Outdoor solar lights harness energy from the sun, converting it into electricity. They're an eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and safe lighting solution that requires no electricity and minimal maintenance. These lights can enhance lighting in various outdoor spaces like gardens, porches, streets, parks, and more, while also highlighting your favorite landscaping features.
Typically, high-quality outdoor solar lights can endure many years of continuous operation with proper installation and maintenance. To maximize the lifespan and ensure optimal performance of your outdoor solar lights, we offer some helpful tips.
The Installation of Outdoor Solar Lights
When installing outdoor solar lights, placement is crucial. For solar path lights, it's essential to space each light evenly along the walkway to provide sufficient illumination, ensuring safe and easy navigation at night. Additionally, consider whether the installation location will obstruct people or vehicles passing by. Lights should be visible but positioned to avoid obstruction. Once the placement is determined, prepare the ground by thoroughly watering it to soften the soil, making it easier to insert the light stakes.
Whether burying or hanging your outdoor solar lights, avoid installing them under grass, trees, walls, or roofs, as these can cast shade on the solar panels and reduce light output. However, some outdoor solar lights feature adjustable panels, allowing you to optimize solar energy collection by adjusting the panel tilt angle. Typically, in the US, solar panels should face south, with the optimal tilt angle around 30 degrees in summer and 45 degrees in winter.
Tips for Using and Maintaining Outdoor Solar Lights
Implementing the aforementioned installation tips for your solar lights is only half the battle; you also need to adhere to some usage and maintenance guidelines to maximize your lights' performance.
Charge the Battery First and Replace Them regularly
While we understand your eagerness to install the lights upon receiving them, it's advisable to expose the light to direct sunlight for a full charge of 6-8 hours before initial use. This ensures optimal performance, enabling the light to last 8-10 hours during the night. Additionally, the rechargeable battery typically requires replacement every 2 years to maintain its maximum capacity. In areas experiencing extreme weather conditions, consider replacing the battery annually for optimal performance.
Maintain a Safe Distance from Artificial Light Source
Many outdoor solar lights are equipped with built-in light sensors that detect surrounding light levels, enabling them to automatically turn on and off. When ambient light levels are low, the light activates. Therefore, it's important not to place your solar light near any illuminated artificial light sources, as this could interfere with its sensing functionality.
Do the Cleaning Often
Given that nearly all outdoor solar lights are intended for outdoor use, it's common for their light panels to accumulate dust, leaves, bugs, and other debris over time. This buildup can hinder the battery's self-charging capabilities and reduce its lifespan. Therefore, regular cleaning is essential to preserve the lights' optimal performance. Maintenance primarily focuses on three key components: the solar panel, the batteries, and the plastic or glass cover.
How to Clean Your Outdoor Solar Lights?
Maintaining cleanliness in your solar lights is vital for extending their lifespan and guaranteeing each component functions effectively to provide optimal lighting for your front porch, garden, walkway, and more. Want to know how? Keep reading!
Clean the Solar Panel
The solar light panel serves as the primary mechanism for capturing sunlight and converting it into energy to power the LED bulb or chip, illuminating outdoor spaces. To maintain its efficiency, gently wipe the panel surface every 2-3 months using a dry cloth and warm, soapy water. For stubborn grime, apply a small amount of mild detergent (such as dish soap) to the surface, scrub gently with a clean, damp cloth, and dry thoroughly with a dry towel.
Get Rid of Battery Corrosion
If your solar light fails to function properly despite having a clean panel, the battery may be oxidized and corroded. It's crucial to promptly remove the corroded battery to prevent permanent damage to the outdoor solar light. After confirming corrosion, use a soft brush or fine-grit sandpaper to remove it, or apply a drop of vinegar to all affected areas. Reinstall the battery, but if the solar light still doesn't work after cleaning, it may be necessary to replace it with a new one.
Clean the Cover
Similar to how most LED bulbs are safeguarded by light fixtures, solar outdoor lights feature transparent light covers to shield them from the elements. If these covers become dirty, they can diminish the brightness of the emitted light. Cleaning them is done in the same manner as the solar panel.
By following the helpful tips provided in this article, you can expect to enjoy years of reliable performance from your solar landscape lights, solar path lights, and other outdoor LED solar lights. Thank you for reading, and welcome to visit SolarLedWorks to choose the Outdoor Solar Lights representing the latest trends at competitive prices!