How To Use Solar Panels For Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lights accumulate dust and debris so clean them regularly to prevent buildups.

How to use solar panels for outdoor lighting.

The electricity is stored in batteries for use at night. The wiring will attach to the battery which is essentially a storage unit. A solar panel produces electricity from the sun and charges up a battery. Outdoor solar lighting systems use solar cells which convert sunlight into electricity.

Diy outdoor solar lighting using rope solar light and rustic wire this is a simple project. Solar panels that have a layer of dust or other debris cannot fully charge the battery during sunlight hours. If you want ac power you ll also need an inverter that converts dc voltage to ac for outdoor solar outlets. Solar panels come in many different wattage depending on how much power you want to generate.

Aim a beam of light from a solar powered spotlight or floodlight at an interesting feature in your landscape such as an ornamental tree or architectural detail or integrate them into your home security lighting plan. The battery is then used to power electrical things like light bulbs. The first option costs more but it s the way to go if you like your present fixture or want to convert an array of lights. Spray a layer of lacquer on the panel itself to restore its shine.

You can hook the light up to a solar powered battery system or you can remove the light altogether and replace it with a stand alone solar fixture. If you want to take advantage of the sun s abundant energy to power an outdoor light you have at least two options. Solar post caps deck rail lights step lights and even solar string lights all offer a maintenance free glow that makes your deck safe and inviting. The deck and patio are the perfect places to let your solar lights shine.

Matching the right collectors charge controller and the battery takes some know how. Manufacturers most commonly use nickel cadmium sealed lead acid and lead acid batteries. Take your average daylight hours and divide that by the 380 watts you need and the size of the solar panel will be determined. This step is essential to solar light maintenance and will directly influence how well your outdoor lights function.

A charge controller is needed so that the solar panels do not over charge the battery and damage it. Clean the solar panels. This is a problem for two reasons. A few easy maintenance steps can help clean cloudy solar lights.

Wash the panel and bulb with soap and water regularly to prevent built up grime from inhibiting the light s performance. Solar kits eliminate guesswork. In this case if you had 7 hours of sunlight per day you would need at least two 30 watts 12 volt solar panels. Outdoor solar lighting systems work well in most areas of the united states.

You can cobble together your own system with individual parts but that can be dicey. When the solar lighting system is switched on it begins to deplete the battery.