Once I pulled the led lights out of the box, the panel had just a moment to hit sunlight and I recovered the solar panel with my hand and they lit up! It doesn't take much to charge them at all. They have a nice somber blue glow. I like the size of the cooper wire as well. Its thinner and doesnt stand out or look as bulky as some of the others. It is going around my son's fort on his swing set and he seems pretty excited about them as well!