Solar Light Chain – faceted LED balls, IP65 build and a tilting panel

Solar Light Chain – evening light at a campsite with nothing to plug in

Faceted ball covers over warm white LEDs, fed by a small panel that collects daylight and switches the chain on at dusk. A full day of charging gives up to ten hours of light from the 800 mAh cell. The IP65 rating means dew and a passing shower are not a problem.

Why pick a solar chain?

Power points are scarce at a pitch, and battery-fed strings tend to fade on the second night. Daylight is the one supply you can count on outdoors. The panel swings through 180 degrees, so it can face the sun wherever you end up parked.

• Charges from daylight: the panel fills the built-in 800 mAh cell during the day, no outlet needed.
• Up to ten hours: a good day of sun covers a full evening with something in reserve.
• IP65 rating: built for rain, dew and damp air outdoors.
• Faceted covers: the ball shades scatter the warm white light instead of glaring.
• Three lengths: from a 5 m chain of 20 LEDs up to 22 m with 200.

Put it up once and it handles the rest of the week on its own.

Site the panel where it gets the most sun and angle it upward; the 180-degree hinge covers most positions. Drape the chain along an awning rail, a branch or a gazebo frame and let the sensor do the switching. Give it one full day in direct sun before the first night for the longest run.

Specifications

• warm white LEDs, three lengths from 5 m / 20 LEDs to 22 m / 200 LEDs
• rechargeable 800 mAh NiMH cell, up to 10 hours per charge
• monocrystalline panel with a 180-degree hinge
• IP65 weather rating
• for outdoor use: garden, campsite, awning, motorhome

Hang it up and let the sun do the work.