Solar street lights combine a panel, battery and LED head on a pole, so roads, driveways and paths stay lit with no trenching, no electricity bill and no load-shedding outages. OutdoorLighting.co.za is a free quote service. You fill in one form with the road length, pole count and site, and we pass it to independent solar street light suppliers and installers in South Africa, who quote you directly. We do not sell, stock or install anything ourselves, and there is no fee or obligation to accept a quote.
All-in-one or split solar street lights
An all-in-one solar street light has the panel, lithium battery, controller and LEDs in a single head. It is quick to fit and suits estate roads, paths and parking. A split system puts a larger panel on top of the pole and the battery in a box or underground, which gives more autonomy and output for main roads, farm entrances and public spaces. Ask suppliers for:
- Real LED wattage and lumens
- Battery size in Wh and chemistry (LiFePO4 is preferred)
- Autonomy days: how many cloudy nights it runs without sun
- Dimming profile, such as full power until midnight then 30%
Poles, heights and spacing
Most solar lights with poles are installed at 6 to 9 m. Six metres suits estate roads and walkways, while 8 to 9 m suits wider roads and entrances. Spacing is typically three to four times the pole height, depending on output and how even the light must be. Galvanised steel poles resist rust, which matters near the coast. For decorative low poles along paths, see outdoor pole lights or bollard lights.
Foundations and theft resistance
Poles stand on a concrete foundation with cast-in anchor bolts, sized for the pole height and wind load. Solar panels and lithium batteries are attractive to thieves, so ask for:
- Anti-theft bolts and tamper-proof battery boxes
- Heads mounted high enough to be out of reach
- Battery boxes at the top of the pole rather than at ground level
Because no cable is buried, there is nothing for cable thieves to dig up.
Where solar street lights make sense
Estates and body corporates use them to light internal roads without new cabling. Farms light long driveways, gates and workers' housing far from the Eskom line. Schools light parking and walkways, and municipalities use them where cable theft keeps knocking out mains street lights. See also solar flood lights for yards and gates.
Plan for maintenance too: dust and bird droppings cut panel output, so panels should be cleaned a few times a year, and lithium batteries usually need replacing after several years of service.
What to include in your request
- Give the road or path length and width
- Say how many poles and at what height
- Ask for autonomy days and battery Wh
- Mention soil type for the foundations
- Ask about anti-theft fixings and warranty
Solar Street Lights for different properties
- Homes: a solar light on a pole at the end of a long driveway or at the front gate
- Estates and complexes: solar street lights along internal roads and walkways without trenching new cables
- Farms and smallholdings: solar poles along farm roads, at gates and around workers' housing far from the grid
- Shops and offices: solar street lights over parking lots and access roads to cut electricity costs
- Industrial sites: solar poles along perimeter roads and loading areas where cable theft is common
- Lodges, guesthouses and venues: solar street lights along lodge roads, parking and paths to chalets in the bush
- Municipalities, schools and clubs: solar street lights on suburban roads, rural villages, parks and school entrances
Frequently asked questions
Does OutdoorLighting.co.za sell solar street lights?
What is the solar street lights price in South Africa?
How many cloudy days will they run?
Do solar street lights need an electrician or CoC?
Solar Street Lights by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester