Wired’s definitely the way I’d go if you want something that just works and lasts. I tried solar on my last place—looked good for a few months, then half the lights were dead by winter. Upfront cost hurts, but you don’t have to mess with it later.
Had a client swear by solar for their fence, but come January, half the lights were just sad little glimmers.
I get the appeal—no trenching, no wires—but I’ve seen more headaches than not. Wired’s a pain upfront, sure, but you’re not swapping dead batteries every few weeks when it gets cold. Still, part of me wonders if newer solar tech is any better now...“looked good for a few months, then half the lights were dead by winter.”
“looked good for a few months, then half the lights were dead by winter.”
That’s exactly what I’ve seen too—solar looks dreamy in the catalog, but in real life? Not so much once the days get short and gloomy. I get the no-wires appeal, but I’d rather deal with a little trenching than have my fence look like it’s half celebrating Christmas and half mourning it. Maybe the newer solar stuff is better, but unless you’re in Arizona, I’m still skeptical. Wired just feels more reliable, even if it’s a pain at first.
Wired’s definitely more work up front, but I’ve never had to worry about them conking out mid-winter. I tried solar along my last property’s back fence—looked decent through the summer, but by November, half were flickering or just dead. Maybe it’s our cloudy weather, but it felt like I was always fiddling with batteries or repositioning panels.
I get the appeal of skipping the trenching, though. Digging in rocky soil is a pain, and I’ve had to rent a trencher more than once. Still, once it’s done, you don’t have to think about it for years. The only thing that’s made me pause is low-voltage landscape lighting. It’s not totally wireless, but it’s way easier to install than full 120V and seems to hold up better than solar. Has anyone had those fail in winter? I’m tempted to try them on my next flip, just not sure if they’re really that much better.
I’ve only messed with low-voltage lights once, but honestly, they handled our gross, wet winter better than I expected. The connectors were a bit finicky at install, but nothing died or got super dim. Didn’t have to dig nearly as much either, which was a relief. If you’re flipping and want something that won’t need babysitting, it’s probably a decent bet. Solar’s just too unpredictable here—clouds ruin everything.