Are you worried that your solar lights will no longer keep up with your lighting fixtures that are already in need of replacement? Strengthening your solar garden lights or giving them a more stable platform to stand on is easy if you know how to replace solar lights. Setting up stakes for your solar lights is a task even a Boy Scout can excel at. All you need is the right tools and a basic understanding of solar light mounts, and you can set up your solar garden lights for life.
How to Choose the Best Stack for Solar Lights
There is a huge variety of stock replacement options available that will cover most Max and Lite models. That said, there are two things you need to consider before choosing a replacement. There are two common types of replacement stacks for solar lights: stacks for solar pathway lights and threaded spikes for solar flood lights.
- Replacement Stacks for Solar Pathway Lights
- Suitable for solar pathway lights, torch lights, and garden lights.
- Made of sturdy ABS plastic.
- Waterproof, no problem in the rain, snow, frost, or heavy rain.
- Threaded Metal Replacement Stakes for Solar Floodlights
- Suitable for solar flood lights, path lights, and landscape solar flashlights.
- Piles made of aluminum / Screws made of stainless steel
- Comes with 8 hex screws.
1. Replacement Stack for Solar Pathway Lights
Most stake-mounted solar lights or their extension poles have the same stake-mount fitting. Usually, these are cylindrical sockets into which the ends of the stakes are pushed. It is important to calculate the size of the fitting mounting socket (A) and stack fitting plug (B) to ensure they are compatible. Sometimes lighter fittings are staked with male plugs and sockets. Although, unlike more common systems, the principles of compatibility testing are the same.
2. Replacement Metal Stacks for Solar Spots and Floodlights
Often spot or flood light stacks are different from their path lighting counterparts. They usually carry more weight and support lights with larger, adjustable foot pieces. These are usually heavy-duty aluminum or steel and have a round or square foot plate on top. This plate will have several mounting holes or insert pre-installed threaded bolts. Again, make sure you’re getting a compatible stick mount if you’re buying online.
3. Replacement Stake Lengths and Designs
Once you know the fitting size, the replacement stake length, and the specific design it is a question of preference. All are made of ABS or PVC plastic and have a cruciform, or cross-shaped, cross-section. This gives strength and stiffness to the stake while reducing the overall surface area. This makes it easier to drive the stake into the ground and reduces the risk of hitting rocks or pebbles. Steps to Build Alternative Stacks for Solar Lights Choose the Right Location. Before you start replacing your broken solar lights, it’s worth considering replacing your solar garden lights. While doing so may disrupt your landscape design, think of it as maximizing your solar potential. You’ll want these lighting fixtures in the right spot to ensure maximum sunlight absorption. It’s also important to consider what part of your property you want to light. If it’s your driveway, placing outdoor solar lights closer together can ensure a more dramatic entrance for your vehicle. If your solar light position is already perfect, you can skip this step. Make A Suitable Substitute You have many options to change the stake of your solar lights. If you want something that will last for decades, I recommend making metal stakes for solar lights. These products should last you a lifetime, especially if you can apply a powder coating. If you want to go economical, you can always consider DIY landscape lighting. Start with a 5/8-inch diameter wooden dowel, about nine to ten inches long. You may want to shave off one end of the dowel for easier entry into the ground. Jumbo’s Garage offers an educational video on how you can turn an ordinary steel pipe into a durable alternative stake for your solar landscape lighting. Pro tip: If you need a more permanent solution, I strongly recommend steel or metal stakes. Fix the Soil To avoid damaging your solar lights, always prepare the soil before you start driving the solar light replacement stakes into the ground. Use your hand shovel or garden fork to break up compacted soil and speed up the process. You can moisten the soil with your hand tools before stirring it further. Replace Solar Lighting Fixtures and Remove Old Stakes. Carefully remove the old stake, including the solar garden light fixture. Remove the solar light assembly and insert the top of the improvised stack through the fixture hole. You can dispose of broken or old solar lights in the trash. Pro tip: Try placing solar lights at different lengths to create an attractive design for your lawn or garden. Initiative the Replacement Stake into the Ground Place the pointed end of the wooden dowel on the ground where you want it to be placed. Use a hammer to drive the stake halfway into the soil. If you don’t have a hammer, a large piece of wood will work. You can also try hitting the dowel head with a large rock or stone. If you prepare the soil beforehand, driving the stake into the ground should never be difficult. Make sure the stake is perpendicular to the ground, making a right angle on each side. You don’t want your solar garden light to tilt or tilt to one side. Replacement Materials for DIY Stacks for Solar-Powered Lights Many other materials are suitable for making your stakes for solar lights. These include: • Acrylic square or round stock. The entire process of this material will be like wood. • Aluminum round bar. • Brass square bar. • Steel round bar. Acrylic can be worked with the same tools as wood and the process is the same for square and round stock. However, polymers are generally more expensive than wood even though they are more rot and corrosion resistant. Metallic materials represent a huge range in terms of cost and production complexity. This, even if they are extremely durable and strong. These materials are only suitable for heavy flood or long-term spotlighting installations. For example, solar spotlights used to illuminate flagpoles are likely to be set into concrete. Tips on How to Install Solar Stake Lights How Do You Store Solar Lights In The Ground? To install stack-mounted solar lights, there are a few points to consider: • Do not force stained solar lights into the ground. Never push or hit the original light fitting while it is sitting on the ground. • Trying to install spot solar lights in frozen ground. • If the soil is very hard, soak the area with water to soften the soil before applying a light stain. • On the rocky ground, it may be necessary to move the light around to find clear ground. If this is not practical, turn the soil over and remove rocks or debris before installing the solar lights. • In very soft soil, use a wood stake to firmly fill the soil around the stake. • In situations where solar stack solar lights may be stolen, embed them in concrete. How Far Should Solar Path Lights Be Placed? Solar lights used for practical lighting along paths or driveways require an entirely different approach. Lights should be spaced to minimize dark, and dead spots. There are many different solar-powered lights on the market, each with its lighting characteristics. Finding that intermittent sweet spot will probably take some trial and error. A fairly reliable general rule of thumb is to place lights 6 to 8 feet apart in areas with good ambient light. In high-traffic areas where outdoor lighting is low, a distance of 4 to 6 feet is more appropriate. Most lights should have less spacing around bends, inclines, and over stairs and decorative bridges. Conclusion Repairing your broken solar light stand is easy if you know how to make a replacement stack of solar lights. While wooden dowels are great options, a more durable choice is metal. You can buy these stakes from your favorite online store or make your own.
