What is the life span of solar lights?

Many times the question pops up regarding the life span of solar powered lights. How does one ensure the best performance and prolong the life of solar lights? After a while, you might notice that your solar lights are not as bright as when you first bought them. And without knowing the basics of solar lights, you may become confused about what exactly happened. Could it be that your solar lights got old and need to be recycled or is there something that you just need to know about the maintenance of your solar powered products?

Solar lights need four essential components to function:

1. A rechargeable battery to store the power generated by the energy from the sun.

2. A small photovoltaic cell or solar array that captures sunlight during the day and converts it into electrical energy. The solar array is usually built right into the light fixture. Some light designs have separate solar arrays connected by a thin wire allowing the light to be located in a shady area while the solar array itself is placed in a bright, sunny location.

3. A “charge controller” to ensure the batteries don’t get overcharged in bright sunlight as well as to monitor the amount of light in the surrounding area and turn the LED (light emitting diode) light on and off.

4. An LED (or a series of LEDs) which provides the light.

10-Pack NiCd AA700mAh 1.2V Rechargeable Batteries at http://www.yoursolarlink.com.

Image by Your Solar Link.

Rechargeable Solar Light Batteries are the major cause of failure in solar garden lights (5 main reasons why your solar lights are not performing as well as new.)

Rechargeable solar batteries will self-discharge which means that over time the batteries will discharge to a point where they no longer work.

It is important to ensure you charge your solar lights at least every three (3) months to ensure the battery stays in good shape and lasts its life span, generally 1-2 years.

Replace your old batteries when they run their life cycle.

When you purchase your solar lights, the rechargeable batteries are often already included in the fixture. After 1-2 years (or a matter of months in some cases) it is quite normal to see their performance decline. Once you notice that the lighting time is considerably diminishing and the lights are not as bright as before, it’s probably time to replace your rechargeable solar garden light batteries.

Another reason of reduced lighting time and brightness can also be that the solar light batteries are not charging correctly.

For the best charging performances the solar panel needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. Dust and other accumulated residues can considerably affect the charging procedure. They form a coating layer on the solar panel and block the sunlight.

10-Pack NiCd AA600mAh 1.2V Rechargeable Batteries at http://www.yoursolarlink.com.

Image by Your Solar Link.

An easy way to check if the rechargeable batteries are dead is to test them by briefly replacing them with regular batteries, just long enough to check if the light is working. If you are testing the solar light during the day, don’t forget to cover it, or place the light in a darkened room. This will allow the photocell to trigger the light to its “on” position. If the solar light turns on with normal batteries it means that the rechargeable batteries are faulty and you will need to buy a new set.

Important: don’t forget to pay particular attention to the location of the solar lights.

Batteries will not charge properly if the solar panel is in the shade, they rely on the energy of the sun to charge.

There is another simple test you can do before replacing the solar light rechargeable batteries. Place your solar lights under direct sunshine for a day or two and see what happens. If, after this duration, the illumination time is back to normal, it means that the solar panel was not getting enough light from the sun. Commonly, solar lights should be in direct sunlight for at least 4 hours a day to adequately charge the rechargeable batteries.

If you store your solar lights for long periods of time, take the batteries out!

When you had to store your garden solar lights for a long period of time (during winter months, for example), did you take out the batteries? If you did, your solar light batteries will have a longer life span.

10-Pack NiMH AA1000mAh 1.2V Rechargeable Batteries at http://www.yoursolarlink.com.

Image by Your Solar Link.

Replacing solar light batteries is not a difficult task.

All you have to do is to locate the solar light battery cover, remove it, take out the defective batteries and replace them with new ones. If no battery cover can be found, the solar light needs to be taken apart, usually with one or two screws. On most models you’ll find the screws on the top or bottom of the light. Once the unit is open you’ll have access to the batteries.

Types of rechargeable batteries.

Most solar garden lights need between 1 to 4 batteries to work. 2 types of batteries are usually used in garden solar lights: AA size – NiCad(Nickel Cadmium) 1.2 V / 500 to 900mA, and AA size – NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) 1.2 V /1000 to 2000mA.

When it is time to change the solar light rechargeable batteries, the choice of battery also plays an important part in ensuring the enhanced performance of your solar lights.

Nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH) will have up to three times more capacity than the same size Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery, meaning they are capable of lasting longer and more reliable.

NiMH batteries in your solar lights may cost a little extra but they are more environmentally friendly than NiCd batteries. NiMH batteries are more environmentally friendly because they use a dry liquid, which can be disposed of more easily. They will also withstand greater temperature fluctuations operating in temperatures ranging from -20 to 60 degrees Celsius (-4 to 140F). Ni-MH batteries have a “non-memory effect” which means they will continue to charge on cloudy days. The battery performance will not be diminished by these partial charges, as what can occur with lead acid batteries.

10-Pack NiMH AAA900mAh 1.2V Rechargeable Batteries at http://www.yoursolarlink.com.

Image by Your Solar Link.

Solar light replacement batteries are standard and can be found easily. If you know these solar lights basics, with minimum maintenance effort you will enjoy your solar powered lights for years.

It may be difficult to imagine for us, but according to the U.S. Department of Energy nearly two billion people live without electricity. How do they deal with it? They burn fossil fuels such as kerosene for light.
Denver inventor Stephen Katsaros is hoping to give light to people without electricity. His solution to the problem is his new invention – a solar-powered light bulb.

Image from http://www.nokero.com/. Solar-powered light bulb.

