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Outdoor solar lights are great! You can use free power from the sun to illuminate an area or accentuate your favorite landscape design. Whats more, they need hardly any maintenance. But there are simple things you can do, to make your solar lights last longer.
Solar lights have PV (photovoltaic) panels which use energy from the sun to charge batteries during the day. When it becomes dark, an LED light is powered by the energy stored in the batteries.
But how can you use these solar lights to their maximum potential? Here are 5 top tips to enjoy your outdoor solar lights for a longer time.
1. Know Where To Place Your Solar Lights
Because they get energy from the sun, it is important that solar panels are located in natural sunlight for as long as possible. The longer the panel stays under the rays of the sun, the longer the battery will charge. Greater battery life means better light performance.
Fully loaded batteries can provide up to 8-10 hours of power for high-quality solar lights.
Many solar light issues are caused by incorrect placement, so that they dont get enough energy from sunlight. Solar lights require several hours of sunlight per day, so check to see if your lights have not been placed in complete shade or semi-shady areas, and move them to locations that receive sunlight all day long.
2. Clean Your Solar Panels
When the solar light does not work as efficiently as it once did, then its recommended that you clean the solar panel that powers your solar light. The panel can collect dust and debris over time, which can block sunlight and so the battery may not charge properly. This will of course affect the lights overall quality.
Cleaning the solar panel is quick and easy.
To avoid washing them when the fixtures are hot, clean your solar panels early or late in the day.
Ideally, you should clean your solar panels about once a month or more often if you live in a particularly grimy location.
3. Avoid Obstructions
When mounting outdoor solar lighting, dont place the units in the route of lawnmowers or edgers. Similarly, putting the units next to a driveway might cause a vehicle to run over your lighting. Make sure that the devices are in good sunlight, where they cant be knocked over or walked on.
4. Charge The Batteries Before Use And Replace Them If Needed
When you buy your new solar lights, you need to charge them fully before you use them. It will take at least 12 to 14 hours of direct sunlight for your new solar outdoor lights to charge completely.
Charge them fully by leaving them outside in a sunny area for 2 days so that before you mount your new lights, the batteries are 100% charged.
Then check them (to make sure they work), before you place them where you want them to be.
The batteries of solar outdoor lighting usually last from one to three years before they need replacing. You will know that your batteries need to be replaced:-
5. Do Not Place Near Street Lamps
A light sensor that senses surrounding light levels automatically switches on and off most solar outdoor lights. That means they automatically switch on at night, saving you work, which is great. And when it gets lighter at dawn, theyll switch off automatically too.
But the sensor must be properly positioned for it to function. Make sure that the fixture is not near night light sources like lawn lighting or streetlights. If there is a light source nearby (e.g. street lights), your solar lights may not work properly.
Final Thoughts
You should get years of use out of your solar landscape lights, solar patio lights and other outdoor solar lights using these simple and straightforward tips. You can see a wide range of sustainable outdoor lighting products at HEIsolar .
Using solar lighting is a great way to save energy and help climate change, which is such a huge problem that it can be difficult to know where to start. But dont worry discover just 3 things you can do that will really help click here.
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Are your solar garden lights not as bright as youd like?
Youre not alone; its a common problem.
The good news is that there are easy fixes.
Sometimes all it takes is a quick clean or a small tweak, while other times, upgrading to better-quality lights can do the trick.
Ive tried out different ways to boost their brightness, and in this guide, Ill share the best tips to make your solar garden lights brighter.
So, lets get started on lighting up your outdoor space perfectly!
Key TakeawaysSolar garden lights work by soaking up the suns rays to light up your garden or walkway without needing to plug into your homes power.
This process starts with something called a photovoltaic cell, or simply, a solar cell.
Its a neat little component that catches sunlight and transforms it into electricity.
Heres how it goes: the solar cell contains a special material that gets excited when hit by sunlight, pushing out tiny particles called electrons.
These electrons rush around to create an electrical current.
This current then flows into a battery where its stored as energy until its needed.
As the evening rolls in and it starts to get dark, a clever little gadget called a photoresistor kicks in.
This gadget is super sensitive to light and controls when the lights turn on and off.
During the day, it keeps the electricity safely in the battery, but at night, it lets the electricity flow, lighting up the LED bulb in the solar light.
The LED glows using the energy from the battery, giving you light all night until the sun comes back up.
The light doesnt need any switches because the photoresistor does all the work, turning your lights on when it gets dark and off when its light again.
Besides these cool components, your solar light also has wires and a circuit board that helps connect everything inside a tough, weatherproof case.
This means your lights can stay outside in the rain or shine without any fuss.
How to Enhance the Brightness of Your Solar Garden Lights?1. Invest More InitiallyYou might always hear people say, You get what you pay for, and its true, especially when it comes to solar garden lights.
If you shell out a bit more cash for quality lights from reputable brands, youll see a big difference in how well they light up your yard and how long they last.
These better-quality lights tend to be brighter and need less fuss over maintenance, which makes them worth the extra pennies.
When youre on the hunt for these lights, pick ones that feel sturdy and are well-sealed.
This is key because it stops water and dirt from messing them up, keeping them bright and functional for longer.
Also, take a close look at what the covers on the solar cells are made of.
