Charging Your Solar Landscape Lighting on a Cloudy Day

Any solar powered device, including solar landscape lighting, will be affected to some degree by the weather. Solar charging works best in full sunshine. However, solar panels are still capable of charging during cloudy days. When there are clouds in the sky, the sunlight is not as direct and the charge recovers more slowly and to a lower capacity.

How to Maximize Your Solar Charge on a Cloudy Day

If there are clouds in only a portion of the sky, aim your solar charger for the solar landscape lighting toward the clear part of the sky. Generally, tilt the charger in the direction of the sun throughout the day. In the morning, the charger will function best if directed toward the east, even if there are clouds in the sky. Move the charger throughout the day so that it faces directly up and then, later, toward the west.

Another way to maximize your charge on a cloudy day is to limit the use of your landscape lighting. Conserve solar power by leaving the lights off when they are not necessary, and by keeping the time that the lights are on to a minimum. This will help to retain the existing solar charge.