely assembled all your winter essentials: You've got the ice scraper for your windshield, a bag of rock salt for the front steps and a whole wardrobe full of cute winter hats. But what about a sun lamp? Also known as a light therapy device, these specialized lamps aim to prevent seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—a type of seasonal depression that occurs in the colder months that can be clinically diagnosed and managed with the help of a medical professional—and they may not yet in be your arsenal.
A 2009 National Institutes of Health study published in the International Journal of Aging and Human Development found that just 20 minutes a day spent in front of a sun lamp eased symptoms of depression in patients with SAD, also known as the "winter blues," consequently improving their moods.
Even if you don't have SAD, you can use bright light therapy to resynchronize your body's internal clock to enhance alertness, increase sleep pressure and activate serotonin neurotransmitters, according to research published in a March 2019 issue of Frontiers in Psychiatry, making these lamps an appealing choice for those who regularly feel sluggish, too.
How Do Sun Lamps Work?
While noted authorities like the Cleveland Clinic confirm that light therapy doesn’t actually create more vitamin D in your body, it does aid in its regulation of both melatonin and serotonin. Scientists believe that the longer nights we experience in winter can lead our bodies to produce excess melatonin, consequently making us sleepier. By exposing yourself to longer periods of bright light, you can essentially help to regulate your melatonin, tricking your body into thinking that the nights are shorter than they actually are and that it doesn’t need to produce as much of the sleepy-making hormone as it typically would for you to hibernate, more or less.
How to Use a Sun Lamp
How you best enjoy your sun lamp session is as unique as your circumstances, so finding the right lamp for your needs can mean the difference between actually using it and relegating it to the garage. (Don't worry—we've got plenty of options for you below.)
It's important to note that you should never look directly into the light, as it can cause eye strain. Cleveland Clinic recommends positioning your sun lamp 2 to 3 feet away from you. You can do some work or read while you’re light bathing or even half-close your eyes—some have even been known to use this time to meditate.
While it's suggested to sit in front of the light for 20 to 30 minutes a day as a general rule of thumb, it largely depends on how much lux (that's a unit used to measure light illumination) is emitted by the lamp. According to The University of British Columbia, if you’re using a 10,000 lux lamp, you should start with 30 minutes of light therapy per day, ideally in the morning, to see how your body reacts.
“It’s common to see improvement in your mood within two to four days if you use a 10,000 lux bulb for about 30 minutes every morning,” the Cleveland Clinic claims.
If you’re using a 5,000 lux lamp, you may need to spend more time in front of it (from 45 to 60 minutes per day). Similarly, a 2,500 lux lamp may require one to two hours of exposure.
What Is the Best Lux for Light Therapy?
That brings us to the question of how much lux you should be using. The best lux for light therapy is 10,000, which is equivalent to the light you’d get from natural sunlight, according to Health. White fluorescent light (not ultraviolet) is also considered more effective than other types, such as blue and full-spectrum.
Where to Buy Sun Lamps
Sun lamps can be purchased online (ahem, Amazon) in retail stores, like Nordstrom and Macy's and in speciality stores, like Verilux. Prices will vary depending on factors like lux intensity, features, size, portability, retailer and brand.
Photo via Dasha Burobina for PureWow
- Best Overall: Verilux HappyLight Halo Sun Lamp
- Best Sun Lamp Stand: Carex Day-Light Sun Lamp
- Best Dual Sun Lamp: PureGuardian Sun Lamp
- Best for the Car: Luminette Drive Sun Lamp
- Best for Travel: Erligpowht Sun Lamp
- Best for the Office: Circadian Optics Sun Lamp
- Best Wall-Mounted Sun Lamp: Aura Day Sun Lamp
- Best Freestanding Sun Lamp: Northern Light Technologies Flamingo Sun Lamp
- Most High-Tech: Hiboitec Light Therapy Sun Lamp
- Best Basic Sun Lamp: Verilux HappyLight Luxe Sun Lamp
- Best Minimalist Sun Lamp: Sunrise Sensations DayBright Sun Lamp
- Best Rechargeable Sun Lamp: Doraubia Sun Lamp
- Most Aesthetically Pleasing: Rsccleaner Sun Lamp
- Best Design: Northern Light Technologies Pyramid Sun Lamp
- Best Light Therapy Glasses: Luminette 3 Light Therapy Glasses
Amazon
- Key Features: Sleek design, customizable features, one-hour timer
- Lux: Up to 10,000
This is the first and last sun lamp you'll ever need.
Sure, you'll love its cute, rounded design, which works with a unique detachable magnetic base that lets you place it just about anywhere and adjust the angle to your liking, but it's also super functional. We're talking four brightness settings, three temperature hues (are you a fan of bright white light or are you more comfortable with a yellowish glow?) and a timer that can be set in ten-minute increments (up to one hour). Commerce Director Nicole Briese also swears it works for an early morning energy boost. "I first tried this after having gotten very little sleep the night before, and after ten minutes on the brightest setting, my mind felt like it was working at full capacity—like I'd gotten a full eight hours. I can't say if it definitively improved my mood, but it definitely made me feel more awake than I otherwise would have."
$90 at amazon
Amazon
Best Sun Lamp Stand
Carex
- Key Features: Adjustable stand, two light settings, works up to 12 inches away
- Lux: 10,000
This lamp’s got an edge over other models, since it comes with a stand that allows you to lift it up to 31 inches.
Yup, that means it can shine the light down on you, just like the sun would. Its large face (more than 15 inches by 29 inches) means that it can radiate over a wide area, and the manufacturer says that it emits the gold standard of 10,000 lux from up to 12 inches away (other lamps require you to get as close as four inches). While this rather hulking lamp isn’t going to easily blend into your home decor, its presence will be a strong reminder to get your daily dose of faux sunshine.
$120 at amazon
Amazon
Best Dual Sun Lamp
PureGuardian
- Key Features: Compact design, emits white or blue light, six light intensity levels, adjustable tilt
- Lux: 10,000
A smidge smaller than a piece of printer paper, this lamp can be discreetly set up on your desk. Its compact size doesn't sacrifice illumination, though: It still radiates 10,000 lux of white light, as well as blue light, which is great for the skin.
It’s equipped with a five to 30-minute timer and a switch that lets you toggle between six light intensities, depending on your preferences.
$60; $55 at amazon
Amazon
Best for the Car
Luminette
- Key Features: Visor attachment, easy to use
- Lux: 468 nm blue light
This slender device attaches to the visor of your car and hits your face at a 45-degree angle that the company claims will do the trick after just 20 minutes of use. While it uses blue light instead of white, narrow-band blue light treatment at a 468 wavelength has been proven to be equally effective for light therapy treatment, which is the exact nanometer this device uses. Plus, the brand boasts that turning it on for a night drive is equivalent to having a strong cup of coffee.
