What Is a Solar LED Sconce? Types and Selection Criteria

A solar LED sconce is an outdoor wall light that charges its battery with its own solar panel by day, lights the wall after dark and needs no mains cable.

A solar LED sconce is an outdoor wall light that charges its battery by day with the solar panel on top, lights its LED with this energy when it gets dark and needs no mains cable. It is used on garden walls, at building entrances, on balconies, terraces and beside stairs for wayfinding and decorative lighting. Its light output and burning time are limited by the sun the panel receives during the day and by the battery capacity.

Types

• Always on: Gives steady light through the dark hours; the battery runs down fastest in this mode.
• With motion sensor: Goes to full brightness when it detects motion and gives dimmed light or switches off at other times, so the battery lasts longer. Suits entrances and paths.
• Adjustable light mode: Brightness or operating mode can be selected. The İnoled models in the catalog are named "adjustable light"; check the product page for the modes available.

Selection criteria

1. Lumens, not watts: On solar products the watt label does not show the amount of light. Compare by the lumen value on the product page; the İnoled sconces in the catalog range from 45 to 400 lm. Low lumens are enough for wayfinding; choose high lumens for doorways and stairs.
2. Sun on the wall: The panel sits on the sconce, so the wall you mount it on also decides the panel's position. In Türkiye a south-facing wall gets the most energy; a north wall, deep eaves and tree shade cut charging noticeably.
3. Winter runtime: In winter days are short and nights long. A sconce that lasts until morning in summer may go out early in winter; choose for the shortest days.
4. Protection class (IP): In the IP code the first digit shows protection against dust and the second against water. IP44 protects against splashing water; IP64 is also dust-tight. On a facade exposed to rain, check the IP value on the product page.
5. Light colour: Cool white (around 6500 K) is perceived as brighter; warm or amber light looks softer on a facade.

Common mistakes

• Comparing the watt label with a mains sconce: A solar sconce labelled 20 W does not give the light of a 20 W mains sconce.
• Mounting on a north wall or under eaves: The sconce lights up but goes out before midnight.
• Mounting where a street light or floodlight reaches it: A sconce that cannot sense darkness lights up late or not at all.
• Relying on a summer trial: At the same spot the burning time shortens in winter.

Solar LED sconces in the catalog

The Solar LED Sconces category has 9 active products:

• İnoled (5): Adjustable-light models labelled 6, 10, 12, 18 and 20 W (45–400 lm). The 20 W model's price is shown on the product page; the others are sold on quotation.
• Cata (4): CT-7319 Gece and CT-8010 Kos (20 W), CT-7316 Riva (30 W) and CT-7083 Barbaros (40 W); the price is shown on the product page.

Models fitted in the ground or on a lawn post are in Solar LED Garden Luminaires, and all solar products in Solar LED Luminaires. If the wall does not get enough sun, mains-powered LED Sconces are the better choice.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours does a solar LED sconce stay on?

It depends on the sun the panel receives, the battery capacity, the season and the mode selected. In motion sensor mode it lasts longer than in always-on mode; see the product page for the model's runtime.

Does a solar sconce work in cloudy weather and in winter?

Yes, but the panel collects less energy. On several overcast days in a row and on short winter days the light dims or the burning time shortens.

Can a solar sconce be mounted on a north-facing wall?

It can, but charging stays weak because the panel gets no direct sun. On a north wall a mains LED sconce gives more reliable light.

How do I choose between a solar sconce and a mains LED sconce?

Choose a solar sconce where running a cable is hard or costly and the wall gets sun; choose a mains LED sconce for entrances and facades that need the same light every night.