The panel

A photovoltaic cell on top of the fixture converts daylight into a small current that charges an internal battery. It does not need direct sun; it needs daylight. Bright overcast still charges, deep shade under a dense tree does not.

The battery

Our fixtures use lithium iron phosphate cells rather than the older nickel chemistry, because they hold up far better to being charged and discharged every single day and to sitting cold.

The sensor

The same panel doubles as the light sensor. When it stops producing current, the fixture turns itself on. That is why a fixture under a porch light sometimes will not switch on — it never gets dark enough from the panel’s point of view.

What to expect

In midsummer a fully charged fixture will run all night. In midwinter, with fewer daylight hours and a lower sun, expect four to six hours. That is normal and not a fault.

Where solar is the wrong answer

If you need guaranteed light all night in December, or a genuinely bright flood for a large working area, mains wiring is still the right choice. We would rather say so than sell you something that disappoints.