$149 at amazon
Amazon
Best for Travel
Erligpowht
- Key Features: 90-degree rotatable stand, four timer options, super slim
- Lux: 10,000
Just 7 inches tall, this little gizmo packs is one of the smallest sun lamps of the bunch, but still packs a punch (think pure white light of 10,000 lux with a timer that lets you set it to 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes on a 90-degree adjustable stand).
Because it's so slim, it's also a breeze to throw in your bag for travel, so you can keep up with your light routine no matter where you're at.
$21; $16 at amazon
Amazon
Best for the Office
Circadian Optics
- Key Features: Vertical design, adjustable hinge, three-level brightness, one-touch operation
- Lux: 10,000
For a discreet option you can take to work, there's this pick from Circadian Optics. It has a super innovative vertical design that ensures it won't take up tons of real estate on your desk and an adjustable hinge that allows you to use it from practically any angle. You can also adjust the brightness of its 10,000 lux light with three different settings. Better yet, it turns on with a single touch of the button, so it won't be a disruptor in your day-to-day operations.
$64 at amazon
Amazon
Best Wall-Mounted Sun Lamp
Aura
- Key Features: Mountable, adjustable angle, lux adjustment
- Lux: 3,500 to 10,000 lux
Mount this lamp on the wall in your office or by your bed to quickly tap it on when you need some extra sunlight-like exposure..jpg)
With lux settings that go from 3,500 lux to the full 10,000, this baby can also be dialed down on days you don't need quite as much of a glow. The timer can be set between 10 and 60 minutes, plus, it adjusts from 75 to 80 degrees for the perfect angle.
$140; $130 at amazon
Amazon
Best Freestanding Sun Lamp
Northern Light Technologies
- Top Features: Illuminates up to 18 inches away, standing design
- Lux: 10,000
For a sturdy and trustworthy standing light therapy device, look no further than this Northern Light Technologies pick. Designed to radiate light from up to 12 feet away, it lets you soak in its 10,000 lux while reading in your favorite chair or getting your sweat on next to your workout Mirror. It’s got a durable metal construction, shines from above for a more natural feel and has a rotating head that can be angled to your liking. It even uses LED-efficient bulbs. What's not to love?
$230; $218 at amazon
Amazon
Most High-Tech
Hibotec
- Key Features: Mod design, five brightness levels, smart memory function
- Lux: 10,000
While this sun lamp has a lot of the same features as the others, with three hues to choose from and five brightness levels, it stands out thanks to its smart memory function, which will automatically default to the settings you last used with it.
Its mod design can also double as a super cool piece of decor.
$50; $40 at amazon
Verilux
Best Basic Sun Lamp
Verilux
- Key Features: Detachable stand, wall-mountable design, four brightness settings
- Lux: 10,000
A basic lamp that will get the job done, this corded Verilux HappyLight find is equipped with four brightness levels, so you can revel in faux daylight or a bright white glow. There's a a wall mount and a detachable stand, so you'll have total control over how much light you get, too—and where it’s coming from. Last but not least, there's a countdown timer to ensure you get just as much light as you need, but no more.
buy it ($70)
Amazon
Best Minimalist Sun Lamp
Sunrise Sensations
- Key features: Solid, sustainable hardwood, unique design, remote-controlled
- Lux: 5,000 to more than 10,000 lux
For those who dig a more minimalist vibe, this Sunrise Sensations sun lamp might just be a winner.
It’s crafted from fully sustainable, solid hardwood and allows you to adjust its brightness from 5,000 to more than 10,000 lux, according to what you needs. Bonus perk: It comes with a remote, and the brand claims it’s energy efficient.
$199 at amazon
Amazon
Best Rechargeable Sun Lamp
Doraubia
- Key Features: USB charging port, doubles as a ring light, touch- and remote-controlled
- Lux: 10,000
It’s a ring light! It’s a phone charger! It’s a sun lamp! It’s all of the above! With a 10-, 30-, 60-, and 90-minute timer, this lamp lets you go about your business without worrying about leaving it on too long, and it has three adjustable color temperatures to boot. It comes with a power adapter, so you'll never run out of juice mid-session, and there's a remote control, too.
$66; $41 at amazon
Amazon
Most Aesthetically Pleasing
Rsccleaner
- Key Features: Moon-inspired design, remote controlled, four brightness levels
- Lux: 10,000
This out-of-this-world sun lamp (get it?) is shaped like the moon, making it an aesthetically pleasing accent piece that offers daytime, warm and natural light options.
It reaches 10,000 lux for optimal brightness and is conveniently remote-controlled, so you can effortlessly switch up the light settings without needing to get up. It also boasts a USB port, timer setting and four brightness levels.
$50; $45 at amazon
Walmart
Best Design
Northern Light Technologies
- Key Features: Aesthetically pleasing, lightweight
- Lux: 10,000 lux
Is it a sculpture? A therapy device? Actually, it’s both (not to mention a total conversation piece). This pyramid-shaped light box is just 4 pounds, so it can be easily moved to a pedestal or side table for use as a decorative object when it's not in use, and it gives off 10,000 lux from 12 inches away.
buy it ($197)
Amazon
Best Light Therapy Glasses
Luminette
- Key Features: Can be worn on-the-go, slim profile
- Lux: 500, 1,000 or 1,500 lux
If convenience is at the top of your priority list, these Luminette 3 sun lamp glasses will do the trick.
They’re designed for people who are often on-the-go and reportedly work well with both contacts and glasses. "They are snug and don’t fall off, very comfortable to wear," assured one buyer. If you’re worried about these babies not working as efficiently as a traditional sun lamp, fret not: The brand claims that the 500, 1,000 or 1,5000 blue-enriched white LED lux they emit will give you benefits on par with a a 10,000 lux lamp.
$199 at amazon
Why You Should Trust UsPureWow is the best friend you never had when it comes to finding the best, most useful lifestyle products online. Founded in 2010, our company’s editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which ones are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series, which sees each and every item we test being ranked on a 100-point scale of awesomeness, to the painstakingly curated lists our fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family editors create as vertical experts, you can trust that our recommendations include some of the greatest items you’ll find on the internet.
Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
Brittany Gibson is a NYC- and CT-based freelance writer with a background in SEO. She has bylines in BuzzFeed, Insider, Real Simple, Reader’s Digest and more. When she’s not writing about products, you’ll likely find her trying out new coffee shops, hanging with her Maltipoo, Mochi, listening to Taylor Swift or scouring the internet for new petite fashion finds to fill her already-crowded closet with. Follow her on Instagram @brigibson.
