Why Do You Invest in Solar Water Heater Panels

Northern lights by Nemcyz

The Northern Lights season in Iceland is almost upon us! I've packed this episode with loads of information to help you have the highest possible chance of seeing this spectacular natural phenomenon. While it is possible to take a tour to see them, I am a big fan of seeing them on my own. I’ll be sharing some awesome places that you can drive to in the country to view them.I decided to also share some background information about the northern lights, including why they appear, the best time of the year to see them, factors that impact you seeing the lights, how to know if the aurora borealis will appear, the best time of day to see them, and my recommendation when it comes to clothing, as well as tips on how to capture the Northern Lights with your phone or camera. Rent a Car in Iceland for your Northern Lights Hunting Adventure Before I jump in, I want to thank Go Car Rental Iceland for sponsoring this episode. They are a great local car rental company based in Reykjavík. As I mentioned earlier, I like to go on adventures at my own pace and having a car allows me and others to do that.Go Car Rental Iceland already has competitive rates but what‘s awesome is that renting a car during winter is way less money than in summer. On top of that, you can save 10% off your entire booking with them when you use my code Iceland10. Why do the Northern Lights Appear? When charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in the earth’s atmosphere, the electrons inside of atoms move to a higher energy state. When the electrons come down to a lower energy state, they release photons, which is light. That light is what we see as the Aurora borealis or Northern Lights.The strength of the Northern lights, or how strong the light show up, will depend on the solar activity and the speed at which these particles are coming toward the earth. This is one major factor as to why you may or may not see the Northern Lights during your trip.The color of the Northern Lights depends on the ionization of gases in the earth’s atmosphere when the charged particle (electrons) collides with them. The altitude at which the particles collide is a major factor as well.Because different gases are present at different altitudes and in varying concentrations, you might see only one color or many if the Northern Lights appear. Green is the most common color. You might also see blue, purple-ish, yellow, pink and even red.Red is normally associated with intense solar activity, which is rare, so you’ll be quite fortunate if you experience that. Best Time of Year to See the Northern Lights in Iceland Undoubtly, the best time of the year to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is during the winter. Northern Lights season officially kicks off in October and runs through March. During this time, we have long, dark nights and that provides ample opportunity to potentially see the lights. Please know that there is no guarantee you will see them, even during winter.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeWycMNVm3M Why You Can't See the Northern Lights in Summer The reason you can’t see the Northern Lights in Iceland during summer (June, July and most of August) is because there is too much brightness. We experience 24-hour bright nights during the height of summer, and this makes it impossible to see Northern Lights in the sky.It isn’t that solar activity is necessarily any less or more during this time. One thing to note is that I have seen the Northern Lights in late August and September. However, because the days are still relatively long at that time, I normally just suggest visiting from October to March. Factors that Impact You Seeing the Northern Lights in Winter The factors that can impact you seeing the Northern Lights during the winter in Iceland are the weather, clouds, light pollution, and solar activity. Ideally, there are none or few clouds in the sky during the evening, relatively good weather,

Solar path lights are a great way to illuminate driveways, walkways, yards, or gardens in the house. They increase visibility and safety at night without consuming electricity. It makes them a suitable option if you are planning to buy pathway lights. You will not need to lift an extra electricity bill burden due to these lights as they work on sunlight. You will also save the cost of electrical wiring from your house's main panel to each light pole. They also elevate and highlight the different features of outdoor space and landscape. A solar panel charges the batteries during the daytime, and the battery lights up LED in the night. This way, you reduce the electricity bill, getting the same benefits as a standard path light. Standard path lights can have a giant or a smaller top head. In contrast, solar path lights have a spacious structure to fit a small solar panel at the top. If you plan to install path lights in your garden or backyard, solar path lights are the best option to invest. There are plenty of options available in the market. Here, I will help you to choose the best one, which suits your needs. Selecting the Best Solar Path Lights It is necessary to find your needs for selecting the solar path light of a particular brand. Every solar path light has its features depending on the price and components used in the light. You should take these points in mind while selecting a solar path light. Purpose of Use There may be one or many reasons you are going to use the solar path lights. You need to take these points in mind while selecting the solar path lights. If you want to reduce the electricity bill, they are the best option to opt for garden and yards lighting.If the main concern is security, ensure that they have enough brightness to cover the area of interest.For a wet and rainy climate, they should be IP65 waterproof. Even if you are going to install in a warm and dry environment, select a water-resistant path light.Battery life is a crucial factor if you are using these lights for both decorations and safety. For decorative lights, you can compromise on it if the price is the prime concern. Ground vs. Landscape Solar Lights We install the ground solar path lights on the ground level. They are waterproof to avoid any damage to the light. They directly come into your eyes while walking on the pathway or near these lights. Due to this reason, many people do not like them.  