Solar Wall Lights in Kenya: Which One for a Gate, Door or Compound Wall
A solar wall light for a gate, door or compound wall in Kenya costs KSh 1,300 to KSh 12,000 at our counter, and the price follows the battery, not the watt label. Our cheapest "5W" wall light (KSh 1,300) stores about 7.4 watt-hours; the KSh 12,000 "5W" models store 19 to 28 watt-hours and are rated to run 20 to 36 hours from full. Choose by the job first, then compare battery volts × amp-hours, panel wattage and the stated run time.
Start with the job
| Job | What to look for | Good fits |
|---|---|---|
| Doorway, back door, stair | Small, mounts at head height, an evening's light | 5W wall light, 2Ah; 3W wall light |
| Main entrance, gate, driveway wall | Bigger battery, metal body, higher mounting | 4Ah aluminium alloy wall light; 5W, 7.5Ah; 5W, 6Ah LiFePO4 |
| Gate pier or pillar top | Panel on top, sits on the cap | 3W pillar light |
| Run of boundary wall | Matching units at even spacing | Any one model repeated; see below |
| Decorative colour | RGB, low output, marks a line | RGB wall light; 3W RGB pillar light with remote |
Lights that stand in the ground, such as bollards and path lights, are covered in our solar garden lights guide. This guide is only about fittings that go on a wall, gate or pillar.
Compare stored energy, not watts
The "W" on a solar light is a marketing figure, as we explain in solar flood light wattage explained. A more useful number is stored energy: battery voltage multiplied by amp-hours gives watt-hours (Wh). A 3.7V 2Ah battery holds 7.4Wh; a 3.2V 6Ah battery holds 19.2Wh. The table below uses only the figures on each product's own specification.
| Light | Battery | Stored energy | Panel | Stated run time | Body | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RGB wall light | Ni-MH 1.2V 600mAh | 0.72Wh | 2V 0.26W poly | 10-12 h | ABS | KSh 1,600 |
| 5W wall light, 2Ah | Li-ion 3.7V 2Ah | 7.4Wh | 5.5V 2W poly | 8-10 h | ABS and PS, IP65 | KSh 1,300 |
| 3W pillar light | Li-ion 3.7V 2Ah | 7.4Wh | 6V 2W poly | 12-15 h | ABS | KSh 3,000 |
| 3W RGB pillar light | Li-ion 3.7V 2Ah | 7.4Wh | 6V 2W poly | 12-15 h | ABS | KSh 3,600 |
| 4Ah alloy wall light | Li-ion 3.7V 4Ah | 14.8Wh | 5.5V 3W poly | 10-12 h | Aluminium alloy | KSh 3,000 |
| 5W wall light, 6Ah | LiFePO4 3.2V 6Ah | 19.2Wh | 5V 5W mono | 30-36 h | Aluminium and PC | KSh 12,000 |
| 5W wall light, 7.5Ah | Li-ion 3.7V 7.5Ah | 27.75Wh | 6V 3.8W poly | 20-24 h | Aluminium and PC | KSh 12,000 |
That is the answer to the nine-times price gap. The KSh 1,300 light and the KSh 12,000 lights all carry a 5W label, but the dearer ones store roughly two and a half to four times as much energy, have bigger panels and metal bodies, and are rated for 20 to 36 hours rather than 8 to 10. The cheap one is built for an evening at a back door; the expensive ones are built to stay lit through the night and hold some reserve for a dull day.
One caution on the 6Ah model: the supplier's own product name calls it a garden light while its specification calls it a wall light, so confirm the form with us when ordering.
Notice too that the 7.5Ah light stores more energy than the 6Ah one but quotes a shorter run time. Stated run time also depends on how hard each lamp drives its LEDs, so read both columns together rather than either alone.
The 3W, 4W and 5W wall lights without a data sheet
Our 3W (KSh 2,500), 4W (KSh 3,200) and 5W (KSh 5,000) wall lights are self-contained and need no wiring, but the manufacturer publishes no battery, panel or run-time figures for them. We cannot put them in the table above, and we will not guess. If run time matters for your position, ask us before ordering, or choose a model with published figures.
Battery type: LiFePO4, Li-ion or Ni-MH
- LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) is fitted to the 5W 6Ah wall light. As general guidance, it is the chemistry most often chosen for lights that charge and discharge every day.
- Li-ion is fitted to most of the range, from the 2Ah doorway light to the 7.5Ah wall light. Capacity varies widely, so compare the Wh figure.
- Ni-MH is in the RGB wall light: a 1.2V 600mAh AAA cell. That is enough for a colour wash, not for lighting a path.
Alloy or plastic body
The 4Ah alloy wall light has an aluminium alloy body, and its listing notes that the metal also acts as a heat sink for the LEDs. The 6Ah and 7.5Ah wall lights are aluminium and PC. The 2Ah doorway light, the pillar lights and the RGB light are ABS. Only the 2Ah doorway light states an IP rating (IP65), so we do not quote one for the others.
As general guidance, for a light on an exposed gate or wall that runs every night, metal is the stronger choice. At KSh 3,000, the 4Ah alloy light is the best value step up from plastic: twice the stored energy of the 2Ah models, a 3W panel and a stated 3-5 metre mounting height.
Mounting height and siting
Stated mounting heights: 0-3 m for the 2Ah doorway light, 2-4 m for the RGB wall light, and 3-5 m for the 4Ah alloy light. The 6Ah and 7.5Ah listings give body sizes (245 × 195 × 250 mm and 268 × 260 × 300 mm) but no mounting height. As general guidance:
- Put the light where its own panel sees the midday sun. A gate pier in the shadow of a tree or a roof overhang will charge poorly, whatever the battery.
- On a boundary wall, use one model at even spacing so the light looks deliberate and every unit charges alike.
- On gate piers, pillar lights are usually fitted in pairs, one per pier.
When a wall light is not enough
These lights mark an entrance and light a few metres of wall or ground. For a security position, where you need real brightness over a yard or gate, use a solar flood light with a PIR sensor instead, such as the 50W PIR flood light (KSh 7,000, 3.2V 6Ah LiFePO4, PIR and constant-on modes). See the full motion sensor flood lights and our guide to choosing a solar security light.
Where to buy
Most of the wall lights above are in our solar wall lights collection; the 2Ah doorway light and both pillar lights are in solar garden lights. 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. Send a photo of your gate or wall on WhatsApp and we will suggest a model and quantity. Landlords, contractors and developers buying in numbers can request a trade quote on our trade page.
Common questions
Which solar wall light stays on all night?
Of the models with published figures, the 5W 6Ah LiFePO4 wall light (30-36 hours stated) and the 5W 7.5Ah wall light (20-24 hours stated) are rated for well over a night from full. Real hours depend on the sun the panel received that day.
What is the best solar light for a gate pillar?
For the top of a pier, the 3W pillar light (KSh 3,000) sits on the cap with its 6V 2W panel facing the sky and is rated for 12-15 hours. For a light fixed to the side of a pier, use a wall light such as the 4Ah alloy model.
Do solar wall lights need wiring?
No. Each has its own panel and battery, so fitting is a few screws in a sunny position.