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The 4 Best Light Therapy Lamps of 2023
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- Health & Fitness
- Medical Supplies
FYI
We've added the cylindrical Bright Health 24-Inch Light Therapy Lamp as a recommendation in this guide. It’s an aesthetically pleasing (and functional) alternative to lamps with flat, rectangular light surfaces.
Shifts in the number of daylight hours—due to changing seasons or long-distance travel—can have varying effects on people. For some, limited daylight hours can sap energy. For others, the effects can be more serious. After putting in 33 hours of research—including reading two books and five comprehensive studies on the subject and interviewing one of the scientists who discovered seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—we’ve concluded that the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus is the best light therapy lamp to treat SAD symptoms.
Although many people might catch a case of the blahs when the weather turns colder and the days get shorter, that’s far different from a clinical case of SAD, which should only be diagnosed and treated by a medical professional. You should use a SAD lamp or light box only under medical supervision, as it is in fact a medical device.
Our pick
Carex Day-Light Classic Plus
This light has all of the specs our expert sources recommend, as well as a reasonable price and a generous warranty.
The Carex Day-Light Classic Plus meets all of the criteria necessary to be considered therapeutically effective and safe, and it’s cheaper than many of its competitors. The lamp’s “99.3 percent UV-free” LED light and 10,000-lux light intensity at 12 inches, combined with its large, 15½-by-12½-inch face, mean you won’t have to sit in front of it for more than 30 minutes (the minimum length of time that experts recommend) to experience its physiological benefits.
It has a color temperature of 4,000 Kelvin.
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Also great
If you’re willing to pay a bit more for one of the sleekest large light therapy lamps we looked at, or if our pick is unavailable, we recommend the Northern Light Technologies Boxelite. With a minimalist, rectangular design, the Boxelite is the lamp we’d like to put on our own desks. Its light face is about the same size as that of our top pick (15 by 12 inches), and it provides 10,000 lux of fluorescent, “UV-free” light at 14 inches (two more than our top pick). The Boxelite also has a warmer color temperature (3,500 Kelvin) than our top pick, which may better suit your taste. As with our top pick, you have to sit in front of it for only 30 minutes to benefit. But the Boxelite isn’t adjustable, unlike the Day-Light Classic Plus.
Budget pick
Verilux HappyLight Luxe
The compact HappyLight Luxe shines brightly in multiple color temperatures and brightness levels, and it has an automated shutoff feature.
It’s the best sub-$100 lamp we’ve considered. However, its light is less powerful than that of our other picks, and it provides 10,000 lux only at a distance of six inches.
At nearly half the price and a quarter of the size of our top pick, the Verilux HappyLight Luxe provides 10,000 lux of “UV-free” LED light at six inches, according to the manufacturer. Its 9-by-6-inch light surface has three color temperatures to choose from (3,500, 4,250, and 5,000 Kelvin, more choices than on our top pick or our also-great model), and it comes with a useful countdown timer. However, it isn’t position-adjustable like our top pick, and its small overall size and light face mean you may need to get creative with positioning to ensure an effective angle during use. And in a side-by-side comparison using a commercial luxmeter, we found that the HappyLight Luxe’s light appeared less powerful than that of our other two picks.
Everything we recommend
Our pick
Carex Day-Light Classic Plus
This light has all of the specs our expert sources recommend, as well as a reasonable price and a generous warranty.
Also great
Budget pick
Verilux HappyLight Luxe
The compact HappyLight Luxe shines brightly in multiple color temperatures and brightness levels, and it has an automated shutoff feature. It’s the best sub-$100 lamp we’ve considered. However, its light is less powerful than that of our other picks, and it provides 10,000 lux only at a distance of six inches.
The research
- Why you should trust us
- What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
- Who should (and should not) get this
- How light therapy lamps work
- How we picked and tested
- Our pick: Carex Day-Light Classic Plus
- Also great: Northern Light Technologies Boxelite
- Budget pick: Verilux HappyLight Luxe
- Another good light therapy lamp
- The competition
- Sources
Why you should trust us
We looked at 50 lamps for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and eventually tested 15 top-rated best sellers.
We spent a weekend reading Winter Blues by SAD expert Norman E. Rosenthal, MD, and spoke at length with Alfred Lewy, MD, PhD, one of the first doctors to report on SAD in 1980. We also reached out to psychologist Elizabeth Saenger, PhD, who was then the director of education for the Center for Environmental Therapeutics, and Teodor Postolache, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Additionally, we read through many research papers from the past three decades.
What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
Many people experience some emotional or physical changes with the arrival of new seasons, especially winter: Your mood may swing, your eating habits might shift, and your energy levels may rise or fall. Some people are less able to cope with these changes. SAD is a seasonal pattern of major depressive episodes as diagnosed by a physician according to criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR).
This diagnosis can be made only by a medical professional.
For many people, seasonal shifts in their mood and energy might be unpleasant or annoying, but they’re fairly simple to manage.
Other people feel the weight of these changes in a more serious manner. Maybe the symptoms aren’t quite severe enough for them to seek a doctor’s opinion, but the effects certainly make it hard to get out of the house in winter. It’s what folks sometimes informally call the winter blues.
A third group experiences these changes so severely that their lives are seriously disrupted. If you have true SAD, the darker months may feel like a physical exhaustion that will never end.
It’s important to note that not everyone experiences SAD symptoms at the same time or in the same way. In Winter Blues, Rosenthal writes, “Just as the degree of seasonal difficulties may vary from one person to the next, so may the timing of the problem. For example, one person may begin to feel SAD symptoms in September, whereas another will feel well until after Christmas.
”
Who should (and should not) get this
Therapeutic light boxes are not the only available treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you think you’re among the roughly 6% in the United States who suffer from SAD, talk to your doctor to figure out your best course of treatment (which might include anything from more time outside to cognitive behavioral therapy or medication).
For most people with only mild seasonal mood disorders (some 14% of the US population), the risk of using a therapy light is relatively minimal; eyestrain and headaches (especially in migraine sufferers) are the most commonly reported side effects. However, as New York Magazine reported in its 2016 article on SAD lamps, people with a history of clinical depression or bipolar disorder may suffer an exaggerated response while using a light box and should consider this therapy only in close consultation with a physician.
How light therapy lamps work
In 1980, Alfred Lewy published the finding from a small study indicating that sufficiently intense artificial light suppressed humans’ nighttime production of melatonin—a hormone linked to the regulation of the sleep cycle. According to interviews with Lewy, prior to that moment there was more or less uniform agreement among medical professionals that artificial light had little to no effect on people’s circadian rhythms. As it turned out, most experiments up to that moment had not used lights bright enough to induce a measurable change in human melatonin or circadian physiology.
