If your solar lights do not shine as brightly as you want them to, it can be irksome and tiring. Your lights need to be bright enough for you t be able to read at night. You may wonder why your solar lights which you have just purchased are not bright. We have just the right advice for you.
Any garden design having solar lights makes for an design that is environmentally friendly, but you will find that even the best of these lights will over time, lose their brightness.
Fortunately, there are, today, many easy ways that can help your to improve the brightness of these lights. Discover how easy it is to make your solar lights brighter by reading what we have given below.
CLEAN SOLAR PANELS
The main component of your solar lights is the solar panel. This panel has solar cells that convert the energy of the sun that they absorb, and covert it into power for your battery. It is, therefore, obvious that if your solar lights have to be effective, they need as much possible exposure to sunlight, throughout the day.
If your solar lights and its panels are not inclined, they are more likely to have a tendency, over time, to accumulate a collection of snow, dust, debris and other stuff, which in turn will block the sunlight reaching its photovoltaic cells. What it means, is that you now have to clean them.
For lights that are mounted high, you will first need to remove them so that it becomes easier to access the solar panel. If they are in the ground, you may not require to do this.
A brush can be used to clear any debris or other extraneous stuff that may be stuck to the top of the panel.
Then, use a damp cloth soaked with dish soap or other mild detergent to gently scrub the top of the solar panel.
Once the panel is cleaned to your satisfaction, wipe it down with a clean cloth so that there is no excess of detergent and water and leaves your solar panel looking nice and shiny.
Now you can put the solar lights to where they were earlier.
NOTE: The light panel can also get dirty and lead to its losing its brightness. These panels have protective covers made of plastic or glass to shield them from the environment. Clean these covers in the same way that you cleaned the panels.
LOCATION FOR SOLAR LIGHTS MUST BE THE BEST POSSIBLE
One solution that must be looked at for dim solar lights, is to check if they are in the proper place for their installation. As all the power needed for your solar lights comes through the sun, it is important that your panels are in the right position. A panel will only receive the sunlight if it receives the sunlight without any obstruction from any trees or plants and is in the open.
This attention to location will have your solar lights shine much more brightly and is the the right idea if you are wondering why your lights are dim.
Look around you garden till you find the right place for the installation of solar lights. Your garden lights must be able to absorb the right amount of sunlight for them to shine brightly, all through the night.
HAVE A HIGHER BUDGET
An old saying, and one that has great value, is “That you get what you pay for”. If you have not yet bought a system for your garden lights, do your shopping for them by only looking at the best quality products. The lights from well known and reputed manufacturers may be expensive but will be easier to maintain.
The units need to be well sealed and look solid, as they will then be protected from dirt and water and ensure that solar light performances are at the peak. Solar cells with tempered glass are better than those that have plastic covers, as glass covers will not get cloudy as they age and will and allow more sunlight through. Solar lights do not use main supply electricity, so the only cost to you will come from what you spend on buying them. A light that is strong and sturdy will give better value for your money than units that are cheaper.
BATTERY CHECKING
A vital component of solar light are its batteries. The sun’s energy is stored here and they provide the power to the fixture’s bulbs. Most batteries are made to last, but this does not ensure that they will last you for a lifetime. Two things need to be done for the batteries to give your solar lights the right brightness. You need to remove any corrosion or arrange for their replacement.
Make sure that your lights come with a user manual and has a section regarding the batteries.
You need to remove the batteries from their housing and check whether any white powder has accumulated around its metal parts.
Remove this white powder by first using a brush and then fine-grit sandpaper to remove all the powder from both the housing and the battery.
Now you need to decide whether you will but the battery to where it was, or arrange to replace it. Replacing is always a better alternative if your battery has not been changed for some period of time.
Always make sure that you wipe down the battery and its housing with a clean cloth. Corrosion results from your solar lights being exposed to high levels of humidity and moisture. Your batteries must not go back into a housing that is humid, as this can cause corrosion to rear its ugly head once again.
NOTE: Battery upgrades are not the best of solutions even though you may be tempted to think so. Solar light fixtures, in the first place, are designed for withstanding just so much power, and in addition, are also only compatible with some types of battery. If you are inclined to purchase a battery with higher capacity, purchase lights that are less expensive, so that you are not losing much if you are forced to destroy them or throw them way.
REPLACE SOLAR CELL COVERS
The solar cell cover is an important part of your solar lights fixtures. This cover protects the solar panel, which is the main power source for your lights. These covers can get damaged over time, like most hardware often will. To reach the solar cell, sunlight has to go through these covers, if it has to reach the photovoltaic cells. These covers, therefore, need to be cared for regularly. Replacing them may not be always necessary if you clean them regularly with soap and water, as dirt on them could be the reason why your lights are not shining as brightly as before.
If, however, this does not do the trick, you may need to replace the covers. Most solar lights are designed to have their covers replaced, making the replacement process simple and easy.
Every light will have its own method of replacing covers, so refer to the user manual before you do so.
CLEANING LIGHT CASINGS
Your LED solar light will have a glass or plastic case for its protection, and if you want peak performance, this case must always be clean. If it is stained or dirty, light will not pass through it easily and your lights will seem dim and not as bright as before. So just clean the cover with a sponge soaked in detergent and water.
OLD BULBS NEED TO BE REPLACED
Wen the light from your solar lights appear dimmer, it is likely that you can trace the reason for this to two causes. Either the solar panels are not getting to absorb enough energy from the sun or that the bulbs are past their working life. There can be many other reasons, but these two are those that are more likely, besides being easy to check.
Ideally, you must always have a stock of spare bulbs for your solar lights. This stock will help you to replace the bulbs without having to drive down to your local hardware shop.
Bulbs in solar lights need replacement every few months. Make sure that bulbs you stock up are those that are the right ones for your lights, as they can vary for different lights.
BATTERY AND CONNECTION TERMINALS NEED TO BE CHECKED
Rechargeable batteries will not last forever, while a damaged battery or a battery that is soiled can be the reason for dimmed solar lights. So check on the battery frequently for damage or corrosion. You will find a white substance around terminals that give you an indication of corrosion. Clean this away and see if your battery performance improves. Work safely while doing this and wear googles when you need to handle batteries, a task which must be carried out carefully. Clean away the corrosion with a cloth soaked in vinegar.
If this does not improve the brightness of your lights, it may be time to replace the rechargeable batteries.
MONITOR SUNLIGHT EXPSOURE
If you want your solar lights to shine brightly, then they need to have the maximum exposure to the sun. This can be done by monitoring the sunlight that your solar lights have access to.
You get the best results by knowing the exposure that the lights you have require, as this can vary from light to light. Your light will require a specific amount of sunlight exposure as suggested by the manufacturer and you need to match the exposure up to that amount. Most solar lights need at least 4-6 hours of sunlight exposure for them to work throughout the night.
You need to be constantly aware that the earth is not always in the same place throughout the day. A branch of a tree may not obstruct the light at 2 pm but will do so at 4 pm. You can avoid this problem by installing your solar lights in a area that is high and open.