How do Solar Lights Work?
Most people do not really have a clue as to how solar lights work or what is inside the decorative fixture. Learning a little about the four components of a basic solar light, which includes the solar panel, photoresistor, light and battery, may explain solar power mysteries for you.
Charging a NiCad battery used in solar lighting requires at least six or more hours of direct lighting from the sun. Placing solar light fixtures in the wrong areas of your yard that do not receive the minimum amount of sunshine results in poor quality lighting. Each type of solar lighting design can require different amounts of sunshine for optimum lighting. Most lights, fully charged provide a minimum of eight hours of light.
Working solar powered lights, require the minimum components of a solar panel, a rechargeable battery and a LED light source, which is also called a light emitting diode. Solar lights also include a photoresistor. This works much like an on/off light switch. A photoresistor communicates with the light when it becomes dark to turn it on.
Peaking into a solar light fixture, you will find the solar cells located at the top. Landscape solar lights generally use four solar cells wired together to work in sequence. Underneath is the NiCad battery and next is the control panel and then the light source which is usually an LED (light emitting diode).
Looking towards the solar cells you will notice they are wired to the LED and the NiCad battery. Solar cells collect energy from the sun and keep the battery charged during hours of sunlight. When it becomes dark with no more sunlight, the solar cells quit transmitting stored energy. The photoresistor determines it is dark and will turn on the light.
- Providing there is still energy in your battery it will supply light for many hours. The light naturally turns off if there is no more energy supplied by the battery. The process repeats itself the next morning with the first rays of sunshine and the solar cells begin storing energy for the day.