Dear Solar Guy,

        I would like to inquire if it is feasible to use solar energy for
lighting around my home at night ?  

I. B. Lumine, Sunray, TX.

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Dear I.B.,

        Yes, small solar powered systems using PV cells (solar panel) are
available for lighting areas at night, both for general purposes and for
security.  This use is particularly good if one wishes to light an area
where there is no ready access to a/c electricity.  The concept has also
been integrated with motions sensors.  The idea here is that the lighting
usually is not needed except when there is activity in the area.  Presumably
the motion sensing aspect of the device can be over-ridden if one wanted the
lighting system to function even when there were no activity, i.e. people
sitting and talking.  One popular product is entry or walkway lighting, and
you may have seen these at a walkway near a street with a small PV panel and
its battery pack mounted on a post nearby.  Another product is for security
lighting, and uses a motion sensor to turn the lights on when there is any
activity within the range of the motion sensor.  The integration of the
motion sensor with the lighting system is ideal in that the system's
lighting function (the large energy draw) is deactivated, except when
actually needed, thus reducing the sizes of the panel and the battery pack.
These systems include the PV panel, a battery bank (typically 12 volt), the
lights, and if included, the motion sensing unit.  So if you are interested
in the idea, I suggest you contact a local PV distributor.        

The Solar Guy.