“[Dr. Robert] Sack and I realized that humans really don’t have seasonal rhythms like animals do, like breeding and hibernation and reproduction,” Lewy explained over the phone. “We proposed a ‘phase shift hypothesis’ that is still the leading hypothesis for how bright lights treat SAD, which is that in the winter, with the shorter days, most people’s circadian rhythms drift late with the later dawn, out of phase with their natural sleep-wake cycle.
It’s like having jet lag for five months. With morning bright-light exposure, those rhythms are pushed back earlier, back into phase with their sleep.”
Today, “bright light therapy is recommended as the first-line option” for the treatment of SAD, according to a 2003 review (PDF) in the journal Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. Far from being a fringe or “alternative” purported remedy for SAD, light therapy has been clinically shown in many studies to work to alleviate symptoms.
How we picked and tested
Photo: Rozette RagoWhen you’re shopping for a SAD lamp, to ensure that you receive the full therapeutic benefits of the light, there are a few important factors to consider, namely how much light it delivers and how close to the lamp you need to sit for the treatment to be effective.
First, know that the FDA does not test, approve, or regulate light-box devices.
As such, you should not use one without a physician’s guidance. We based our picks on research, customer feedback, and product specifications—including optimal sitting distances—provided by manufacturers, as well as conversations with experts who study and prescribe these units.
A light box should deliver between 2,500 and 10,000 lux. A lux is a unit that measures 1 lumen per square meter. The more lux a light delivers, the less time you need to spend positioned in front of it. For most 10,000-lux lights, 30 uninterrupted minutes per day, preferably in the morning, should suffice. “If you’re going to sleep too early and want to stay awake longer, a little bit of light therapy in the afternoon can help mitigate that,” said Teodore Postolache, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
We also looked at how close to each box you need to sit to score the maximum results. Light intensity is subject to the inverse square law, which says that the intensity of light falls off by the square of the distance that you move away from it.
For instance, if you are 2 feet away from a light source, you see a fourfold decrease in intensity. The farther away a person is able to sit from a lamp and still receive 10,000 lux for maximum efficacy, the more flexibility they have in terms of what they can be doing and how they can be sitting during treatment. “I insist, absolutely, that any reputable, reliable manufacturer has to tell the consumer what the distance it should be from the eyes to achieve 10,000 lux,” Lewy said. “If a light box doesn’t have that information, I wouldn’t use it.”
The FDA does not test, approve, or regulate light-box devices.
The larger the surface of the light box, the better. In Winter Blues, Rosenthal notes that the lights “used in almost all research studies … have an illuminated surface that is at least about one foot square.” For that reason, and the fact that smaller therapeutic lamps have not undergone the same kind of rigorous study that their bigger cousins have received, we strongly recommend light boxes with the largest surfaces.
(We do recommend a smaller lamp, the HappyLight Luxe, which we think is a serviceable option if you don’t have the space or budget for one of our larger picks. However, our top pick has a longer track record of efficacy in home and academic use, and in a side-by-side comparison that we performed with a commercial luxmeter, the HappyLight Luxe’s light output did not seem as strong.)
We avoided any lamps that did not have a plastic filter to remove most if not all ultraviolet waves (which are potentially harmful to the eye), and we avoided those with incandescent bulbs, which can build up a lot of heat, as well as models that used blue LEDs, as there’s still some controversy over whether blue light, which is different from blue-enriched white light (PDF), is harmful to the eyes.
Rosenthal notes that the lights “used in almost all research studies … have an illuminated surface that is at least about one foot square.”
Although many SAD lamps fit the above specifications, we discounted a number of them because of their high price, overly cumbersome design, too-small size, or dubious claims about features like “ion therapy.
”
Because we are not qualified or equipped to evaluate SAD lamps for efficacy, we focused instead on how easy they were to use, how much space they took up on a tabletop, and whether they met their stated specs, including their total size and weight, light-face dimensions, cord lengths, and approximate light intensities. In a nonscientific test, we compared lux readings obtained with a commercial luxmeter to check for any significant inconsistencies between stated light intensities and real-world readings.
For this review, we focused on light therapy lamps. We did not consider dawn simulators, sunrise alarm clocks, or so-called light therapy glasses.
Our pick: Carex Day-Light Classic Plus
Photo: Rozette RagoOur pick
Carex Day-Light Classic Plus
This light has all of the specs our expert sources recommend, as well as a reasonable price and a generous warranty.
The Carex Day-Light Classic Plus has the largest light face of all our picks and an impressive record of efficacy, as reported in customer reviews and academic research alike. At a distance of 12 inches, this lamp projects 10,000 lux of “99.3 percent UV-free” LED light from its 15½-by-12½-inch lamp face, the same amount of lux as all of our other picks provide and the minimum lux that any SAD lamp needs to be therapeutically effective according to the doctors we interviewed. The lamp face mounts to a weighted horseshoe base by way of an adjustable arm. This arm allows you to adjust the lamp’s angle and vertical position, reducing overall glare and increasing the flexibility of where and how you can use the lamp. For instance, you can set up the Day-Light Classic Plus in such a way that it allows you to read a book beneath it while keeping most of your face positioned well within the therapeutic 12-inch range of the lamp face. In contrast, to read in front of lamps that sit directly on a desk, you would need to either place the book upright between you and the lamp, which would shield you from some of the light, or lay the book down in front of you, possibly extending your position outside of the lamp’s therapeutic range.
Assembling the Day-Light Classic Plus is easy and takes less than five minutes. An on/off switch on its side powers the lamp; when switched on, it starts illuminating instantly, in one of two intensities (7,000 or 10,000 lux). Fully extended, the Day-Light Classic Plus is 28½ inches tall. The lamp angle can swing approximately 65 degrees from fully vertical to nearly horizontal, which adds flexibility, though this design makes the entire lamp more cumbersome to move around compared with other lamps we’ve tried.
Compared with the cooler tones of other lamps, the Day-Light Classic Plus emits a pleasant, warm light with a color temperature of 4,000 Kelvin. You can also adjust the intensity, choosing between a high setting (10,000 lux) and a low setting (7,000 lux). Unlike on our also-great pick, this model’s cover, which protects the LED lights, creates an airtight seal, which makes the lamp easier to keep clean.
The lamp comes with a standard AWG 6-foot grounded power cord, which is plenty long enough for most people’s needs and interchangeable if it gets lost. That interchangeability also means you can buy a longer AWG cord and use that instead if you need to.
