How long will my solar lights stay on at night?

This depends on the quality and type of your system. It also greatly depends on the geography and climate of your neighborhood. A normal, medium quality solar lighting system would work great in San Diego, CA year round since it receives plenty of sunshine for a large part of the year. You would not have to worry about the solar panels in your lights receiving enough sunlight to fully charge your batteries. However, for locations that receive a lot of rain or just have overcast for the majority of the year, that particular lighting system would not be ideal. It would likely dim lightly and cut off during the night. You would need to purchase a model that is appropriate for overcast areas and areas that do not receive optimal amounts of sunlight. The solar panel and batteries would be more efficient and powerful to power the light through the entire night. So, if you select the right lighting system for your area, your lights should burn brightly for 9 – 12 hours.

Furthermore, you want to make sure you place your solar lights in areas that will receive the maximum amount of sunlight. You really do not want to limit their exposure to the sun by placing them in extremely shaded areas, like under incredibly large trees or buildings. Most medium quality systems require 10 hours of sunlight in order to fully charge the battery. If you it does not receive that much sunlight, it may only run at about 40% of its full capacity. Remember that you can purchase special systems if you live in an area that does not receive that much sunlight.

For most areas, a medium to high quality solar lighting model should be perfect. Keep your specific geography and climate in mind when choosing your solar lighting fixtures. Your lights will only work well if they receive the right amount of sunlight.

External Resources:
Solar Landscape Lights Durability