Traditional Christmas lights are required to be plugged into an electrical outlet to function, while the solar Christmas lights can be placed anywhere without the need to use extension cords which can be a tripping hazard, and possibly even an electrocution hazard when used outdoors and exposed to the weather elements.

One of the largest manufacturers of solar powered holiday lights is GudCraft, based in Washington, USA. GudCraft manufactures a complete line of solar and wind powered products which can be purchased directly through their website, or through a number of online shops such as Amazon. 

GudCraft solar holiday light strings are available in a variety of colors and lengths to fit any need. One of the major advantages of the GudCraft solar string lights is that they work well in almost any climate, even places that are typically rainy or cloudy. This is due to the fact that GudCraft Christmas lights are powered with only one AA battery, so even a few hours of indirect sunlight is usually enough to fully charge it’s battery. 

These Christmas lights are equipped with a light sensor so that they will automatically turn themselves on at night. Most Gudcraft Christmas lights products are also equipped with an on/off switch in case you don’t want to leave the lights running all night. 

GudCraft solar string lights use LED lights, which can be purchased in a variety of colors, including white, blue, and multicolor strings. In all of GudCraft’s products, the LED’s themselves are the specified color, unlike many lower quality versions which use cheaper white LED’s with tinted glass to provide different colors. 

GudCraft products also come in a variety of lengths to fit any application, although the most common is the 35 foot string with 100 LED lights. These strings provide just as much light as a traditional string of Christmas lights, while saving you money on your energy bills by using strictly solar power. The only drawback when compared with traditional lights is the initial cost of purchase. A traditional 35 foot string of Christmas lights costs about a third of the solar version, which normally runs around $30. 

Another popular manufacturer is Flipo, which produces a decent range of solar string lights. Flipo manufactures 50 and 100 LED light strings which are available in seven different colors- red, green, white, blue, orange, red white and blue, and multi-color. However, unlike the GudCraft lights, the LEDs in these lights are white and encased in colored glass. 

The Flipo string lights use some of the longest lasting LEDs on the market, which are rated to last for over 100,000 hours. They are also known to stay on all night, even when the solar panel only receives a minimal amount of sunlight during the day. The Flipo string lights are a bit more expensive than other products on the market- the 50 LED string costs around $30 and 100 LED string is usually around $60.

Flipo also manufactures a line of solar rope tube LED lights. These contain a string of LED lights, available in white, blue, and multicolored, encased inside a flexible tube. These rope lights can be used similarly to the string lights, but the rope design also allows for other applications and can even be used on the ground under snow. 

One of the major drawbacks to the Flipo rope lights is that the LED’s in them are not nearly as bright as many of their competitors. Another common complaint is that the ropes themselves are very thin and flimsy, which makes them have a tendency to break or get damaged easily. The advantage is that the ropes are very flexible so they can easily be bent to fit perfectly around windows and doors, or they can be wrapped around trees or poles as well. 

If you’re searching for something a little different from the traditional Christmas string lights, then Trademark Home makes a product you might enjoy: solar powered icicle lights. These feature a string of 35 LED lights, each incased in a very realistic looking plastic icicle that slips directly over the LED. 

The lights come with brackets and hardware so they can be quickly and easily mounted on any surface to give your house a unique holiday look. One of the best features of this light set is the length of the cord. 

While the string of lights is only 11 feet long, the solar panel is connected to the string by another 10 feet of cord, so the panel stake can be mounted anywhere with direct sunlight. You can even mount it directly on your roof or gutters.

The only drawback to this set of solar holiday lights is that the lights will normally only stay on for a few hours- sometimes even after the solar panel has been exposed to direct sunlight for the entire day. 

It should also be noted that the icicles appear much bigger than they actually are in most of the pictures and advertisements, so pay close attention to the actual size of the icicle as they are only four inches long. These lights normally cost under $30 at most online retailers.

One of the biggest advantages of solar Christmas lights is that they produce their own electricity, which not only save you money, but also gives you the freedom to place the lights wherever your heart desires. Traditional Christmas lights are required to be plugged into an electrical outlet to function, while the solar Christmas lights can be placed anywhere without the need to use extension cords which can be a tripping hazard, and possibly even an electrocution hazard when used outdoors and exposed to the weather elements.

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