Review on 🌞 Classy Caps SL078W Regal PVC Solar Post Cap in White - 4" x 4" for Elegant Illumination by Andrew Roll

There are many solar lights out there and it's very easy to pick a bad one that seems good at first, only to later break or show its flaws (if you can't return it). It's not one of them. In this review I'm going to talk about what I like about this cap as well as what I dislike about many other caps I've seen. Description: 1: It has a very large solar panel on top. Larger than most other caps. It is powered by two standard 1000mA NiMH batteries.2: There are four bright LEDs (color temperature 5000K) on the underside of the cover (see pictures). One on each side. 3: It's made of white PVC, which actually stays white with prolonged exposure to the sun (more on that later). 4: It comes with two mounting screws that you can use to attach it to the fence post. To be honest, unless the cap is very loose (it was tight on my fence posts), you probably won't need it. Observations: 1: Durable. Most solar lamps go out 4-5 hours after sunset. These things go at least 8-9 hours. Even though it rained most of the day, I've seen them for the last 5 hours, it's impressive. 2: Bright, excellent light distribution. I usually see people using sockets for street lighting, but on my relatively small porch, 5 sockets actually give out about the same amount of light as a 40 watt incandescent bulb.3: No derating. Mine has been running for 3 months in a location that gets direct sunlight for about 9 hours a day and there has been no drop in performance or yellowing from the sun. What to look for in other caps. :1: For PVC caps, UV-resistant. Always read reviews and look for those that complain about discoloration over time, especially when looking at white products. Cheaper baseball caps use cheaper PVC, which fades and gradually yellows in the sun. (Metal caps may not have this problem). The last thing anyone wants is to be stuck with a deck full of dirty yellow caps. 2: solar panel size. Although the size isn't always an indicator of how much power it will use. Most of the time this is the case. Expect tiny panel covers to come out in 5 hours. Always check if the manufacturer used one or two batteries. If it only holds one, no matter what the description says, it's basically a tacit admission that they're not sure the panel can charge more than 1 battery, no matter how much sunlight it gets. (There are higher capacity Ni-MH batteries, but 2 medium capacity (1000mA) batteries always cost less than 1 high capacity (2000mA+) battery, so no manufacturer will use them.) 3: Light distribution. Think about why you need these things. Do you want to light the way? Maybe illuminate a small table? Act as an accent light? lighthouses? The direction of the LEDs and the texture of the glass (textured or frosted glass diffuses the light differently). These things aren't usually powerful light sources, so try to choose one that naturally directs most of the light where you actually want it, otherwise you could end up with a frustratingly low light. 4: price. Expect to spend at least $20-$25 for a cap. Cheaper caps will fail sooner or later. 5: battery type. Two types of batteries are commonly used in solar panels: Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) and Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd). Ni-MH have great performance (charge better, last longer) and are much better for the environment if you recycle them. If you see something with Ni-Cd, who knows what else they saved on. Thanks for reading, I hope this was helpful. I am trying to write a review that I would like to read when I buy something. If you have any questions let me know. *Image note: I tried to limit my camera's light sensitivity to match what I actually saw, but my camera isn't perfect. Close up night shots look about 15-20% brighter than they actually appear, distant shots look 30% dimmer than they actually appear. 6 month edit: These things still work in winter weather. it's actually pretty amazing. My smaller solar lights turn off after 1 or 2 hours at this point, but they still run until midnight (though not as bright).