Solar Compatibility Guide
Yes — Luxello illuminated house numbers run on 8–12V AC or DC low voltage and are fully compatible with standard 12V solar power systems. No mains connection required. This guide explains exactly how it works.
Yes — Luxello illuminated house numbers can be run on solar power. Because they operate on 8–12V AC or DC low voltage, they are fully compatible with standard 12V solar power systems. No mains connection is required.
Luxello house numbers are not solar-integrated products — they do not have a small solar cell built into the sign itself. Instead, they connect to an external 12V solar power system (the same low voltage standard used for garden path lighting, pond pumps, and solar garden lights). The solar panel and battery are mounted separately and supply 12V DC to the numbers via cable.
This approach produces dramatically better results than cheap solar-integrated house number signs, where the integrated panel is typically too small for northern European light levels and the battery fails within one to two years.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Solar panel | 10W–30W, 12V output — mount south-facing, unshaded |
| Solar charge controller | Regulates charge to battery, prevents overcharge |
| 12V battery | Deep-cycle, 7Ah–20Ah — stores daytime energy for night use |
| 2-core 12V cable | From battery to number — no polarity |
| Photocell switch (optional) | Dusk-to-dawn sensor for automatic night illumination |
As a guide: a 10W solar panel and 7Ah battery is sufficient for one to two Luxello numbers on a nightly dusk-to-dawn cycle, with several nights of reserve for cloudy days. For three or more numbers, use a 20W panel and 12Ah battery. All components are available from garden lighting, caravan, or off-grid power suppliers.
Solar note: Mount the panel south-facing at a 30–45° angle for optimum year-round output. In winter, northern European solar irradiance is lower — ensure adequate battery reserve (7Ah minimum) to maintain continuous night-time illumination.
Four things determine whether a European solar install performs or disappoints.
Face the panel south. In the northern hemisphere the sun tracks through the southern sky, so a south-facing panel captures the most energy across the year. Guides written for Australia or South Africa say the opposite — following them is the single most common mistake.
Tilt roughly to your latitude. Around 30–35° in southern Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece; 40–48° across France, Germany, Austria and the Benelux countries; 50–60° in Scandinavia and the Baltics. A steeper tilt favours winter output, which is exactly when reserve capacity matters most, and it sheds snow rather than holding it.
Size for your longest night, not the average. Midwinter darkness runs about 15 hours in Madrid, 16 in Paris and Berlin, 17 in Copenhagen and close to 18 in Stockholm and Helsinki. Most solar sizing guidance assumes far shorter nights. The further north you are, the more battery reserve you need for the same number of digits.
Winter irradiance is the real constraint. Northern Europe receives a fraction of its summer sunlight in December and January, and short overcast days can run for a week. This is the opposite of the Australian problem, where sunlight is abundant and heat is what shortens battery life. In Europe, specify the panel and battery for December and the rest of the year takes care of itself.
Southern Europe is a far easier environment for solar than the north. A system that works reliably through a Finnish winter is substantially oversized for Andalusia — so size for where the number is actually installed rather than to a single European specification.
External 12V solar system powers a solid metal illuminated number. Consistent, bright illumination all night. Battery provides reserve for cloudy days. 15–20 year product lifespan. 10-year LED panel availability commitment. Properly engineered system.
Tiny panel built into a plastic sign. Insufficient panel area for northern European light levels in winter. Poor quality battery that fails within 1–2 years. Dim, inconsistent illumination. Not fit for purpose in a northern European climate.
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