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These solar lights are really inexpensive to make and theyll last much longer than any other store bought light. They are a lot brighter than they were before.
Plus most of the components i had were used which keeps the cost down.
Brand new this project would cost $5. However it only costed $2 for me as i reused the jar and reused the solar garden light.
This project restored a lot of old solar lights for me.
You will need an old or new solar light
Silicone
And a jar
However to make the solar lamp better a nimh aa battery and some brighter leds are required. Preferably at least 2 leds.
This step is simple enough:
Remove all the screws and pop out the circuit board then desolder it from the circut.
To remove the solar panel use a lighter to heat up the solar panel. Or pop it out from the back with a screwdriver.
However do not pry off the solar panel when it is cold. If done so the solar panel would crack.
batteries supplied with these solar lights are pretty terrible as they are low capacity and can decay quite quickly. I've noticed that with nimhs they lose %50 battery life every 2 years meaning 50%.25% etc. So by upgrading to a mAh cell the capacity is vastly improved from 40 mAh. This also makes it have a higher capacity than the stock battery when this battery is decayed. This shall help this garden lights last a long long time. If your solar lights are used than you need to swap these batteries.
To attach the battery the old battery is desolderd and a new one is solder on with wires.
Leds supplied with the solar lights are pretty much garbage. They produce a dim blue light that is barely visible. These are really inefficient and waste a lot of energy. So to make the solar lights brighter without using more electricity is to switch the LEDs to more efficient LEDs. I used 2 SMD LEDs from a LED strip. These are really efficient and having to means that each is getting less power. This makes it slightly more efficient and slightly brighter.
So I snipped off the old led as far towards the led as I could. This made it easier for me to solder to. Then the led was soldered on and tested to work. (Make sure the on off switch is on)
You can see in the picture that the ones I had swapped are a lot warmer and brighter. They are even brighter in real life.
I used an old salt jar to contain the solar light. Be sure to clean out all the salt and moisture. A paper towel can be added to absorb moisture. Clear Silicone is used to house the solar panels in place. If you haven't already solder in the solar panel. Then once placing everything in and making sure it works used silicone to seal the jar. Now it will be watertight and ready to use.
Now it is no longer scrap
Thanks for reading
If you liked this please give a like or a vote. Thanks
If you&#;re shopping for garden lights, you will inevitably come across solar lights as an option, but are they worth it? In this guide to solar lights, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions on owning solar lights, including their advantages and disadvantages, explaining if they work in winter and how to maintain them.
As professional lighting experts, we can help you decide if solar lighting is worth your investment and help you get the most out of your solar lights with regular maintenance. Here is everything you need to know before and after you buy solar lights.
Table of contents
Solar garden lights feature solar panels that absorb energy from the sun. The photovoltaic cells in the panels create a chemical reaction that converts light from the sun to energy and stores it in rechargeable batteries.
The solar lights will charge in the sunlight during the day and illuminate at night. Solar lights also have light sensors, which measure the light level around them. When it gets dark, the sensors tell the light to switch on so it doesn&#;t waste energy during the day. These are often called dusk-till-dawn solar lights.
There are some noteworthy advantages to investing in solar lights.
As solar lights use renewable energy from the sun to charge their batteries, they are the kindest outdoor lighting option for the environment.
Because solar lights use the sun&#;s energy to illuminate, there is no extra cost to your energy bills.
Finally, as solar lights don&#;t require plugging into outlets or hardwiring into the mains circuit, you don&#;t need any special skills to install these lights in your garden. Nor is there any need to hire a professional electrician.
Inevitably, there are also disadvantages to solar lights.
You can get a significant range of prices for solar lights, but be aware that the cheaper ones are less effective and may not last as long as they contain lower-grade materials. If you want good quality solar lights, purchase them from a highly regarded brand at a higher price point to get the best output and longevity.
