Solar lights, festoon lights and outdoor lamps

During the day, the solar panel charges the battery. At dusk, a sensor detects the dark and switches the lights on automatically. They shine on the energy stored during the day: the more sun the panel gets, the longer they stay lit. Our guide on how to install your solar lights tells you more.

ON. In this position, the lights charge by day and come on by themselves in the evening. Only switch to OFF to store them or while you are away for a long time. For festoon lights, avoid leaving the panel in full sun for several days with the lights OFF: the battery could overcharge and be damaged.

Place the panel in full sun, facing due south and tilted at about 45°, and let it charge for a full day. At nightfall, press the ON/OFF button on the back of the panel. Also check the connection between the panel and the lights: the plug only fits one way round, shown by an arrow.

Yes, but more slowly: on an overcast day the panel collects daylight and the lights shine for less time. Avoid placing the panel behind a window. On days without sun, the festoon lights also run on mains power with their adapter, and the Cube and the Pebble recharge by USB-C.

After a fine summer's day, solar cotton ball lights shine for up to 8 hours. For festoon lights, expect on average 6 to 8 hours in spring and summer, 3 to 5 hours in autumn and 1 to 3 hours in winter, sometimes less in very overcast weather; the maximum runtime given on the product page applies in high summer, with no shade.

This is normal: in winter the days are short and the sun is low, so a solar panel receives up to 4 times less energy than in summer. It is not a fault. To get the best from your lights:

• face the panel due south, out of the shade, and clean it regularly;
• leave the lights switched off for a day or two before a party, to charge the battery fully;
• plug the festoon lights into the mains with their adapter: the lighting no longer depends on the weather.

• the ON/OFF button on the back of the panel is set to ON;
• the panel is in complete darkness: a street lamp or a lit window is enough to stop the lights coming on;
• the plug between the panel and the lights is pushed fully home, the right way round;
• the battery has had a full day of sun to charge;
• the panel is clean and not in the shade.

If they still won't come on, write to us.

They are telling you the battery is nearly empty and they are about to go off. After a good day of sun, they will be back.

They are designed to come on by themselves at nightfall. To light them during the day, cover the solar panel: they will think it is night.

Yes, they are designed to stay outdoors all year round, and that is what we recommend: left ON, the battery charges and discharges regularly, which keeps it healthy. If you prefer to store them, do so at the end of a day with the battery charged, and switch them OFF. You can bring the cotton balls indoors in winter to keep them looking fresh for longer.

Yes. The solar cotton ball lights, the festoon lights, the Sphere, the Cube and the Pebble are rated IP55: they stand up to rain. Water resistance is guaranteed for 2 years.

It depends on the model. The festoon lights run on solar and on mains power, with the mains adapter sold separately or included in some packs. The solar Mini LED string lights also run on mains power. The solar cotton ball lights, however, are powered only by their panel and battery.

Use plenty of fixing points: at least 4 for a 16-ball set and 8 for 32 balls; for festoon lights, at least every other bulb, ideally along a tensioned wire. Don't hang them from the two ends alone, don't pull them too tight, and avoid supports that move in the wind (a branch, a shade sail). See our 10 ideas for hanging festoon lights.

Every part can be detached. For power: the solar panel with its battery, or the mains adapter. For length: a 16-LED string (7.5 m), to which a 16-LED extension can be added to reach 32 LEDs and 15 m. A 4 m cable links the panel to the lights, and a 4 m extension lead is available as an option. It is all shown on the solar festoon lights page.

Yes, on recent festoon lights, whose LEDs unclip:

1. Unscrew the globe by turning it anticlockwise.
2. Using a small flat screwdriver, gently unclip the old LED by levering at the side.
3. Take a compatible replacement LED.
4. Line up the notch on the LED (1) with the slot in the holder (2), then press firmly until it clicks in.
5. Put the globe back and screw it on carefully.

Before first use, charge it fully from the mains until the indicator turns green. Then place it wherever you like, wait for nightfall and press the ON/OFF button underneath. No light must fall on it, or it will not come on.

Charge it fully, in the sun or from the mains, then press the ON/OFF button underneath to switch the battery off. It will keep for several months like this. When you bring it back out, recharge it fully from the mains.

Yes. The two batteries (18650 type) are replaced together, taking care with the polarity. Opening the compartment can affect water resistance, however, which is then no longer guaranteed. Write to us and we'll tell you which battery to use and how to proceed.