The Day-Light has been used for years by scientists and physicians who study and treat SAD. The Center for Environmental Therapeutics, a nonprofit collective of scientists and clinicians dedicated to research and education about environmental therapies, has recommended the Day-Light for years. According to psychologist Elizabeth Saenger, who was the CET’s director of education at the time of our interview, it’s the go-to light for many clinical trials that aim to study the effectiveness of light therapy. In October 2017, former CET board member Dorothy K. Sit, MD, and her colleagues used the Day-Light in a study described in an American Journal of Psychiatry paper, “Adjunctive Bright Light Therapy for Bipolar Depression: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial.
” A January 2016 article in New York Magazine also touted the Day-Light Classic Plus, quoting psychiatrist James Phelps’s description of it as the “official research rig.”
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The Day-Light Classic Plus is unwieldy and, some would argue, unattractive. The weighted base has a large (12-by-16-inch) footprint, so this lamp is not ideal for smaller spaces. If you don’t like the way it looks, you may prefer the simpler design of our also-great pick or our compact budget pick.
Like any heat-producing device, the lamp should be used in an open, ventilated space (a company spokesperson said to avoid putting it on a desk with a hutch, for example).
Carex’s five-year warranty for the Day-Light Classic Plus does not apply to “use other than for personal, family or household purposes and excludes shipping and handling charges.”
Also great: Northern Light Technologies Boxelite
Photo: Rozette RagoAlso great
If design is your priority, we like the Northern Light Technologies Boxelite.
This lamp is more expensive than our top pick but looks the sharpest on a desk or table. Similar to the Day-Light Classic Plus, the Boxelite provides 10,000 lux at a distance of 14 inches, and it emits light from a 15-by-12-inch face. According to Northern Light Technologies, the light is fully UV-free, a slight enhancement over our top pick’s “99.3% UV-free” claim. The Boxelite provides an even warmer light than the Day-Light Classic Plus, with a 3,500-Kelvin color temperature. The Boxelite is not adjustable, but its slim, basic design helps it look the least obtrusive of the lamps we considered.
An on/off switch at the base powers the lamp. The bulbs take a few seconds to illuminate, but that is normal for fluorescent bulbs. The lamp also comes with a 7-foot cord, the longest of any of our picks.
Our favorite aspect of the Boxelite is its sleek design. The Boxelite has a picture-frame setup, minimal design with few accents, and clean edges. The back of the Boxelite is contained in a single smooth, black panel.
It also comes with a seven-year warranty, longer coverage than for our pick. Note, though, that this warranty (PDF) covers everything but the tubes, and the customer is responsible for the shipping costs to send faulty units to Northern Light Technologies.
Our main two issues with the Boxelite are its lack of adjustability and its higher price, although it does come with that seven-year warranty. Also, since the Boxelite’s plastic cover does not feature an airtight seal (unlike on our other two picks), dust and grime easily slip into the hard-to-clean space between the cover and the lights.
Budget pick: Verilux HappyLight Luxe
Photo: Rozette RagoBudget pick
Verilux HappyLight Luxe
The compact HappyLight Luxe shines brightly in multiple color temperatures and brightness levels, and it has an automated shutoff feature.
It’s the best sub-$100 lamp we’ve considered. However, its light is less powerful than that of our other picks, and it provides 10,000 lux only at a distance of six inches.
In side-by-side comparisons, the light output of the Verilux HappyLight Luxe was significantly lower than that of our other two picks. However, this small lamp is a solid option for newcomers to light therapy who don’t have the space or the budget for our top pick or also-great pick. At less than a foot tall and 7½ inches wide, it also packs easily for travel. The HappyLight Luxe’s 9-by-6-inch light surface still shines brightly, though not as brightly as those on our other, larger picks. According to Verilux, the lamp’s claimed 10,000-lux, “UV-free” light projection is adjustable from 3,500 to 5,000 Kelvin, so you can pick the light warmth that feels best to you.
However, the 10,000-lux is only feasible at a distance of six inches, which is half that of our other picks.
This model also features a countdown timer that lets you set the lamp to stay on for five-minute increments up to an hour; when the timer is done, the lamp shuts off automatically.
The HappyLight Luxe has the appearance and approximate size of a Kindle or a tablet, and unlike our other two picks, it comes with a detachable stand that can also serve as a wall mount. Its small footprint makes it easy to adjust and move around for proper, effective placement and for making sure it is within the company-reported therapeutic 24-inch range of the lamp face, which is twice the distance allowed by our top pick.
Like the cover on the Day-Light Classic Plus, the HappyLight Luxe’s cover, which protects the LED lights, has an airtight seal, so the lamp is easy to keep clean. The HappyLight Luxe comes with a three-year warranty that excludes bulbs and parts, which are covered by only a 30-day warranty. At 67 inches long, the cord on this model is shorter than those of the Day-Light Classic Plus and the Boxelite. This lamp is also non-returnable on Amazon, though other retailers, such as Nordstrom Rack and the manufacturer’s site, offer 30-day return policies.
Another good light therapy lamp
Photos: Michael Hession
Photos: Michael Hession
Photos: Michael Hession
Photos: Michael Hession
Photos: Michael Hession
If you dislike the flat, rectangular light surfaces of most SAD lamps: Consider the cylindrical Bright Health 24-Inch Light Therapy Lamp.
It emits the same 10,000 lux of 4,000 Kelvin light at a distance of 12 inches and is covered by the same five-year warranty as the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus. Yet it has a smaller overall footprint and feels far less clunky in our living space. “While most devices have a broader surface to reduce glare and increase comfort, the main issue is whether people will use it routinely,” said Dr. Jamie M. Zeitzer, a co-director at Stanford University’s Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences. Some users may find the cylindrical design difficult to look at or to position in a way to get the enhanced light, but “if the cylindrical design makes the user feel better about having it out in the abode, then that’s great.” (The Bright Health lamp also comes in a 14-inch-tall version, but we think most people will find the taller lamp easier to position for maximum efficacy.)
The competition
If our top pick is unavailable, or if space is a concern, consider the Carex Day-Light Sky, which is a slightly smaller version of the Day-Light Classic Plus.
Both have a long neck and swivel head for custom positioning. The Day-Light Sky’s base is teal.
For smaller spaces, Carex's TheraLite Aura is a serviceable budget option with a reported 10,000-lux output at 12 inches. Its overall footprint is less than half the size of our top pick’s; its light surface, in particular, is significantly smaller. This lamp is also less adjustable, allowing only repositioning of the light surface’s upward/downward angle (you cannot adjust the height). The smaller size and reduced adjustability limit your positioning options.
The compact Carex TheraLite is less expensive than our budget pick, but it’s nearly half the size. Its 3,000 Kelvin color temperature also isn’t adjustable.
