Noma Solar Powered Xmas Lights

Last year Wayne and I purchased NOMA solar powered outdoor Christmas lights at Canadian Tire. They seemed perfect for our off the grid float cabin. We love colourful lights at night, especially at Christmas, but our supply of solar and wind generated electricity is limited, especially during the winter with low sun angles and short (often cloudy) days. So, solar powered Christmas lights seemed just the ticket for us.

I purchased a string of 50 lights (32 feet long) for $24.99 CAD. The white ones were $29.99, but I wanted the multicoloured ones anyway. The small solar panel can be mounted on a ground spike or attached to a wall. The lights use LED technology, so the amount of power needed is much less than traditional incandescent bulbs. The box said one day of solar charging would produce three nights of lights. That sounded too good to be true, but we thought it was worth a try.

The lights came fully charged, so the first night they lasted several hours as advertised. Because we aren't getting a full day of direct sun, they last about an hour or so each evening. The system has an auto start and shut off feature. There's also a manual switch on the back of the solar panel. This is important if you want to conserve energy.

We loved our lights so much that we moved them indoors for the summer. Wayne purchased a simple switch and wired it between the solar panel and the lights. Now we can turn them on and off from inside the house.

This year we purchased a second strand to go on the front porch. They probably aren't the best solution for city dwellers, but for us they are a welcome addition to our long dark winter nights. -- Margy