What can you do to make your solar lights last longer? 

As the world becomes increasingly aware of the need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, the use of solar power is on the rise. Solar photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into electricity, making them a clean and renewable source of energy.  Solar light is a new kind of safe and environment-friendly lighting that is paying more and more attention today.  While initial investment costs can be high, solar panels have a long lifespan and require little maintenance, making them a cost-effective option in the long run. In addition, solar power is an environmentally friendly solution that does not produce greenhouse gases or other pollutants. As more and more people turn to solar power, it is clear that it is an irreversible trend in energy utilization.

To get the most out of solar photovoltaic panels and make your solar lights last longer, it is important to know how to properly use and maintain them.  By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your outdoor solar outdoor lights will provide years of reliable service.

1. Clean The Solar Light Panels Periodically

Solar LED street lights for outdoors need solar panels to absorb radiant energy.  One of the best ways to prolong the life of your solar lights is to keep the solar panel clean. Over time, dust and dirt can build up on the solar panels, which can reduce their ability to absorb sunlight. To clean your solar lights, simply wipe them down with a damp cloth or use a soft-bristled brush to remove any built-up dirt, so that to maintain the maximum energy absorption of solar radiation and provide long-term illumination.

Most solar lights are usually used outdoors, so their solar panels are exposed for a long time and can be covered with dust, leaves, bird droppings, and other dirt.  In order to keep the solar panel clean and avoid attracting too much dust and debris, we usually keep the solar panel with a tilt, so that the dust can be cleaned away by rainwater on rainy days,  and also prevent birds from resting on it.  If the air in your area is heavily dirty, or the solar lights are close to the desert area, where is rarely rainy all year round, it’s necessary to clean the solar panels periodically. 

Snow piled on Solar light panels will certainly affect their ability to absorb solar irradiation. If your area is covered with a large amount of snowfall, the lighting system may not function at its peak. In some cases, you can shake the street light pole to move down the snow that is piled on solar panels. 

If you have enough budget, you can invest more to equip solar streetlights with an auto-cleaning system.  It will no longer be necessary for you to clean solar panels

2. Install Your Solar Lights In The Right Place 

Put your solar lights properly to maximize their energy production and get the most out of them. This means installing them outdoors in an area with direct sunlight for 6-8 hours every day, avoiding trees or tall buildings that can shade panels from sunlight during daytime hours.    Although the trees don’t always block the sunlight, they do reduce the amount of time when direct sunlight shines on the panel. It means that the batteries can not be fully charged and the lighting time is shorter. So it’s necessary to trim the branches to ensure sufficient sunlight, otherwise, adjust the installation site. 

 The tall building on the sides of the road can’t be moveable, and the solar panel may not be shined for enough time, we would consider increasing the solar panel size to ensure the batteries can be fully charged in limited sunlight time.

3. Charge The Solar Light Batteries Regularly

If your solar lights are stored for a long time before installation, to avoid damage and prolong the life of your solar lights is to charge them regularly. Solar lights rely on batteries to power them, and these lithium batteries need to be recharged periodically in order for the lights to work properly. To recharge your solar light batteries, simply place them in direct sunlight for a few hours each week.

4. Avoid Extreme Temperatures

When using solar lights, it’s important to avoid extreme temperatures, as this can damage the batteries or cause the light bulbs to burn out prematurely. If possible, try to keep your solar lights out of direct sunlight during hot summer days, as this can cause the batteries to overheat. Additionally, avoid placing your solar lights in freezing temperatures, as this can damage the internal components and shorten their lifespan.

5. Switch off the Solar Lights on Continuous Rainy Days

If the weather forecast says it will rain for a long period of time and exceed the maximum designed lighting time of the product, you can choose to turn off the solar led lights with a switch. This method is mainly to avoid inefficient charging on rainy days and extend battery life. 

6.  Avoid Improper parameters setting on solar lights 

Nowadays, the solar charge controller become very intelligent. In order to save energy, we usually program to make the solar lights work in timer dimming mode.  We can program the work mode with remote control. The programming process is a little bit complicated,  if the parameters are incorrectly configured, abnormal lighting, excessive battery consumption, and reduced lighting hours will occur. Therefore, it would be better if you contacted us before installation to ensure we select the correct mode for your location.

7.  Replace batteries in solar lights.

 Most solar lights have a compartment on the underside that can be opened to access the batteries. Once the batteries are replaced, the light should work as it did before. Keep in mind, however, that solar lights rely on sunlight to recharge. If your solar lights are starting to dim or they don’t stay lit for as long as they used to, it’s probably time to replace the batteries. Be sure to buy batteries that are specifically designed for solar lights – other types of batteries may not fit properly or work as well. With just a few simple steps, you can keep your solar lights shining bright for years to come.

Conclusion

By following these tips, you can help your solar lights last longer and continue to provide illumination for years to come. Have you tried any of these methods to make your solar lights last longer? Let us know in the comments!