Written by Timothy Dale | Updated 2:40 PM, September 14, 2021

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Even a small deck or yard can make the warm weather more enjoyable because you can move your meals outside, sit in the sun for morning tea, or let friends and family visit the outdoors. With some simple solar pole cap lights, you can bring the fun into the night. The use of solar lights can easily illuminate the surroundings because they do not require direct electrical connections or frequent battery replacement.

The best solar column cap lights are made of sturdy materials such as ABS plastic, aluminum, and glass, ensuring that they can continue to emit light even in severe weather conditions. The brightness of these lights can also range from 10 lumens (approximately as bright as a mobile phone flashlight) to more than 200 lumens. Keep in mind that this brightness level only applies to a single light, so adding more lights to the deck or yard will increase the overall light. Take a look at the products below to help you find the most suitable solar column cap light for your home.

Before making a quick decision when purchasing a solar light based entirely on excellent design, you may need to first consider the size and shape of the fence or deck post you will install. After confirming, please go to more detailed functions, such as its weather resistance, brightness and overall performance, as well as some other important factors mentioned below.

Deck and fence posts come in many sizes and shapes, which may affect the size of your solar column cap light. In order to ensure that solar lights are suitable for a specific job, it is important to make accurate measurements in advance and refer to product information and manufacturer's recommendations before purchasing products.

Most solar pole cap lights are designed to be mounted on top of fences or deck posts, usually with a bracket screwed directly into the wood. However, there are other products with different requirements, including some solar column cap lights directly connected to the side of the column, and other products with brackets made specifically for the column. It is wise to take appropriate measurements before deciding on the product.

Solar column cap lights are made of several different materials, each of which is designed to give the lamp a unique appearance while protecting sensitive electrical components from rain, sleet and snow.

Solar pole cap lights can be kept outdoors in inclement weather, so you don't have to worry about covering or removing them before they get wet. However, the resistance to dust, dirt, debris, rain, sleet, and snow varies from product to product. For this reason, solar pole cap lights usually have an IP (Ingress Protection) rating, which indicates their specific resistance level.

The IP rating system refers to the resistance of the equipment to solid objects. It is represented by the first digit, and the waterproof performance is represented by the second digit. The solids range from 0 to 6, where 0 means no protection at all, and 6 means the product is completely sealed to prevent dust and any larger solids. The waterproof rating ranges from 0 to 9. For solids, 0 means no protection, and 9 means complete protection from strong, close-range water jets.

Generally, a waterproof rating between 5 (to prevent low-pressure water jets) and 7 (which can withstand full immersion in 3.2 feet of water for up to 30 minutes) is suitable for solar pole cap lights.

Before deciding on the best solar column cap lamp for your home, the brightness of the lamp is a very important detail that needs attention. This is because if the post cap lamp cannot produce enough light, the deck or yard will still be in darkness. The number of individual LED bulbs in a solar lamp can be used as a broad indicator of lamp brightness, but this is a basic product specification and is not as reliable as lumen.

The brightness of the light produced by a solar pole cap lamp or any other type of light is measured in lumens. The lumen range of a solar column cap lamp can range from as low as 5 lumens to more than 200 lumens, but the cost of the lamp usually increases with the number of lumens it can produce. However, adding additional solar column cap lights will make the entire area brighter, so a few low-intensity lights can be as effective as one or two high-intensity lights.

Although you don't have to worry about replacing the disposable battery regularly, the solar column cap lamp still uses an internal battery, which will affect the lamp's running time and charging time. These batteries usually take about 6 to 8 hours to fully charge, but the specific charging time varies from product to product, even for products that use the same type of battery.

After being fully charged, the ordinary solar column cap lamp battery will be able to provide 6 to 10 hours of lighting, depending on the product. Bad weather will reduce the efficiency of solar panels, but even during storms, solar column cap lights will still charge during the day.

The aesthetic appearance of the solar column cap light is not the most important detail of the function, but it is an undeniable factor, you need to consider to find the best solar column cap light that matches your deck and courtyard decoration.

These products were chosen because of their quality, price and other basic factors mentioned above. The best solar pole cap lights will keep the deck or yard illuminated, so you can enjoy outdoor activities even after the sun goes down.

Two packs of waterproof solar pole cap lights are available in three different colors, including black, bronze or silver, so users can find the ideal look for their yard, deck or terrace. These lights can be mounted on 4" x 4" posts, 6" x 6" posts, or even on flat surfaces, so they can be added to the top of the railing instead of trying to insert them on the fence Or deck pillars.

The solar column cap lights each output 10 lumens of light, making the yard look comfortable when the day turns to night. These lights take about 6 to 8 hours to fully charge, but once fully charged, the lights can last up to 10 hours per night. The durable plastic shell protects the lamp from rain, sleet and snow, and the waterproof rating is IP65, so users can rest assured that the lamp will continue to glow throughout the night regardless of the weather.

These affordable solar lights can be installed directly on pillars, fences or even walls. The flat back can be fixed with only two screws. Then, after replacing the quarter ball cover in the lower half of the lamp, it can be opened. However, these honeycomb solar lights are not intended to illuminate the entire yard. Each produces approximately 12 lumens of light, displayed in a decorative pattern, which looks attractive when the sky starts to fade into the night. Use multiples of this light to create brighter lighting.