In contrast, landscape solar path lights are installed at height. They through light on the sides or below them based on the design and features. Unidirectional vs. Omnidirectional Solar Path Lights Unidirectional solar path lights are suitable for the light at an angle on one side of the pathway. They highlight the features while concentrating the light on the walkway or the specific object. This way, a smaller power rating light is enough for some applications. Omnidirectional solar path lights are suitable to lit the area in all directions. They highlight the space around the path light. Simple vs. Textured Lights When the light comes out of a simple path light, there is no particular pattern or texture on the ground. Simple lights are suitable when we need only a highlight to an area with no specific pattern. Textured path lights have a pattern designed on their glass lens. It produces a pattern of light on the ground or nearby objects. Now, I will give you in-depth details of some of the best solar path lights in the market. I will review their features while keeping in mind all the factors discussed earlier. Best Solar Path Light Reviews There are many famous brands in the market as well as online stores. Selecting the best solar path light of their choice is a difficult task for many people. Here, a review of some selected products is presented, covering the solar path lights' technical and aesthetic features. BEAU JARDIN Solar Path Light (Best Budget) Key Features Water-resistant at IP65 standardsAuto on/off to save battery lifeStainless steel and rugged ABS plastic body Key Specifications NiMH battery making it a long-life batteryCharging time of 6-8 hoursBackup time of 8-12 hours BEAU JARDIN Solar Path Light is the real glass stainless steel solar path light with waterproof housing. Due to the actual glass, they give off a bright light. The stakes are made of stainless steel and ABS plastic. A bonus point is that they create a beautiful snowflake on the ground due to a glass lens pattern. The solar path light comes in a pack of 8 with light sensors. These sensors turn on or off the light based on day and night, thus saving energy and battery life. All you need is to install it once, and the controller will do the job. The light is easy to assemble and all-weather-resistant. The steel body and rugged ABS plastic give the light a long-lasting life. This 6 lumens light needs 6 to 8 hours to charge and gives a  backup of around 8 to 12 hours at night. The battery life depends on the daytime duration, as it needs a bright sun for 6 to 8 hours to get it charged. They are available in white light and colorful light, having seven auto-color changing feature. Pros Available in black, brown, stainless steel, and white body colors.Hexagonal Lattice glass diamond-pattern effects, which make the light attractive.IP 65 waterproof, which makes it tolerant of the rainy season. Cons The lights tend to dim after about four hours if not fully charged during the day.Water fills in the top solar cell receptacle and results in the corrosion.Many people claim its battery light to be limited to the claimed life. GardenBliss Solar Path Light (Best Overall) Key Features Water-resistant at IP65 standardsLarge Lights for Extra BrightnessClaimed to last longer than 30,000+ hoursComes in a pack of 10 lights Key Specifications NiMH batteriesAbout 6 hours of battery lifeAuto turn on/off to save battery life GardenBliss manufactured this elegant, reliable, and long-lasting path light. The light comes in sizes of 8 inches and 12 inches. The pack includes ten lights, each of them has a double waterproof seal to avoid any damage from a raining. The light gives a remarkable enhancement to the landscape or the garden. You will get a more considerable LED light in this solar path light, making it brighter than other brands. These LED lights do not have a long life due to the same battery size used in other smaller solar path lights. The manufacturer claims that the light will last longer than 30,000 hours, which is quite a long time for this price point. For installation, remove the protective sheet from the solar panel. Assemble the solar light by connecting the post and head, and nail it down in the ground with a soft hand. If the soil is hard, dig a hole in the ground. Otherwise, it may damage the lamp post. Pros A US-based company believing in product quality and constant improvementSpeedy customer support with the replacement warrantyA bright light which makes the walkway more visible Cons Battery life is not so good as expectedBatteries of some units stop working after six months InnoGear Garden Lights Key Features Glass lens with beautiful light patternsWhite and color rotating optionsWaterproof housing for solar panel and the light Key Specifications Manufactured with high impact ABS material8 hours of battery charging time under direct sunlight8 to 12 hours of battery backup at nightNiMH battery technology InnoGear is one of the best brands selling the best solar path lights in the market. This solar pathway light has a body of high impact ABS plastic material, which makes it rust-free. The glass lens makes an eye-catching pattern on the ground. It has an auto on/off feature in day and night to save battery life and energy. The light has a monocrystalline solar panel. It has a higher efficiency than a polycrystalline solar panel, used in many solar path lights. If you want to have some fascinating features, this path light is a suitable option. It has two operational modes, the white light mode and the color-rotating mode. The color-rotating mode gives you a spectacular and striking look for a function at your house. It has a 1200 mAh battery, which gives you a longer backup time during the night. One box includes 6 InnoGear solar lights and a user manual to guide you about the installation. The installation is effortless and can be done by