In 2020, Carex came out with three new TheraLite lamps, all of which reportedly project 10,000 lux of light and have interesting features, but their one-year warranties aren’t competitive with our picks’ longer coverage periods. The Halo includes Qi wireless cell phone charging and six levels of brightness, while the Radiance includes a built-in alarm clock plus Qi wireless cell phone charging and five levels of brightness.
The Aura Qi is an updated version of the Aura and includes a built-in alarm clock plus Qi wireless cell phone charging and four levels of brightness. In our tests, however, after 30 minutes of use it became very hot to the touch, reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Circadian Optics Lumine Light Therapy Lamp is extremely small, with a light surface of only 6 by 6 inches, which makes it difficult to achieve the optimal distance for therapeutic benefit.
Northern Light Technologies’s Boxelite-OS seemed like a promising alternative to the comparatively clinical-looking Carex Day-Light Classic Plus, but we found its two-legged adjustable design unwieldy. We also discovered that the light surface quickly collected dust and put off a considerable amount of heat (including for quite a while after we had switched the light off). The Day-Light Classic Plus, which we tested in a side-by-side comparison with the Boxelite-OS, seemed to produce much less heat when it was on and became cool to the touch just moments after we switched it off.
Although both models have rather large footprints, we found it easier to position a laptop beneath the Day-Light Classic Plus than under the Boxelite-OS, especially within a small workspace.
The Aura Daylight Therapy Lamp, which regularly costs more than our top pick, has a streamlined design like our also-great pick’s with a slightly smaller footprint. Although it’s typically less expensive than the Boxelite, you need to sit much closer to this lamp to receive 10,000 lux of light, the manufacturer says (positioning yourself no more than 8 inches away from the light surface). The Aura Daylight also has a shorter warranty period—two years—than our picks.
We dismissed the Travelite and the Luxor, both by Northern Light Technologies, for their smaller light panels and lesser reviews, respectively. The company’s Flamingo lamp, affixed to a 4-foot-tall floor stand, regularly costs more than twice as much as our top pick and almost $100 more than our also-great pick.
Although the Alaska Northern Lights NorthStar 10,000 meets the recommended criteria for a light therapy lamp and has excellent customer reviews, at a typical price of $300 it costs over two times as much as our top pick.
Sources
Raymond W Lam, et al., Efficacy of Bright Light Treatment, Fluoxetine, and the Combination in Patients With Nonseasonal Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA Psychiatry, January 1, 2016
Nicole Praschak-Rieder, MD, Matthäus Willeit, MD, Treatment of seasonal affective disorders, Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, December 1, 2003
Canadian Consensus Group on SAD, Canadian Consensus Guidelines for the Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder
CI Eastman, MA Young, LF Fogg, L Liu, PM Meaden, Bright light treatment of winter depression: a placebo-controlled trial., Archives of General Psychiatry, October 1, 1998
Robert N Golden, et al.
, The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of mood disorders: a review and meta-analysis of the evidence, American Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2005Raymond W Lam, et al., The Can-SAD study: a randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of light therapy and fluoxetine in patients with winter seasonal affective disorder, American Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2006
Alfred Lewy, MD, PhD, director, Sleep and Mood Disorders Laboratory at Oregon Health & Science University, phone interview
Norman E. Rosenthal, MD, Winter Blues, September 4, 2012
Elizabeth Saenger, PhD, director of education at the Center for Environmental Therapeutics, interview
Teodor Postolache, PhD, professor of psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, phone interview
Jamie M.
Zeitzer, PhD, co-director, Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences, email interview, November 1, 2022
About your guides
Kit Dillon
Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.
Anna Perling
Anna Perling is a former staff writer covering kitchen gear at Wirecutter. During her time at Wirecutter, she reported on various topics including sports bras, board games, and light bulbs. Previously she wrote food and lifestyle pieces for Saveur and Kinfolk magazines. Anna is a mentor at Girls Write Now and a member of the Online News Association.
Nancy Redd
Nancy Redd is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering everything from Santa hats to bath bombs.
She is also a GLAAD Award–nominated on-air host and a New York Times best-selling author. Her latest picture book, The Real Santa, follows a determined little Black boy's journey to discover what the jolly icon truly looks like.
Further reading
How to Prep Your Bedroom for Winter
by Alex Arpaia
Warm bedding and proper insulation can transform a drafty bedroom into a cozy spot. Here’s what we recommend to prepare your bedroom for winter.
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Where to install solar-powered lights so that they shine longer - Gala Center
- How long do solar-powered garden lights last?
- How long do solar garden lights last
- How far apart should solar lights be placed?
- Do solar garden lights work in the shade?
- What are the reasons why a solar powered flashlight may not work?
- What to do with solar lights in winter
- Let's sum it up: Should you buy solar-powered flashlights?
Solar-powered lanterns are an excellent choice for landscape garden and backyard lighting.
They are cheap, easy to install, and require only bright sun to operate. Garden lamps do not need to be connected to electricity, and therefore easily illuminate areas where there are no wiring and sockets. And they are fireproof and work by themselves without your participation. Just imagine - you do not need to lay wires, turn appliances on and off, worry that a short circuit will occur in the rain. No tools are needed for installation - even a child can handle this task. Perfect, isn't it? We will talk about where to install solar lights, the rules of care and operating conditions further in our article.
On average, street lamps last about 3-4 years. However, there are a number of factors that affect the life of solar garden lights:
- Proper placement in relation to other artificial lighting sources. It is important that the garden lamp is exposed to direct sunlight, but stays away from street or house lighting. Otherwise, its sensors will stop responding to darkness and they will not light up in the evenings.
- Regular maintenance. The cleanliness of a solar panel affects its ability to absorb energy. To keep your garden lighting working efficiently, wipe down the panels a couple of times a month.
- Correct location. Lanterns work most effectively if they are under the bright sun all day. And although most garden lights are resistant to aggressive external factors, it is still important to protect them from heavy rain and snow. Reliable installation is also important, excluding the overturning of fixtures by strong winds. For the period of bad weather, it is better to clean the products and store them in the garage.
The three best ways to ensure your flashlights perform well and last longer are to install them in direct sunlight, keep the panels clean, and keep them away from excessive moisture such as heavy autumn rain and snow. Install lamps away from streetlights and house windows, as they can trick them into thinking it's still daylight.
INBLOOM Solar garden mosquito lamp, 9,1x35cm, 2LED white, plastic
300₽ /pc.
INBLOOM Solar garden lantern battery, 4.5x4.5x31cm, 1x1.2V 40mAh NI-MH, 1LED*white, plastic
80₽ /pc.