There is a level of maintenance for solar lights to work at their best. For example, you must keep them clean. Dirt and debris on the solar panel prevent the light from getting to the solar panels. You will also need to change the batteries every one to three years if the output quality decreases.
Any solar light will not perform as effectively in winter compared to summer, no matter the quality. In the summer, the solar lights can potentially benefit from the sun&#;s rays between 7 am and 9 pm, that&#;s nearly 14 hours. Whereas in the UK winter, you can only expect the sun between 9 am and 4 pm, which is only seven hours of sun! With the potential for worse or cloudy weather, solar lights have less chance to charge in winter and may not shine as bright at night.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of outdoor up and down solar lights exporter. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Even in summer, if you don&#;t point your solar lights towards the sun or something obstructs the solar light, like a shadow from the house or a tree, your lights won&#;t charge enough.
Deciding if solar lights are worth it depends on what you want to use them for. If you want a collection of decorative solar lights to create a cosy environment for your summer BBQs and light pathways in the summer, they&#;re 100% worth it. But, if you intend to light a larger area all year round, you may have to invest in a high-quality solar light that can charge on limited sunlight during the winter or look at different options like battery or mains-powered lights. Also, it isn&#;t worth getting solar lights if your location or garden doesn&#;t get that much sunlight.
On average, solar lights need around 8-10 hours of direct sunlight to completely charge their batteries to work at night. Many solar lights can sufficiently get this amount through the winter, especially if you get bright, crisp winter days.
However, if you have an extended period of cloudy weather, your solar lights will seem dimmer at night as they don&#;t have enough sunlight to charge. And if snow falls and settles on the solar panels, it won&#;t be able to recharge its batteries.
Similarly, if you have rainy weather, the solar lights can charge to some extent using the light coming through the clouds, but it won&#;t be enough to produce a bright light at night.
Solar lights can last up to five years with proper maintenance.
There are various reasons why your solar garden lights don&#;t last long, and it&#;s due to how you maintain them.
Solar garden lights don&#;t last as long if you let them get dirty in the garden. Inevitably, they will get some dirt on them, but regular cleaning will prevent dust and dirt from entering the mechanism and degrading the light. Use a damp cloth and mild dish soap to remove excess dirt from your solar light.
Determine if your solar lights are water-resistant or waterproof. If they&#;re water resistant, you can&#;t submerge them, or they will break. Waterproof solar lights will prevent water penetration, but if they get exterior damage, their waterproofing can become compromised. If you know your solar lights are only water resistant and you have harsh, rainy weather, it&#;s best to store them to protect them.
Incorrect storage can also damage solar lights. Prolonged storage periods will compromise their ability to recharge. So ensure you don&#;t store them for more than three days. Or, you can turn them off or remove their batteries to protect them.
Your batteries will likely run out faster than the solar light. So remember to replace the batteries if the quality starts to reduce.
Just because your solar light is not functioning as it should doesn&#;t mean it&#;s broken. There could be several reasons why your solar light has stopped working, and there are a few fixes you can try.
If your solar lights stop working, try cleaning the panels. Dirt and dust will prevent light from getting to the receivers and charging the light.
Solar light batteries wear out after a couple of years. Try replacing them and see if it works.
Your solar light may not be receiving the amount of sunlight it needs to charge. Try repositioning it so it can receive the most sunlight throughout the day. The best position is south-facing.
Your solar light may be out of charge, especially after a dark, cloudy winter. Try turning the light off for 72 hours and allow it to charge without wasting energy.
Your light might not work because it&#;s too close to a garden or street light. Solar lights have light sensors that make them turn on when it gets dark. But, if it&#;s close to artificial light, it may think it&#;s daytime.
You should now be able to make an informed decision about whether solar lights are ideal for you or not. It all depends on what you want to use them for. And if you already have them, you will know how to take care of them and ensure they last for years. Why not browse our extensive range of solar lights here at Moonlight Design and find the perfect solar lights for your garden?
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