yourself. Pros ABS impact resistant ABS material to last longerEasy to assembleSwitch between white light or color-rotating mode Cons There are coming some quality control issues in the recent piecesBattery life is almost half of the claimed.Sometimes, they are not very bright as expected. Solpex Solar Path Light (Editor's Choice) Key Features Unique antique styleFour small solar panels for more light captureWaterproof at IP44 standards Key Specifications 10 lumens outputUp to 8 hours of backup The Solpex solar path light is one of my favorite path lights due to its traditional and classic style. The unique design of the lantern helps it fit neatly in any environment and mood. The light comes with four small solar panels held at the top, keeping the battery charged to use it at night. If you are looking for a high brightness solar path light, this one is the best option as it has two LED lights in one lamp. This antique light has a real glass lens, which helps in reflecting more light. The four small solar panels compensate for the amount of power required for this high brightness solar path light. The material used in it is a glass lens with a plastic body. The seller offers these lanterns in a pack of 6 lights. Like other good solar path lights, it also has an automatic turn on/off feature based on day and night. As explained, this one is high brightness light, a backup time more than five hours is not expected. Pros Unique and antique styleOne of the high brightness lightsYou can enhance the battery life by replacing the original battery with a higher capacity Cons Heavyweight fixtures require a more substantial body to withstand the loadDue to high brightness, backup is not as long as expected. Voona Solar Path Lights Key Features Warm White LED lightsStainless steel body to avoid rustingSun pattern effect Key Specifications 500 mAh NiMH battery6 lumens light intensityUp to 8 hours of backup time Voona solar path light is a well designed outdoor light. The light has a plastic lens instead of a glass lens, which produces a sun pattern effect. It makes a beautiful pattern on the ground and nearby objects when turned on in the night. Rays coming from properly spaced lights make this pattern more eye-catching. They are available in a pack of 8 lights. As the manufacturer claims, they are 6 lumens but seem to be lower than the claimed value. Due to their elegant design, I will suggest using them to decorate your garden. This light did not fulfill my expectation in terms of brightness. You will not get enough light to make your pathway or walkway visible. They have a plastic lens instead of glass, used in other big brands. The body is stainless steel, which gives a longer lifespan. The type of light is a warm white light through the patterned plastic glass lens. The manufacturer provides only one choice of silver and white. The battery life after a full day charge is around 8 hours. It includes 30 days of a full refund if you find any issue in the light. Pros Stainless steel bodyConcise and elegant design Cons The quality of plastic used is not much goodPlastic lens instead of glassLess bright light due to plastic lens and pattern effect Geloo Solar Path Light Key Features Continuous color changing sequence in 7 colorsSun pattern effect with continuously changing colorsSuitable for outdoor garden decoration Key Specifications 6 to 8 hours of solar chargingAbout 8 hours of backup at night For party decorations and particular functions at your house, these solar path lights are the best option. ABS plastic in the mainframe of the Geloo solar pathway light gives it durability and long life. You will get a solar panel of 0.88 W with a battery of 1000 mAh capacity, which provides a good backup. It is a perfect match for outdoor decorations with changing colors. It enhances the landscape view. The sun effect looks stunning with these continually changing colors. The lights come with an auto on/off feature to enhance battery life and energy-saving. It will give you about 8 hours of illumination on a charge of 6 to 8 hours in full-day sunlight. The manufacturer provides a 12-month warranty with 30 days money-back guarantee as well. Pros Easy to put togetherMuch easy to put into the groundCasts a classy pattern on the groundWork a long time in the dark Cons Battery expires very soon Frequently Asked Questions Some questions may come into your mind while selecting the best solar path lights for your walkway. Here, you can find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. Conclusion The output of solar path lights decreases after raining or snowing due to water splashes. It will need you to clean their solar panels after raining or snowing to get enough light to charge the battery. You should clean the lights once in a week or two, depending on the air's dust content. If not cleaned, the solar panel's efficiency will be affected, and you will not get enough battery backup. To clean the solar panel, take a soft cloth lightly soaked in water and clean the solar panel's top. The solar panel needs direct sunlight to charge the battery. It would be best to consider the building’s shades in the pathway before installing the solar lights. Otherwise, you have to compromise on the efficiency and productivity of solar lights. There are plenty of solar lights in the market with different storage rating of the battery. A smaller battery may find it difficult to completely charge in the winter to give you the expected backup. Good solar path lights are maintenance-free and do not have any upfront cost. Many solar lights have damaged batteries due to more extended storage in the warehouse. You may need to change the batteries of some lights for first use. It is one of the expected costs for many units after two years of usage.

Are you looking for solar pool heating systems? If yes, then why don’t you invest in Northern Lights solar pool heaters! They are quite different than traditionally designed unglazed plastic solar pool collectors. To get started, the solar collectors that are used in the heating kits come with double-walled vacuum tubes rather than plastic PVC piping in traditional solar pool heaters.