addlon100FT Solar String Lights for Outside G50 Waterproof with USB Port Solar Patio Lights Outdoor Solar Powered LED Bulbs 3 Light Modes for Backyard Porch Garden Market Bistro Camping

We branched out and tried our hand with the solar string lights to see if we liked them better than our typical LED string lights. The solar lights are a fantastic choice for saving energy and convenient if a utility outlet is not in close proximity. The installation process is best supported with two sets of hands and some prior planning on placement. The bulbs on the solar string lights are closer together and gives off a decent amount of warm light if you're looking for an ambient setting. The bulbs are plastic, which I for one appreciate as we have some high winds that travel through our area every now and again. These lights are ideal for sunny locations like Southern California where the sun shines more than not. We've had ours for just a few weeks now and only a few of those days have been a bit gloomy. On those overcast days, we did not notice a reduction of solar input. We have the solar panel placed in the backyard where the sun hits it consistently throughout the day so it's always capturing the sunlight. So far, the longest amount of time we've had the lights powered on is about 10 hours, during the night, before I turned them off. I have not tested them yet to their full capacity on a single charge. So far, they have been a great investment and seem to be ideal for our location. The average run time should be about 20 hours on a single charge. We typically use ours for gatherings and events, so I don't foresee that run time ever being an issue.

I added two new strings of these Addlon LED Outdoor String Lights for my recent backyard remodel. The 2200° K color temperature (very warm) is a perfect match to an existing set I bought years ago at my local Costco; the cables are different but similar enough in appearance that it's not noticeable.This particular set is listed as 24' long, which consists of 12 bulb sockets on 2' centers, the plug end has 1' of cord at each end. The other set, also from Addlon, is listed as 27' long and has a 4' cord from the plug end to the first socket with everything else being the same. I started with this shorter set, to keep the standard 2' light spacing with the original set and used the longer set at the transition into the larger, 10'x14' gazebo where I didn't want the lights to start until I got inside on the ceiling.I used 1/16" wire ropes to support the light strings and a separate power feed cable between the patio and grill gazebo and between the grill gazebo and the 'big' gazebo. When installing, I recommend you remove all the light bulbs and put them out of the way - they may be shatterproof, but they could get easily scratched, cracked, or broken if handled over rough or hard surfaces. Each string comes with two spare bulbs and black zip ties for installation.PROs-* Cable is nice and 'flexy' - easy to untangle and install in a straight line.* Bulb color temp was what I wanted* Nice that Addlon offers different length options depending on how you want to connect the strings.* Provide a "nice" amount of light, neither overly bright nor overly dim.* Zip ties and 2 extra bulbs are includedCONs-* Not sure this is really a CON, but there's no ground wire. The existing set had a 3-prong plug/pass-through and a ground wire.* Plug and pass-through receptacle are kinda bulky and aren't weatherproof. I will probably cut them off and replace with weatherproof connectors.

The media could not be loaded.  I recently stumbled across these bistro lights that I just had to pick up immediately. They’re slightly larger than what we previously had, and honestly, they’re closer to the style we’ve been searching for. One thing I always recommend is to measure carefully before purchasing, so you can be sure the lights will perfectly suit your space.These lights come with a solar panel, which is great for energy efficiency. The panel even has a charging port for those days when it’s overcast or rainy, allowing you to manually charge the battery if needed. Just this past weekend, we had some really rainy, cloudy weather, and to my surprise, the lights still turned on that night. Of course, the real test will come during our notoriously gloomy Chicago winters. If the solar panel can still hold a charge during that time, that would be incredible! Plus, the remote control is a nice feature, allowing you to change the light modes without having to step outside in the cold.Another useful feature is that the solar panel can be mounted to a wall for optimal light exposure. Unfortunately, our walls are concrete, so I’m currently using the stake in our planters to hold the panel in place, and it’s working fine for now.Overall, I’m excited to continue using these lights and am already considering picking more up for another set to extend the ambiance to for when we have a backyard. For now, they’re adding a beautiful decorative touch and creating a cozy atmosphere on our city balcony. Another bonus is that the bulbs come with hooks, which makes hanging them so much easier than using zip ties or nails. It’s definitely a purchase worth making!