Installing solar lights

Check the sun before you drill

Watch your chosen spot through a sunny day. The panel needs several hours of direct sun, so avoid deep eaves and heavy tree cover. Even partial shade can cut charging by half or more.

The sun also moves through the year. Where it rises and sets now may change in six months' time, so a spot that's sunny today could be shaded later in the year. Keep this in mind before you drill to mount the light.

Face the panel north

In South Africa, the sun sits in the northern sky, so face the panel north and tilt it towards the sun if it adjusts (an angle of roughly 25° to 35° suits most of South Africa). A spot that's sunny in the morning may be shaded by the afternoon, so check both.

Mount it at the right height

• Floodlights: Mount them 2m to 8m above the ground, depending on the model. Check the instructions for yours.
• Path and garden lights: Push them firmly into the ground, well clear of plants that will grow over the panel.

Fix it firmly

Mount brackets and poles on a solid surface that can carry the light's weight, so it won't move in the wind or shake loose.

Give it a full first charge

Switch the light off and leave the panel in the sun for one to two full sunny days to fully charge the battery. Then switch it on, and it will come on automatically at dusk and go off at dawn.

Keep the panel clean and clear

A dirty panel won't charge as well, so wipe it clean regularly. Trim back plants as they grow, and check again as the seasons change, because winter shadows are longer.