Tempered glass is a winner here because it lets more sunlight in and doesnt get foggy as time goes by, unlike plastic.
For more information, please visit outdoor up and down solar lights exporter.
2. Position Your Solar Garden Lights OptimallyOf course, you know solar lights need a good dose of sunshine to work their best at night.
So, getting the spot right for placing your solar garden lights is super important if you want them to be as bright as possible.
Even though these lights can still soak up some energy on cloudy or rainy days, they thrive on clear, sunny days.
Take a walk around your garden and see if there are any spots where trees, plants, or parts of your house might keep the sun away from your lights.
Remember, in the northern hemisphere, the sun hangs out mostly in the southern sky, so ideally, youd place your lights on the southern side of any obstacles.
3. Keep Your Solar Lights CleanRelated article: How To Install Solar Lights?
Just like windows can get smeared and grimy, the clear covers on your solar lights can collect a lot of dust and debris.
This grime can get in the way of the sunlight they need to suck up during the day.
Whether these covers are made of glass or plastic (and keep in mind, plastic can get scratched and cloudy after a while), they all need a good cleaning regularly to keep them working well.
Think of it this way: the solar cell in your light is like a team, where each layer has a job to help trap as much sunlight as possible.
Theres even a special antireflective layer just under the glass that stops the sunlight from bouncing off.
So, if the top layerthe one that faces all the weather and dustis dirty, its going to block that teamwork, right?
Now, even though a good rain shower can do a decent job of cleaning them off, its always better to give them a bit of a hand wash now and again.
This is especially true if it hasnt rained in a while or if your lights are placed under something that keeps them dry, like a tree or an overhang.
Just grab a soft cloth or sponge and some gentle soapnothing too harsh that might scratch up the cover or mess up that antireflective coating.
A gentle wipe-down every so often will keep them catching and converting sunlight like champs, making sure they light up bright every night.
4. Replace Hazy Solar Cell CoversSometimes, the problem is right on the surface: cloudy covers over the solar cells.
These plastic covers can get foggy or scratched up over time, which stops the suns rays from powering up your lights properly.
That means by the time evening rolls around, they might not have enough juice to light up your garden well.
But heres some good newsif these covers are replaceable, youre just a quick fix away from brighter lights.
All you need to do is snap off the old, cloudy cover and clip on a fresh one.
5. Clean the Solar Light CasingsRelated article: How To make Solar Lights brighter than the other solar lights
Just like the solar cell covers, these casingswhether theyre made of glass or plasticcan get dirty over time.
Dirt, stains, and grime on the casings can block the light from shining through effectively, making your lights look dimmer than they are.
So, all you need is a soft sponge and some mild detergent.
Gently wipe down the casings to remove any dirt or marks.
Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that could scratch the surface or damage the casing.
Regular cleaning not only helps your lights shine brighter but also extends their overall lifespan by maintaining the components in good condition.
6. Inspect the LED LightsLEDs (light-emitting diodes) are the stars of the solar lighting world because theyre incredibly efficient and can last for agesthink thousands of hours of bright light.
But even these tough little lights have their limits and will eventually wear out.
Unlike other bulbs that dim gradually, LEDs tend to keep their brightness right up until they dont.
So, if you find that one of your solar lights isnt turning on anymore, the LED might have finally called it quits.
If your light is designed with replaceable LEDs, swapping in a new bulb is a breeze and can bring your garden light back to life in no time.
However, if the unit is sealed and you cant just change the bulb, youll need to replace the entire light fixture.
7. Examine the Battery and Connection TerminalsBatteries in solar lights dont last forever, and when they start to fade, your lights might not shine as brightly.
So, you need to check your batteries now and then for any signs of trouble, like damage or that pesky white corrosion you sometimes see on the terminalsit looks a bit like powdery residue.
Before you start cleaning, pop on some goggles for safetybetter safe than sorry, right?
If you spot any of that white stuff, grab a cloth soaked in a bit of vinegar and gently wipe the terminals clean.
This can kick things back into gear and improve the batterys performance.
If a clean-up doesnt do the trick and your lights are still dim, it might be time for a battery update.
Just remember to dispose of the old batteries properly to keep things green and safe.
FAQsHow to Make Solar Garden Lights Brighter?Related article: Why Solar garden Lights Not Working And How To Fix Them
To make solar garden lights brighter, invest in high-quality lights, position them optimally, and keep them clean to ensure maximum sunlight absorption.
Why Are My Solar Lights Not So Bright?Your solar lights are not so bright because dirty solar panels, aging batteries, or obstructions blocking sunlight.
How Can I Boost My Solar Lights?To boost your solar lights, clean the solar panels, replace hazy covers, and ensure they receive plenty of direct sunlight.
Why Are My Solar Garden Lights Dim?Your solar garden lights are dim due to cloudy solar cell covers, worn-out batteries, or dirty light casings.
ConclusionAs promised, weve shared the top tips to make your solar garden lights brighter.
From buying better-quality lights to keeping them clean and positioning them just right, these tips can make a difference.
A quick pro tip: regularly check your solar panels with a multimeter to see if theyre getting the right voltage.
This can help you spot any problems with how well theyre converting sunlight into energy.
If you have any questions or need more help with your solar lights, dont hesitate to reach out!
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