Solar vs Mains Outdoor Security Lights: Which Should You Fit?

Shopping for solar security and garden lights? See the range, with free delivery anywhere in Ireland from the first euro.

Fit solar where running a cable is the hard part, and mains where the light has to work every single night. That is the whole decision in one line. A solar light at the end of a garden, on a shed or on a gate needs no trench, no electrician and no supply. A mains light on a driveway or a back door gives full output in February when a solar panel has had seven hours of grey daylight to charge from.

Both are worth having, and most Irish homes end up with a mix. At Shamrock Electrical in Rathcoole, just off the N7, we stock both, and this is the honest version of how to choose.

The Irish winter problem nobody mentions

Solar lighting is sold on summer performance. The difficulty is that you need outdoor light most in December and January, and that is when an Irish solar panel is working hardest for least return. Short days, low sun and heavy cloud all cut charging at exactly the point the nights are longest.

This does not make solar a bad buy. It makes it a poor choice for anything you are relying on. A solar light that gives you four hours instead of eight on a wet January night is a nuisance on a garden path and a genuine problem on the only light over a back door.

The practical rule: if the light going out would matter, put it on mains.

Where solar is the better answer

• Anywhere with no supply. Sheds, gates, side passages, the far end of a garden. The cost of getting power there usually exceeds the cost of the light several times over.
• Rented or temporary. Nothing is wired in, so nothing has to be undone.
• Occasional use. A path used a few times a night suits a PIR solar light well, because short bursts are exactly what a battery handles best.
• Awkward positions. Our Evolec solar flood light has a detachable panel, so the light can sit in shade while the panel goes where the sun actually is. That single feature solves most solar disappointments.

Where mains is the better answer

• Security you depend on. Driveways, entrances, yards. Full brightness every night, no battery to flatten.
• Serious output. Our IP65 weatherproof LED floodlights run from 10W to 50W, and the Challenger 50W with PIR detects to 12 metres across a 120 degree spread. Solar cannot match that sustained.
• All night running. Bulkheads such as the Nova 20W at 1600 lumens can stay lit from dusk to dawn without a thought.
• Existing lights you want to make smarter. A Steinel IS 2180 ECO PIR adds 180 degree detection to 12 metres on lighting that is already wired, with a 5 year warranty. Often cheaper than replacing anything.

Be careful comparing the wattage figures

This is where most people get caught. Solar floodlights are often sold as 100W or 200W. That is not the same measure as a 50W mains floodlight, and the two are not comparable.

Compare lumens instead, which is actual light output. Our solar PIR floodlight gives 1500 lumens on the 12W model. The solar folding wall lights give 230, 340 and 700 lumens depending on size. A mains bulkhead at 20W gives 1600 lumens all night, every night.

And remember solar output is a best case. It assumes a full charge, which assumes a good day.

What we stock on each side

Solar: the LED PIR sensor solar floodlight in 8W and 12W, the Evolec solar flood light with detachable panel, remote and microwave sensor, and the LED sensor solar folding wall lights in 2.5W, 3.5W and 7.5W, all in black or white.

Mains: floodlights from 10W to 50W, PIR floodlights, bulkheads, wall lanterns and bollards. The full range is in outdoor lights and motion detecting lights.

The mix most houses end up with

Mains PIR floodlight on the driveway or the main entrance, because that is the one that matters. Mains bulkhead at the back door. Solar on the shed, the side gate and along the garden path, where a cable would cost more than the light and nothing critical depends on it.

That combination costs less than wiring everything and works better than doing it all on solar.

Buying outdoor lighting from Shamrock Electrical

We are an Irish owned electrical supplier in Rathcoole, County Dublin, just off the N7 and well positioned for the M50. We stock solar and mains outdoor lighting from Evolec, Steinel, Nova and others, and we deliver free on every order to all 26 counties with no minimum spend. You are also welcome to collect from the counter, where somebody can tell you honestly which one suits the spot you have in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are solar security lights any good in Ireland?
A: They work well for paths, sheds, gates and side passages where running a cable is difficult and nothing critical depends on the light. They are a weaker choice for a main entrance or driveway, because Irish winter daylight is short and often overcast, so charging is at its worst exactly when the nights are longest.

Q: Should I choose solar or mains for a driveway?
A: Mains. A driveway light is one you depend on, and mains gives full brightness every night regardless of the weather, with no battery to flatten. Keep solar for the places a cable cannot easily reach.

Q: Why is a 100W solar floodlight not as bright as a 50W mains one?
A: Because the wattage figures are not the same measure. Compare lumens instead, which is actual light output. A 12W solar PIR floodlight gives about 1500 lumens at full charge, while a 20W mains bulkhead gives 1600 lumens all night, every night, with no charge to depend on.

Q: Do solar outdoor lights need an electrician?
A: No. Solar lights mount with screws and need no supply, which is the main reason to choose them. Mains outdoor lighting should be connected by a registered electrician, and any outdoor circuit needs proper RCD protection.

Q: How long do solar light batteries last?
A: Expect a few years from the lithium battery in a good solar light, less if it is repeatedly run flat through winter. This is worth factoring in, because a mains light has no battery to replace.

Q: Can I put a sensor on outdoor lights I already have?
A: Yes. A separate PIR such as the Steinel IS 2180 ECO adds motion detection to existing wired lighting, with 180 degree coverage up to 12 metres. It is usually cheaper than replacing the fittings, and it is fitted by an electrician.

Q: Where can I buy solar and mains outdoor lights in Ireland?
A: Shamrock Electrical stocks both, including solar PIR floodlights, solar folding wall lights, mains floodlights from 10W to 50W, bulkheads and PIR sensors. We are in Rathcoole, County Dublin, just off the N7, and we deliver free to every county in Ireland on every order with no minimum spend. You can also collect from the counter.