INBLOOM Solar garden lantern Battery 9.5x39cm 1.2V AAA NI-MH, 1LED*white, plastic
262.5₽ /pc.
INBLOOM Solar garden lamp, 5.5x34.5cm, 1.2V AAA, 1LED* multi, plastic, stainless steel
How long solar garden lights last
Street lights with a fully charged battery (requires about 8 hours of exposure to bright sun) shine from the time of evening until sunset. Lighting time may vary depending on the quality of the solar panel. The better it is able to absorb light, the longer the lamps work. The functionality of garden lighting is affected by their location - whether they are under the bright sun or vice versa located in the shade - under the dense crowns of trees and lush shrubs that prevent them from absorbing energy.
How far apart should solar lights be placed?
How many garden lights will you need to illuminate your garden and how far apart should they be? In order not to miscalculate the number of lanterns and ensure their efficient operation, it is important to follow a few simple rules for landscape lighting:
Rule #1.
The main condition for the operation of a solar-powered lantern is to receive a sufficient amount of light. Otherwise, it will not be able to charge and illuminate the infield.
Rule #2. To create a subtle illumination of the garden paths, choose lamps with soft light and place them far from each other. Place lanterns close together to create bright landscape lighting. So their light rays will intersect and qualitatively illuminate the garden area. As a rule, the distance between the lamps is 1.5-2 meters.
Rule #3. Much does not mean beautiful. Too many lights will make your garden look like a birthday cake that can't be seen behind the candles. Landscape designers recommend focusing on quality over quantity. Instead of installing fixtures at every step, think about where to install them. For example, you can highlight ornamental shrubs, trees, gazebos, paths. A common mistake is to line up the lanterns on both sides of the path, making it look like a runway.
The path will look much prettier if you alternate solar lanterns on both sides of the path (that is, install through one).
INBLOOM Solar garden lantern battery, 4.5x25.5cm, 1x1 1.2V 2/3ААА 100mAh, 1LED*white, plastic
80₽ /pc.
INBLOOM Solar garden lantern battery 4.7x31cm, 1x1.2V 40mAh NI-MH, 1LED*white, plastic, stainless steel
72.1₽ /pc.
INBLOOM Solar garden lamp, 5.5x29cm, 1LED, multi, plastic, acrylic, stainless steel
0₽ /pc.
INBLOOM Solar lamp, d11.6cm, 4LED*white, 1xAA 300mAh 1.2V, plastic, stainless steel
200₽ /pc.
Do solar powered garden lights work in the shade?
Garden lights work in the shade, but not as effectively as in the sun. This means that during the day the battery will not be able to fully charge and illuminate the garden all night. Instead of a long-term bright light, you will get a short-term subdued light.
In fact, “shadow” and “sunshine” are loose concepts. As they say: the shadow of the shadow is different. To understand if solar-powered garden lights work in the shade, you need to study their design. Its first element is a solar panel that converts the energy of the sun into electricity. It consists of photovoltaic cells sandwiched between layers of silicon. This chemical element has positive and negative electrons, which are necessary to create electricity. Without solar energy, they simply move around in the electric field and do not provide any benefit. To start producing light, they need photons coming from a light beam. Getting into the solar panel, they knock out free electrons from the field. They can be used immediately to generate electricity, but in solar lamps, this is done by a battery.
A battery stores energy through a chemical reaction and then releases it. It causes electrons to move from the negative to the positive end, and thereby generate electricity.
But how does a battery know when to release electrons to produce electricity? A special light sensor is responsible for this. He knows how to distinguish day from night. As soon as it gets dark outside, it tells the battery that it's time to release energy and the light turns on.
Thus, it becomes clear: the more photons the panel receives, the brighter and longer the light will be. And now about the shadow. The lantern can be under a tree that provides shade but still lets in the sun's rays, or under a canopy that completely blocks out the sun. In the first case, the functionality of landscape lighting is preserved, albeit at a minimal level. Take the forest for example. No matter how dense the foliage is, you still do not plunge into pitch darkness. In the second case, the functionality of the lamp is reduced to zero.
Many experiments were carried out to explore the possibilities of garden lights, and this is what they showed: 
Experiments show that it doesn't take a full day of bright sun to run a flashlight all night long. At the same time, the presence of a shadow significantly affects the operating time of garden lighting, and to be more precise, it reduces it by 2 times. Manufacturers of solar-powered garden lighting claim that an 8-hour charge is enough for 12-15 hours of operation. But the reality is that a garden is not a golf course that is exposed to the sun all day. Trees and bushes grow on the garden plot, there are buildings, and therefore the lantern will be able to receive a powerful luminous flux for a maximum of 4 hours a day, which provides landscape lighting for 7 hours. An excellent result, considering that this is the duration of the summer night.
What are the reasons why a solar powered flashlight may not work?
Dirty panel. Over time, the lamps become covered with a thick layer of dust, which interferes with the penetration of rays and reduces the performance of the lighting fixture.
Water. Street lamps are protected from moisture, but there is still a risk of water entering the panel, which affects its operation.
Discharged battery. Everything has an expiration date and solar panels are no exception. The purchase of a new part will help to correct the situation.
Interesting read:
• Why gnomes are installed on lawns
• What is drip irrigation or how to double the yield
• How to choose the right Inbloom raincoats? Choosing between PVC, PEVA and EVA
What to do with solar lights in winter
You can leave garden lights outside all year round. The main thing is to regularly clean them from snow, ice and rain.
How often should the garden light battery be changed? In most models, replacement is recommended every 2 years. But if your area has a long winter or extreme weather, it's best to change the battery every year.
How to properly store solar powered lanterns? If you don't want to leave your lights outside in the snow and rain, then follow these steps to avoid damaging your lights' batteries:
- Store lights in a dry place at room temperature
- Ensure devices receive a daily dose of sunlight or artificial light each day.
Prolonged exposure to darkness (more than three days) will destroy the batteries - For long-term storage, the devices must be completely discharged and charged once a month.
To summarize: Should you buy solar-powered flashlights?
Our answer is definitely yes! Absolutely environmentally friendly and safe product will not catch fire, will not cause a short circuit, will not increase the figures in electricity bills. You do not need to call the master to conduct the wiring and installation of lighting fixtures. It is enough to choose a sunny open place and stick the lamp into the ground. That being said, you can buy solar-powered garden lights in any shape, size and design. For example, the Inbloom trademark, in addition to classic models, offers colorful lamps with multi-colored LED lights and summer garlands for trees, which work on the same principle as street lamps. You can choose from Minimalist style lamps or elegant Baroque style lamps to light up the walkways.
On shrubs and trees, garlands with nozzles in the form of bees, dragonflies and flowers look magical, and LED decorations in the form of butterflies can be placed on the lawn. With Inbloom garden lighting, your garden will sparkle with new colors.