Like most solar lights, these lights are designed with built-in sensors that can detect whether it is day or night, so the lights will not continue to glow when they are invisible. The lamp is made of ABS plastic, and it takes about 6 hours to fully charge. After charging, they can work for 4 to 8 hours per charge.

Bringing antique elegance to the deck or yard, Kemeco solar column cap lights can integrate technology with the outdoors without detracting from the natural environment. It is equipped with four top-mounted solar panels that can charge the lights in 6 to 8 hours. However, when you use it for the first time, you should charge the lamp for a full 24 hours before selecting the "On" setting. The retro lantern-style solar column cap light is made of cast aluminum and glass panels.

This solar column light also comes with a 3" round base for round columns or a 5.5" x 5.5" base for square columns. The bright 130 to 150 lumens make it an excellent choice for stand-alone lamp posts in the garden, at the bottom of a driveway, or on steps leading to the house.

The FOOYANCHO solar column cap lamp adopts a modern appearance design, similar to an inverted pyramid, with a flat square top, which can collect energy from the sun. The cone-shaped frosted plastic lamp is connected to the circular base. The base is mounted on the top of the column, so it can be used for columns of almost any size or shape, as long as the diameter of the square column exceeds 4.5 inches x 4.5 inches and the diameter of the circular column exceeds 4.5 inches.

These solar pole cap lights need about 6 hours to charge during the day and can provide 6 to 8 hours of light when the sun goes down. Each lamp can produce about 100 lumens of light. The aluminum and plastic structure has an IP65 waterproof rating, so users can be sure that the lamp will not be damaged by rain, sleet or snow.

For those who want to illuminate their yard but do not want the decorative shapes and sizes common to standard lamps and lantern-style lamps, these two solar column cap lamps are a good choice. The height of these lights is only 2.4 inches. Each solar column cap lamp provides up to 15 lumens of light without attracting people's attention to outdoor decoration.

These solar pole cap lights are made of durable plastic and have a waterproof rating of IP44 to ensure they are protected from rain, but it may be a good idea to cover them to prevent damage during ice storms. It takes 6 to 8 hours for the lamp to be fully charged, and then it can work for 8 to 10 hours before it needs to be charged. It should also be mentioned that these lights can be mounted on a 4" x 4" column or a 6" x 6" column.

This charming two-piece solar cap light incorporates a metal woven floral design in the shape of the lamp, which looks great in the garden, and is also suitable for terraces, decks and fences. Each lamp can produce up to 15 lumens of light, which is about 5 lumens more than a mobile phone flashlight, so these lamps are very suitable for outdoor decoration.

These solar pole cap lights have an IP65 waterproof rating and are made of durable cast aluminum. These lights take about 6 to 8 hours to fully charge and can provide 8 to 10 hours of lighting. They also come with a reversible base, so the lights can be fixed to a series of different posts and railings. In fact, you don't even need to use a base, because the lamp can be directly fixed to the post.

For a set of functional pillar cap lights that are driven by the sun and can bear water, please check CaiFang solar pillar outdoor lights. Or just use one or two super bright and charming retro-style Kemeco cast aluminum solar column lights to illuminate the entrance or sidewalk area.

Solar lights can add security and atmosphere to entrance passages, gardens, terraces and other outdoor spaces, without the need for wires or wiring. In order to work properly, they need to be charged during a typical day and used continuously for as long as you need, hopefully up to 8 hours. In addition to battery and charging time, we also studied the brightness in lumens to provide a range of options. You may need one or a group of strong lights to add enough light to provide a certain amount of safety while still allowing you to see the stars.

Since these lights are located in outdoor sunlight, rain and snow, they need support, so we analyzed the materials and weather resistance when choosing the best solar column cap lights. Most cap lights are designed to be installed on top of fences or on deck posts, so please check the measurements when making a decision. Finally, this list offers a variety of aesthetic options to match modern, garden or retro styles.

Before investing in a new solar pole cap light, please review these frequently asked questions and their answers to learn more about how solar lights work and how long they can be used before they need to be replaced.

Although direct sunlight is the best way to quickly charge the solar column cap lamp, indirect sunlight will charge the solar battery even on cloudy days, but the speed is different.

Although you don't have to worry about regular replacement of disposable batteries, there are still one or more rechargeable batteries inside the solar column light.

The solar column cap lamp can last for 2 to 8 years, depending on the frequency of use, the replaceability of the battery, and whether it is shielded to a certain extent or completely exposed to any and all weather conditions.

Bob Vila has been an American handyman since 1979. As the host of the beloved groundbreaking TV series, including "The Old House" and "Bob Villa's House", he is popular and has become synonymous with "do it yourself" home improvement.

Throughout his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair and live better every day-a tradition that continues to this day, providing professional and easy-to-use home advice. The Bob Vila team distilled the information they need to know into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101, etc. Then, these family and garden experts thoroughly research, review, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.

Timothy Dale is a freelance writer specializing in home repair and construction. While completing a degree in English Literature and Psychology, he worked in the plumbing industry during his university years, and then held a project management position for 10 years. During his tenure as a project manager, Mr. Dale worked in residential plumbing and carpentry, and spent a year in the commercial and industrial fields.

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