You may put a flag outside your property as a way of showing respect, your patriarchal spirit, or commemorating your country’s heritage. However, the flag is only visible during the day without lighting. Here’s a quick guide on how to install a solar flag pole light.
To install a solar flag pole light, you should use one of the following two techniques:
- Solar flagpole light – This installs on the top of the flag pole. You will need to disassemble the flag pole first. The solar flagpole light screws on the top.
- Solar floodlight or spotlight – This shines on the flag and flag pole from the base. Simply depress the stake into the ground roughly 5-10 feet from the base of the flag pole. Angle the solar light to point up towards the flag.
Throughout this article, you will learn the following regarding the installation of solar flagpole light:
- Why you should light a flagpole
- Types of flagpole lighting
- The preferred brightness of flagpole lighting
- The placement of flagpole lighting
- Other flagpole lighting options
- Solar powered LED flagpole lights
Why You Should Light A Flag Pole
The exterior of your business or your home is a place where you can express yourself. Here, you may display to the world what you are passionate about or what really matters to you. You may consider mounting a flag outside to show your national honor or to celebrate diversity or placing a flag to show your favorite sports team. Some people set up flags on their entrance beams. However, consider using a flagpole to mount the flag high for everyone to see.
We put together a detailed review of the best solar flagpole lights on the market.
When planning to mount a flag on your property, you might ensure that the flag will be visible when it is dark. This is where solar flagpole lighting comes in. You may not see the point of installing lights on your pole, particularly when you only intend to fly the flag in the day. However, whenever you would like to mount the United States flag, you must adhere to certain illumination guidelines and regulations.
As outlined by the United States Code, the United States emblem must be lightened appropriately when it is dark. Therefore, when you are planning on keeping the flag flying at night, you should have an illumination plan in mind. Even though you do not plan to mount the American flag, try to consider obtaining lighting for the flagpole to generate an aura outside your property.
How To Install A Solar Flag Pole Light
In order to install a solar flag pole light, you can choose between:
- Flagpole topper light
- Above-ground lighting
The main difference between the two is the angle which the light hits the flag. The flagpole topper lights will shine the light down onto the flag. Whereas, the above-ground lighting will shine the light up onto the flag and flagpole. For quick reference, here is an image of the light coming from the top of the flagpole:
In contrast, here is an image of an above-ground solar spot light shining on the flag:
How To Install A Solar Flag Pole Light On The Top Of The Pole
Installing a solar flagpole light at the top of your flagpole is easy. Follow the steps below and you’ll be done in less than five minutes:
- First, you should remove the flag from the flagpole. Make sure it does not touch the ground. Fold it up and safely store it.
- Now, lower the flagpole. It should either unscrew from the base. Or it can be lowered from a hinge. This may be a two person job if the flagpole is over 15 feet tall.
- Twist the ball shaft at the top of the flagpole to unscrew it.
- Thread the ball shaft through the solar flagpole light and screw the ball shaft back onto the top of the flagpole.
- Turn the solar flagpole light on.
- Raise the flagpole back up. Then raise the flag back onto the flagpole.
How To Install A Solar Flag Pole Light At The Base Of The Pole
Installing a solar flag pole light at the base of the pole is even easier. You don’t have to worry about lowering the flag or the pole. Below are the steps for installing the solar spot light at the base of the flag pole:
- Map out where you would like install the solar flood light.
- If you have one solar flood light, place it directly in front of the flag. Install it 5-10 feet away from the base of the flag pole.
- If there are two solar flood lights, place them 10 feet apart in front of the flag. Install them 5-10 feet away from the base of the flag pole.
- Lastly, if you have three solar flood lights, place them 120 degrees apart. They should surround the flag from all sides. Install each solar light 5-10 feet away from the base of the flag.
- Press on the stake for each solar light until it is firmly depressed into the ground.
- Angle the solar flood light to point at the flag. Angle the solar panel to point directly towards where the sun will be at noon most days.
- Turn the solar light on.
Types of Flagpole Lighting
You will have several options while installing solar flagpole lighting. You may mount the lights right on the pole. You can also illuminate the pole with floodlights like this waterproof landscape light, built-in luminosities, or spotlights, depending on your preference.
You do not have to light the whole pole to comply with the U.S. flag code. However, illuminating the entire flagpole is usually the ideal option.
Watch the video below to understand more about solar powered flagpole light:
You will have several options once it comes to illuminating your flagpole:
- Choose between colored and plain lights. Particularly when dealing with an official flag like the United States flag, you might want to use plain lighting to not affect or interfere with the colors of the flag. However, if you want a less formal or more flexible flag representation, you may consider installing colored flagpole lighting like these color switching solar spotlights.
