The introduction of solar lights has made people save money. To illuminate your outdoor area, solar lights can be ideal. Do solar lights, however, last long enough to be cost-effective, you may be wondering. We can give you a general idea of how long solar garden lights typically last even though the response to this frequently asked question will depend on a number of variables. Please keep reading.
How Long Do Solar Lights Last?
Different factors affect how long solar lights last. For at least ten years, LEDs have a long lifespan. You will be alerted when the solar lights need to be replaced when they stop shining. However, when it comes to the battery, it may last from three to four years. After that, you’ll need to buy a new battery.
Be aware that a variety of factors can affect how long solar lights last. Be it their placement or maintaining cleanliness, all these contribute to the lifespan of outdoor solar lights.
It will be important to keep in mind that it can withstand bad weather because it is placed outside. Your solar lights can last longer if they are properly maintained.
How To Make Solar Light Last Longer?
Place Your Lights In A Sunny Spot
The sun’s rays would serve as fuel if your solar light were a vehicle. The more sunlight your light receives, the more electricity it will produce and the longer it will last at night. As you are probably aware, solar lights work by converting sunlight into electricity.
As a result, the first piece of advice for extending the life of your lights is to install them where they will receive enough direct sunlight without any obstructions. Solar lights can charge in the shade, don’t get me wrong. It just won’t be as effective as charging in the sun.
Adjust Your Solar Light’s Panel Direction
Every day the sun rises from the East, and peaks in the South during midday till it finally sets in the West.
How does this matter? Well, this is particularly important because we need to track the sun, so we can point our solar light to the direction where it faces the sun for the longest period during the day, which is True South for people who live in the Northern hemisphere.
On the other hand, if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, then you should make your solar light face True North for maximum sunlight exposure. So, be sure to change the direction of your solar light if you want to extend its lifespan.
Adjust Your Solar Panel Angle
You wouldn’t believe it, but your solar light angle affects how much direct sunlight your solar panel receives.
This is so that your panel can produce its most energy when the sun is directly overhead. For this reason, we need to adjust the panel angle so it makes a 90-degree angle with the sun.
I realize that this might not seem like a big deal, but simply changing the angle of your solar panel can lower its temperature and boost its output.
Clean Your Solar Panel
Your solar panel may occasionally accumulate small particles and dust, reducing the surface area that can absorb light and lowering the output of the solar panel. But this is not the only issue. The truth is that the shading effect that these tiny, non-toxic particles can produce is the real issue.
In simple terms, because solar cells are connected in serial, even a small shading on one of the cells can reduce the total row output by up to a third.
So to make sure your solar light will last longer, just grab a damp piece of clothing and gently clean the panel once every 2-3 months.
Recalibrate Your Battery
The solar panel won’t typically be able to fully recharge the battery in your light, let’s face it.
While it’s a good thing to not fully charge your battery, it’s actually recommended to fully drain the battery and give it a full charge once every 2 months to keep the battery healthy and prolong its lifespan. Here is how to adjust the battery in your solar light:
- Keep your solar light in a dark room till it fully drains the battery
- Turn the light switch off
- Keep the solar light in direct sunlight for 2-3 days without using
- Enjoy your calibrated solar light
Check The Wire Between The Panel And The Battery Holder
Due to dust and water buildup, the wire connecting the solar panel and battery can occasionally become a little displaced or loose.
Your solar lights may not last all night due to this loose wiring because the battery won’t be able to efficiently receive all the electricity if the wire from the solar panel is not properly insulated.
And as a result, a lot of the energy generated will be lost, making it impossible for the solar panel to fully recharge your battery. As a result, you should definitely check the wiring if the operating time of your solar light suddenly decreased.
Replace Your Battery
As was previously mentioned, every battery has an expected lifespan, and for the batteries used in solar lights, this average lifespan ranges from 1 to 5 years, depending on the battery’s type and level of manufacturing.
Indicators of a bad battery include solar lights that quickly lose charge even after receiving a full day of direct sunlight. Your best course of action in this situation is to buy new batteries.
Simply make sure that the Voltage and Current requirements of your solar light are met by your new battery to avoid problems.
Conclusion
Installing outdoor solar lighting may be a wise investment. In the long run, it can be very effective even though it will cost more. Choosing a great location with direct sunlight and keeping your panels spotless are the two best things you can do to keep your lights running for a long time.