Winter Security Alert: Don’t Let Your Solar Security Lights Fail You

A dark home is a target. Winter is when reliable security lighting matters most, yet that’s when solar motion lights often fail. Ensure yours stay vigilant with this checklist.

Conduct a “Sun Audit.” Right now, check your security lights. Are their panels shaded by bare winter branches or roof eaves? Relocate any light that doesn’t get full midday sun to a south-facing wall or eave. Compromising on the perfect motion angle is better than having a dead light.

Install a “Battery Sentinel.” For your most critical light (e.g., over the garage or back door), install a set of premium lithium-ion rechargeables (look for ones rated for cold climates). Mark your calendar to check and potentially recharge them indoors in mid-January, the darkest period.

Test & Maintain Weekly. After any snowfall or heavy frost, clearing the sensor and solar panel is a non-negotiable 30-second security task. Test the motion activation at dusk every few weeks. Consider adding a low-wattage, plug-in LED light underneath your main solar security light as a backup failsafe on always-on mode.

Remember: A consistently dim all-night glow from a solar light is a stronger deterrent than a bright light that unpredictably goes dark. Set it and forget it on the right mode.