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Oct 28, 2025
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Proper outdoor lighting is crucial for safety and functionality. Whether you’re walking the dog, hosting friends, or simply unwinding after a long day, choosing between solar and wired fixtures can help make the most of your backyard. At Abulous Lighting, we provide comprehensive landscape lighting installation services, transforming how your home feels, looks, and functions. With many years of experience, our licensed electricians understand the complexities of both wired and solar systems, helping you make informed decisions.

What’s the Difference?

Solar outdoor lighting uses the sun to generate electricity and power fixtures. If you want lights that turn on automatically, plug-and-play, or are self-contained, solar lighting is the best option. However, solar outdoor lighting requires the sun to operate, making it less effective in areas that don’t receive regular sunlight.

On the other hand, wired landscape lighting is powered directly by your home’s electrical system. These lighting fixtures are hardwired into your building, and can be controlled by timers, switches, or smart devices. While each landscape lighting type has its place, how do you know which one is the right one for you? Let’s explore vital factors to consider when choosing between solar and wired outdoor lights without getting overwhelmed.

Installation & Operating Costs

Solar outdoor lighting is typically cheaper upfront and DIY-friendly. Since no wiring is required, DIY enthusiasts can install fixtures in minutes. You don’t need to hire an electrician, touch your home’s electrical system, or pull a permit. However, routine cleaning and maintenance are crucial to enhance the lifespan of your fixtures.

Wired outdoor lighting usually has a higher upfront cost and requires professional expertise to install correctly. This is particularly true if trenching or new wiring is involved. A permit is usually required before installing landscape lighting, ensuring safety and functionality. Wired fixtures need to be replaced more frequently due to battery failure, weather wear, or dimming over time.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly and quick option, solar landscape lighting is the best option. However, if you want long-term value, wired fixtures are more likely to deliver a better return.

Brightness & Reliability

Outdoor lighting fixtures are different, especially when the sun goes down. Solar lighting is usually dimmer than wired fixtures and depends heavily on weather and sunlight exposure. If it has been overcast for several days or your lights are shaded, you might notice your lights fading early or not turning on at all. In cloudy stretches or winter months, performance can drop even further, making solar landscape lighting ideal if you need consistent brightness or for security.

Wired fixtures, on the other hand, offer dependable performance every time you flip a switch. As mentioned, wired landscape lighting is powered by your home's electrical system. This ensures it doesn’t dim, fade, or shut off unless the power goes out. As a homeowner, you can add motion sensors, set timers, or even control your lighting through smart home systems.

Safety & Functionality

When choosing outdoor lighting, it’s not just about what works, but how it feels to live with it every day. Solar lighting is designed for simplicity, allowing you to place them where they get direct sunlight and turn on automatically at dusk. However, when it comes to safety, solar outdoor fixtures fall short, especially after a few cloudy days.

Wired landscape lighting is more dependable when it comes to safety, as it turns on when you need it. Whether it is raining or snowing, wired outdoor lighting can be connected to motion sensors, switches, or timers so your porch, walkways, and entry points are well-lit.

Contact Abulous Lighting to learn more about solar and wired fixtures before investing in landscape lighting. We provide exceptional services tailored to your needs, helping you make an informed purchase without breaking the bank.

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Happy Customers Saying

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Kimberly Buckland

Absolute Lighting installed my outdoor flood lights 2 years ago and they are beautiful! They did such a great job that I used them to setup and take down the Christmas lights for the past 2 years. I would highly recommend them. Frank always responds to questions and automatically puts me on the schedule for set up and take down of the Christmas Lights.

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Graham Antin

We love Abulous lighting and have been using them for years  They are very responsive and professional and  will come back no questions asked for any follow up work  Good pricing and highly trustworthy  Frank, the owner, is a true  stand up guy.  I recommend without reservation

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Allan Conlan

Frank and the team at Abulous were great to work with. They came out and retro-upgraded some previous lighting that we had done a few years back and made it look as seamless and continuous as possible. They also worked with us on the best (& most economical) way to light up a hard to reach area of our yard. They also followed up with us after we had another group of workers "disturb" some of the lighting wires and came back out and fixed everything back up again. Very friendly, dependable local resource who do great work. Highly recommend.

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Mike Thomas

After reviewing multiple companies we contracted with Abilous Lighting to create outside accent lighting for our home, backyard patio, walkways, & fire pit.  Their ideas and design were the best!   It was a pleasure working with Frank Hasty, who did  the design, and his crew of Brandon & Rusty who performed the work.  All were excellent to work with.   We are very happy with Abulous Lighting.