Solar-powered lights are nothing new, but the inventor hopes this one could improve the lives of people in developing countries, who have no electricity but plenty of sunshine. The bulb has a battery that gets charged by the sun. A one-day charge will power it for about two hours at night. “It’s replacing kerosene lanterns that are very polluting and dangerous around the world,” says Steve Katsaros, founder of Nokero. The name Nokero is short for “no kerosene.” They are usually used in sets of 2 or more. One light is used for 2 hours until the rechargeable battery is used up. Then, the next light is turned on until that one is used up. And so on.

Image from http://www.nokero.com/. Solar-powered light bulb.

Nokero bulbs were invented just 8 months ago in the shop of Katsaros’ Park Hill neighborhood garage. The first solar-powered bulb looked like a regular light bulb – the same shape and size as the ones in your home, so you could actually screw it into a standard fitting.

Four band-aid size solar panels decorate the outside of the bulb. Each panel helps charge one battery which powers 5 small LED lights.

The battery should last at least 2 years, according to the manufacturer.

What distinguishes Nokero, claims Katsaros, is that the battery is not just rechargeable but replaceable. Plus, the entire unit is affordable.

His wholesale solar powered bulbs cost $6.
Nokero’s target market is developing countries like India and Pakistan, plus western Africa. Katsaros says he’s already shipped thousands of samples to 50 different countries.

Some customers have already ordered as many as 1,000 bulbs.

Read and see more at: http://www.nokero.com/

$740 million development started outside Dezhou, China. It has been called “The Biggest Solar Energy Production Base in the Whole World,” or Solar Valley.

Image from Himin Solar Energy. Dezhou Solar Valley in China.

The base will be a clean energy technology hub that China hopes will rival Silicon Valley in California. “This is an experiment. It is a big laboratory,” said Huang Ming – an oil industry engineer turned solar energy tycoon.

Image from Himin Solar Energy. Dezhou Solar Valley in China

The $740 million plan has attracted about 100 companies and factories, a research center and wide boulevards illuminated by solar-powered lights.

China’s Solar Valley in Dezhou (Promotional Video)

The main developer for the park’s plan is a company called Himin Solar Energy. It was started by Huang Ming who is often called the ‘Sun King’ of China. Although he says: “I prefer to be called solar madman.” The building that serves as headquarters for Himin Solar Energy is located at the Sun-Moon Mansion and is currently the largest solar powered office building in the world.

Image from Himin Solar Energy.
Sun-Moon Mansion – Himin Solar Energy’s headquarters. Night view.

Image from Himin Solar Energy.
Sun-Moon Mansion – Himin Solar Energy’s headquarters. Day view.

Image from Himin Solar Energy.
Sun-Moon Mansion – Himin Solar Energy’s headquarters. Day view.

An intriguing mix of raw capitalism and socialist planning is giving companies such as Huang’s Himin Solar Energy Group a shot at making a difference.
The city of Dezhou already requires that all new buildings be equipped with solar water heaters (the type made by Huang’s company). Last year they spent $10 million to install solar lighting along several miles of road.
Huang’s company is the world’s biggest producer of solar water heaters. It recently opened a low-carbon five-star hotel and is building Utopia Garden, a gigantic, eco-friendly luxury apartment complex – both with solar-heated pools.
“Renewable energy doesn’t mean people have to be uncomfortable,” Huang states.

Last year, China invested about $34 billion in solar panels, wind turbines and other alternative energy technologies, nearly twice as much as the United States, where green technologies spending unfortunately fell sharply.
Huang notes that, so far, solar energy is “a drop in the ocean” on the road to the major Environmental and Economical changes but he said that Dezhou offers a model for the future. “I like big plans,” he says.

Image from Himin Solar Energy. Huang Ming presents Dezhou Solar Valley.

Today more and more people discard the idea of using standard electric lights and are exploring the possibilities of using economical and eco friendly solar lighting solutions.

The Solar Path Lights. Image by Your Solar Link.

Path solar lights are an excellent choice for lighting paths, walkways, driveway perimeters or other regions around your home and in your landscape. They are often used in multiples to guide the way along a set of stairs or a dark walk.
Video below is showcasing the Stainless Steel Conical Path Lights. They are sold in sets of 2 at Your Solar Link’s website.

These solar path lights are 5 and a half inches in diameter and 14 inches high.
To get the most benefit from the sun, try to position your solar lights in a sunny place. The fixtures turn on and off automatically for your safety and convenience. This also allows you to “store” the electrical charge for a special event and ensure the longest possible run time.

A solar panel that collects sun energy during the day is located on the top of the light fixture. This highly efficient solar panel collects enough energy during the day to provide 8 to 10 hours of free light during the night. This Stainless Steel Solar Light set uses 2 ultra-bright LEDs for maximum light output and minimum battery usage. It comes with 1 rechargeable Ni-Cd AA battery. The lights are safe and water and corrosion resistant.
No wiring is required to install your Solar Light set, no need to call an electrician, just stick the ground stakes in and they are ready to go!

Have a look at them in a night setting (video). These solar path lights emit a soothing glow and softly light up flowers and shrubbery surrounding them. They release just enough light to guide you along a path or accentuate the beauty of your garden.
Solar path lights fall into the category of solar accent lighting and are designed to mark a place. You can use them exclusively or to compliment other types of outdoor lighting. Perhaps somewhere where you don’t need extremely bright (like a solar spot light), but want something subtle, producing just the right amount of light.

This Stainless Steel Solar Path Light set is an excellent savings not only because you can buy it at a lower price from www.yoursolarlink.com, but also because you get free, clean and renewable solar energy while using them.