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Leave a review about the siteSolar-powered lamps for summer cottages and gardens: 10 tips for choosing
Natalia | 04/16/2019 | Updated | Landscaping | 7 164 views | No comments
Contents of the article
Economical, easy to install and so diverse in form, solar-powered lamps filled summer cottages and even city streets.
Manufacturers, as if mocking, offer customers a huge variety of them, so that they have turned from a purely functional item into a decorative element. Only now it turned out that choosing a solar-powered street lamp for a summer residence and a garden is not so simple - the assortment makes your eyes run wide, but we will try to put everything on the shelves and understand how to distinguish a high-quality lamp from a fake.
How does a solar light work?
In short and simple, the luminaire collects sunlight during the day and uses it to illuminate the area at night. He does this due to the presence of the following elements:
- solar panel - the heart of the lamp, here is the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy;
- battery stores energy during the day to release it at night;
- LED lamp - a direct light source, and it can give both cold and warm glow, and there are lamps with alternating color change;
- controller controls the operation of the lamp, charging and discharging the battery.
A high-quality controller is a guarantee that the battery will work well; - housing and fittings.
Also available light sensor , thanks to which the lamp itself turns on at dusk. If there is no such sensor, then all devices will have to be turned on and off manually. The motion sensor may also be useful.
The luminaires use low-capacity batteries, therefore they accumulate energy sufficient to glow for 8-10 hours , but this period will be much shorter under the condition of a long sunny day, and in autumn the nights will be much longer, so in this case Lights with a motion sensor will be a lifesaver. The life of the LED is up to 60 thousand hours, but the battery may need to be replaced much earlier.
Advantages and disadvantages
Solar-powered garden lamps have many advantages:
- energy savings because they produce it themselves;
- easy to install .
It is not necessary to connect the lamps to the mains. Many products are easy enough to dig into the ground, it will take a few minutes; - mobility . If desired, the lamp can simply be installed in another place, changing the lighting scheme of the garden. It is just as easy to collect them all and fold them for winter storage;
- wide range . On sale it is easy to find lamps of different sizes and shapes. There are such original products that such lighting will become not only a functional element, but also a decorative one;
- most of the luminaires turn on and off by themselves in response to changes in light level;
- durability provided you purchase a quality product;
- safety ;
- environmental , because the lamp does not need electricity to operate, which means that it is not necessary to use coal, gas or the power of nuclear reactors.
Alas, was not without cons , so be prepared for the following features: before the photocell fails;
If you look at the sales statistics and numerous domestic dachas, you can come to the conclusion that the shortcomings of people are not particularly frightening, and the main advantages - cost-effectiveness and ease of installation - provided this device with crazy popularity.
Types of solar-powered lamps
All lamps can be divided into two large groups:
- for lighting parks and streets . These are huge lanterns with large solar panels. In fact, these are miniature solar power plants used on roads, in parks and on the streets of advanced cities;
- for lighting a country house is exactly what we are interested in. In this category, there are street lamps , which are larger (but not always) and more powerful light output, and garden lamps , which have a rather decorative function.
Depending on the location, solar-powered lamps are of the following types:
- bollards - lamps on poles, used to illuminate garden paths and lawns;
- pendant and wall lamps mounted on fences, walls and poles, used for functional and decorative lighting;
- lawn lamps are small in size, used to illuminate rockeries, alpine slides, paths, and other relief elements;
- recessed luminaires are mounted in stairs, garden paths, platforms and create a soft light that facilitates movement in the dark;
- flower bed decor luminaires are characterized by an almost transparent body that makes them invisible during the day;
- Pond lights can be floating and underwater.
Both of them look very impressive and allow you to highlight the pool, pond or stream; - garland lamps are used to decorate the crowns of trees, shrubs, as well as to decorate verandas, arbors and terraces;
- decorative lamps in the form of animals, stones, fairy tale and cartoon characters serve as a decoration in the daytime and are useful at night.
The range of lamps is so wide (and increases every season) that this classification can only be called conditional, but it will help you navigate the choice and understand what exactly you need.
Glass type
The glass of a solar-powered garden or street lamp is responsible for the light transmission, in addition, a photocell is laminated on its surface, so you should pay attention to the material when buying. Glass can be of the following types:
- smooth well transmits direct sunlight and a significant part of scattered;
- corrugated due to the complex relief allows you to reflect and redirect part of the sun's rays, and the luminaire power increases up to 12%.
A good solution for regions where sunny weather is infrequent; - tempered glass is the most reliable and durable, but the product will cost 5-10% more.
Battery type and capacity
In solar lamps, nickel-cadmium batteries are usually installed, which have proven themselves quite well. Less commonly used nickel-metal hydride batteries - they last longer, but also cost more.
If LEDs are rated for 60,000 hours of use, the battery is the softest part of the luminaire. A quality battery needs to be replaced about once every 10 years. If you decide to save money and take a cheaper flashlight, then it is likely that the first battery replacement will have to be done in 1-1.5 years.
Also pay attention to battery capacity , although some manufacturers do not indicate it. Ceteris paribus, it is better to choose a product with a more capacious battery - such a lamp will be able to accumulate more energy and shine longer at night.
True, in order for the battery to be fully charged, it is necessary to install the product in an area with maximum natural light.
Type of silicon in luminaires
Durability of the luminaire depends on type of silicon used:
- monocrystalline silicon is the most reliable, plus it is additionally coated with an oxide film. Good resistance to climatic and chemical influences. Minus - high price;
- multi-crystal medium in terms of practicality. Will last a few years, but no more;
- polycrystalline is the cheapest and least durable. Already in the second or third season, it will be possible to notice a drop in the power of the glow and the duration of work.
Degree of protection
Outdoor garden light will be regularly exposed to moisture: rain, watering, and possibly children playing. To prevent damage to anything, the housing must be suitably protected.
When studying the characteristics of the product, pay attention to the letters IP in the marking. After them there should be two digits - we need a luminaire with IP44 and above . For luminaires that are installed under water or on water, the degree of protection against water should be maximum - IP67, better IP68.
Wattage
The power of garden lamps is usually 3W. This is enough to create soft light and a special mood. Such devices cannot be an independent source of light. Street lights for a country house have a power of about 10 watts, which is approximately equivalent to a 100 watt incandescent lamp. Such products can already be used for self-illumination of the site.
Also pay attention to the number of LED lamps. The more of them, the more light the lamp will give.
What else to consider when choosing?
If you want to find the perfect solar garden light, there are a few other parameters to consider with :
- if the luminaire is installed on the ground, look at the foot height.
Learn more
