One of the biggest advantages of solar street lights is their hassle-free installation. There is no wiring, cable laying or connection to a power grid required and this simple process facilitates illumination in areas with minimal or no access to a power grid. If placed in a shadow-free area where the panels can receive direct sunlight throughout the day, solar street lights can give full brightness from dusk till dawn.
A solar street light kit comes with solar panel, controller, battery and LED light source and also contains connectors, screws, bolts and all the necessary components required for successful installation of the light. Solar street light installation can be achieved using only a few basic tools with the help of minimum manual labor.
If there are any buildings or trees around the solar street light system that block sunlight from falling on the solar panel, the light may not be able to give its full potential during the night hours.
It is also important to fix the panels at an angle so that the panels receive maximum sunlight and installing solar street lights next to any other light source should be avoided. Both all in one and integrated solar street lights can be effortlessly installed on poles or walls and if the manufacturer’s guidelines are not followed correctly, the lights may not work very well.
Operation of a solar lighting system
Before installing or purchasing solar street lights, it is essential to understand how your solar lights work. Solar panels absorb the sunlight they receive during the day and convert it into electrical energy with the help of photovoltaic solar cells. Solar panels are connected to charge controllers which control the entire solar lighting system to protect battery charge. The electricity generated by solar panels is stored in the batteries and is used to power the light source. Given below is a diagram that clearly explains how a solar lighting system works and how each component should be connected to each other.
How to conduct testing
If the solar street lights are not working very well after they are installed, it is laborious and time consuming to remove them from the pole, send them to the retailer for testing and reinstall them. Therefore, it is essential to test the solar street lighting system before the installation itself. The panel and luminary connector pins should be attached properly following the arrow marks on the pins or the user’s manual. If they are not aligned the way they should be, the lights may not work.
To test an integrated solar street light
- Cover the solar panel to check if the light turns on.
- If the light does not turn on, inspect if the wires are connected properly.
- If the light switches on, charge it for 2 to 3 hours under direct sunlight. Ensure the panel is clean and positioned correctly.
- Cover the panel again and check if the light is on.
- When the light is on, uncover the panel and place it under the sun. The light must turn off if the controller is working properly and if it does, continue this cover-and-uncover process for 2 to 3 times more to make sure the light is working fine.
To test an all in one solar street light
- Press the on/off button.
- Cover the solar panel to check if the light turns on.
- If it does not switch on, inspect the wire connection and check again after charging for 2 to 3 hours.
- If the light turns on when the panel is covered, uncover the panel and place it under the sun.
- If the controller is working as it is supposed to, the light should turn off.
- Do the cover-and-uncover activity twice or thrice to ensure the lights are suitable for installation.
You may contact the seller for repair or replacement if the lights are not working even after this testing process. Having a basic operational knowledge of how solar street light components work can avoid a lot of confusions and can save time and money. Most times, the quality of a solar street lighting system depends on the quality of the components used. It is always better to make your solar purchases from reputed manufacturers and distributors.