One of the most common questions we hear from customers is: "Which power option should I choose?" At Woodly, we offer two options — solar with battery and hardwired electric. The right choice depends on your property, placement, and how you want your light to perform year-round.
Solar-Powered Light Posts (with Battery)
Best for: Driveways, garden paths, and anywhere electrical access is limited.
Our solar posts use a panel to charge an integrated battery during the day. At dusk, the light automatically turns on and runs off stored battery power through the night.
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How Seasons Affect Solar Charging
Alabama gets plenty of sunshine, but daylight hours change significantly across the year — and that affects how your solar post performs.
Summer (June):
Winter (December):
The good news: Our solar systems are sized to handle Alabama winters. As long as your post gets 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, it will perform reliably year-round. In deep winter, you might notice slightly dimmer output toward dawn — but for most installations, it's barely noticeable.
Tip: If your driveway entrance is heavily shaded by trees (especially evergreens), hardwired electric may be the better choice.
Hardwired Electric Light Posts
Best for: Heavily shaded locations, security lighting, or when you want maximum brightness and reliability regardless of weather or season.
Hardwired posts connect directly to your home's electrical system. They deliver consistent, bright illumination every night — no charging required.
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Our Recommendation
For most Alabama homeowners with a sunny driveway entrance, solar with battery is the way to go. The installation savings are significant, and our sunshine is reliable enough to keep your post glowing year-round.
If your property is heavily wooded, your entrance faces north, or you need rock-solid security lighting, hardwired electric is worth the extra installation cost.
Not sure which is right for your property? Contact us for a free consultation — we're happy to visit your site and make a recommendation based on your specific situation.
Every Woodly light post is handcrafted using traditional timber frame joinery, regardless of which power option you choose. The craftsmanship stays the same — only the technology inside changes.