- Go for conventional lighting or white light. While lighting a flagpole, solar lighting is extraordinarily suitable because you won’t necessarily have to place cords outside the yard. Flagstaff solar lighting also lasts much longer without the need for replacement.
The Preferred Brightness of Flagpole Lighting
When installing solar flagpole lighting, it is important to consider the ideal brightness of the solar lighting. Whenever you wish to display your flag adequately, it is advisable to choose solar lighting with a minimum of 300 lumens or 7 watts. However, the required illumination may differ depending on the street illumination and the natural light in your region. You would mostly require a maximum of three solar lights to light up your flag post adequately.
The Placement of Flagpole Lighting
Just like their name suggests, solar flagpole lights get their energy from the sun. The lights may be placed on the ground and may be mounted on the flagpole. Since the lights get their energy from the sun, they are more cost-effective and eco-friendly. Certain solar flagpole lights will only switch on after a day of sun exposure and might not work in low-light conditions, mainly during winter.
Certain types of solar flagpole lights accumulate and store solar energy, making them work perfectly even when there is little or no sunlight. When installing solar flagpole light, it is important to consider whether the flagpole lights have a mechanism that allows them to collect energy from the sun. The energy from the sun is converted into electrical currents that help light up the post.
In most cases, solar-powered lights are installed above the flag, making them look like a flying saucer. You could also go for the solar lighting that clips on the pole underneath the flag. Below is an example of the flagpole clip on light.
The saucer type of solar lighting is advantageous because it is higher up and has solar panels on all the flagpole sides, increasing the sunlight tapped. This form of solar lighting looks less obstructive during the day.
You can also go for solar spotlight lighting that clamps to the pole. This form of installation provides a classic flag illumination and lighting aesthetic without the need to worry about lighting. However, this form of lighting may appear more obstructive during the day than the saucer lighting type.
Other Flagpole Lighting Options
When you are lighting your flagpole, you should not fear deviating from the norm. For instance, you may consider placing spotlights at an additional distance from the flagpole’s foot and aiming the lights upward at a dramatic angle. You may also create an elevated rock bed around the flag and attach the lighting on these rocks. Another great option is to purchase a light disc and attach it at the uppermost part of your flagpole to light the pole from top to bottom.
If it is still unclear about the best flagpole lighting option, you may consider talking to people who have installed solar flagpole lighting before. For instance, you may decide to have a conversation with your neighbors or the large community to learn what has worked for them. You may also consider looking online for solar lighting options and demonstrations.
Solar Powered LED Flagpole Lights
Built-in LED solar flagpole lights provide long hours of brilliant illumination thanks to the LED bulbs that are elegant and sustainable. What makes the LED solar lighting ideal is the illumination level and intensity that it provides. This lighting collects energy from the sun automatically during the day.
When it gets dark, the LED solar lighting switches on automatically. Therefore, all you have to do is mount the lighting and leave it. You do not have to keep switching the lighting on and off.
Installing Solar Flagpole Lighting In Style
People choose to install flagpoles outside their properties for different reasons. Irrespective of your motivation for placing a flagpole, it is important to consider all the flagpole solar lighting options before settling for one. Whenever you are displaying the American flag, you should make sure that you are adhering to the flag lighting rules—irrespective of the illumination options you choose, to maintain the curb appeal of your home.
Final Thoughts
There are several reasons why solar lighting is ideal for flagpole lighting. Solar lighting is eco-friendly because it gets its energy from the sun. The solar lightings will not use a generator that releases toxins and will not use electric power. Solar lighting also requires less maintenance. All you have to ensure is that you install the solar lighting well the first time, and you will be good to go.
Further Reading
Don’t want your solar lights dying in the middle of the night? Here are some quick tips to make your solar lights last longer.
Another quick tip to extend the time your lights stay on is to get a better rechargeable battery for your solar lights.
What happens to your solar lights without sunlight? Find out if they will stay on and for how long.
Sources
- Carrot-Top Industries Inc.: Flagpole Lighting
- Outdoor Solar Store: Flagpole Lighting Options
- Kichler: Flagpole Lighting
- Flagpoles ETC: Facts on Flagpole Lights
- Flags International: Lighting the U.S. Flag
- Nature Scape Lighting: American Flag Lighting Etiquette
- Energy Save: Outdoor Solar Lighting
- Eco Mena: Benefits of Solar Lighting
- Volt: How to Light a Flagpole
- Betsy Ross and the American Flag: Flag Code
- This Old House: Hanging the American Flag