How to Install a Solar Flood Light So It Lasts the Night
To install a solar flood light so it lasts the night, choose the panel position first and the lamp position second. Put the panel where it sees open sky from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, with no shadow from walls, eaves, trees or water tanks, and give it a modest tilt so rain washes it clean. Then fix the lamp at a height that suits its beam, give the battery a full charge before the first night, and set the mode. Most solar floods that fade early are working lights on a shaded or dirty panel.
Step 1: Site the panel before anything else
The battery can only give out what the panel put in during the day. A panel in shade for half the day collects far less, and the light will fade early however large its battery is.
- Look for shade across the whole day. Check the spot at 9 am and 3 pm: a spot that is sunny at noon can sit in the shadow of a wall, tank or neighbour's building for hours either side. Allow for trees growing, too.
Which direction should the panel face in Kenya?
As general guidance: Kenya sits on the equator, so the midday sun is close to overhead for most of the year and compass direction matters much less than it does further north or south. What matters more is a clear view of the sky and a modest tilt, around 10 to 15 degrees, so rainwater runs off and carries dust with it. A panel laid dead flat holds puddles and grime. If you have a choice, sites south of the equator, including Nairobi and Mombasa, commonly tilt the panel slightly towards the north; sites well north of the equator tilt slightly south.
Step 2: Mounting height and beam
Most of our solar flood listings do not state a mounting height, so we do not quote one for them. Where the manufacturer does give a figure, follow it: the 400W solar camera flood light (KSh 25,600) is specified for mounting at 6 to 8 metres. The MODI MD-PT77 lists a 60 by 90 degree beam, which helps you judge how wide an area one head will cover.
General guidance for the rest: higher spreads the light over a wider area but makes it dimmer on the ground; lower gives a brighter, smaller pool. Aim the head down at the area you need lit.
Step 3: Fix the lamp and the panel
Wall or gate pillar
Use the bracket supplied and fixings that suit the wall. In solid concrete or stone, ordinary plugs and screws are normal; for a heavy fitting on a cracked or hollow pillar, a resin fixing is more secure, and our chemical anchor guide covers how to do it.
Pole
Clamp the bracket so wind cannot swing the head. The same siting rules apply to all-in-one street light heads: shade on their built-in panel cuts runtime in exactly the same way. See how to choose a solar street light in Kenya.
Split-panel units: the cable run
The MD-PT77 pairs the LED head with its own panel, listed at 530 x 350 x 17 mm, so you can place the panel in full sun and the lamp where the light is needed. The listing describes a 360 degree adjustable bracket with locking. As general guidance, run the lead along the wall rather than leaving it hanging, keep it clear of gutter edges that can cut it, and form a drip loop below each connection so water runs off rather than into the joint.
Step 4: Give it a full first charge
Before the first night, leave the unit charging in full sun. The listings state charging times of 6 to 8 hours for most models in this guide and 4 to 6 hours for the MD-PT77. A partial first charge gives a short first night.
Step 5: Set the mode
The MD-PT77 listing gives four working modes: optical (dusk to dawn), timer, remote control and a manual switch, with a waterproof mechanical switch for forced operation and a battery level display on the head. Dusk to dawn suits security lighting; a timer saves charge where you need light for only part of the night. For other models, follow the instructions in the box, as their listings do not set out the modes.
How long the models here are stated to run
Compare solar floods by battery and panel, not by the "W" in the name; our guide to solar flood light wattage explains why. Runtimes below are the manufacturers' figures from a full charge.
| Model | Panel | Battery | Stated runtime | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50W dual 3000K/6000K | 6V 6W | 3.2V 4,500 mAh LiFePO4 | 10 to 15 hours | KSh 4,000 |
| 200W 12000mAh | 6V 15W | 3.2V 12,000 mAh LiFePO4 | 10 to 15 hours | KSh 7,600 |
| MODI MD-PT77 | 6V 30W | 3.2V 25Ah LiFePO4 | 12 to 18 hours; 2 to 3 days cloudy reserve | KSh 4,900 (200W), 6,300 (300W), 7,700 (400W) |
| 400W camera, Wi-Fi | 5V 40W | 3.2V 42Ah LiFePO4 | Not stated | KSh 25,600 |
| 1000W 52Ah | 6V 80W | 3.2V 52Ah LiFePO4 | 12 to 15 hours | KSh 29,000 |
| 300W IP67 96Ah | 6V 65W | 3.2V 96Ah LiFePO4 | 30 to 36 hours | KSh 34,000 |
Cleaning the panel in the dusty season
As general guidance: dust from murram roads and building sites cuts the charge in the dry months. Wipe the panel with clean water and a soft cloth every few weeks in the dry season, early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the glass is cool. Do not use abrasive pads or scrape at bird droppings.
Troubleshooting
General guidance for the most common complaints:
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Dim or off by 2 am | Panel shaded for part of the day, dirty panel, or a run of cloudy days | Recheck shade at morning and afternoon, clean the panel, move a split panel to a sunnier spot, use a timer mode where available |
| Won't switch on at all | Switch off, battery flat after transport, or the light sensor sees other light (a security light, a street light) | Check the switch, give a full day's charge, test by covering the panel at dusk, re-aim away from other lights |
| Stays on in daytime | Manual or forced-on switch set, or a timer mode rather than dusk to dawn | Return to the dusk-to-dawn (optical) setting; check the switch position |
Where to buy
The full range is in our solar flood lights collection, with solar camera flood lights and solar street lights alongside. Collect from our Nairobi trade counter at Royal Business Park, opposite Complast, Old Mombasa Road, Monday to Saturday, 8:00 to 17:30, with free pickup, or order for countrywide delivery at a flat KSh 350, free on orders over KSh 15,000. Contractors and installers buying several units can request a trade quote on our trade page, and for help choosing a model for your site, message us on WhatsApp.
Common questions
How high should I mount a solar flood light?
Follow the figure on the listing where one is given, such as 6 to 8 metres for the 400W camera flood light. Where none is given, as general guidance, a gate or doorway suits a lower fixing and an open yard a higher one, accepting that higher means a wider but dimmer pool of light.
Why does my solar flood light not work all night?
Almost always because the battery did not reach full charge that day: shade, dust, a flat-laid panel holding dirt, or cloud. Fix the panel position before suspecting the light.
Which remote modes are there?
For the MD-PT77, the listing gives optical (dusk to dawn), timer, remote control and manual switch. Other models vary, so check the instructions supplied with the light.