The problems of ecology and depletion of natural reserves are increasingly forcing mankind to think about using alternative energy sources. One way to solve the problem is to use solar-powered street lighting. Such lamps have high performance characteristics, which allows them to be used in many areas of life. In this material we will talk about the types and features of street lighting fixtures on solar panels, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as areas of use.
Fields of application
Solar-powered street lighting is used to illuminate tracks, highways and roads. Such lights do not require communications, so they can be installed in remote areas of highways. They are used for night illumination of parking lots, stops of city and suburban transport, the entrance zone of entrances. In private homes and household plots, solar-powered streetlights are used for general lighting of the territory, walkways, outbuildings, decorative landscape lighting, architectural and sculptural compositions, water bodies.
Separately, it is worth mentioning tourist solar powered lamps. With them, outdoor recreation becomes more comfortable. They have several modes of operation, including emergency, with which you can give a distress signal.
Design and principle of operation
Solar-powered lamps for street lighting have a rather simple design, and the size depends on the power of the light element used. The lamp consists of:
- polycrystalline solar cell ;
- photo relay;
- battery;
- LED lamp;
- reflector;
- housing;
- supports.
The reason for using a polycrystalline battery in the device is that it is capable of converting even diffused sunlight into electrical energy. That is, the device will work effectively even in cloudy weather. It is worth noting that the efficiency of polycrystals is slightly lower than single-crystal batteries. However, the latter cannot produce electricity in the absence of direct sunlight. The lower efficiency of polycrystals forces to increase the area of the battery in order to accumulate enough energy to fully illuminate the area at night.
A photorelay is a device that responds to changes in the ambient light and automatically turns on the lamp at dusk and turns it off at dawn.
The battery is designed to store energy. The greater the power of the built-in lamp, the more energy is required to accumulate, the greater the volume of the drive is needed.
Solar-powered luminaires use exclusively LED lamps. This is due to their low power consumption. To power an incandescent lamp, the area of the solar battery should be 8-10 times larger. However, the light output will be identical.
The reflector is used to scatter light, to obtain a softer and more uniform lighting. For the same purpose, diffusers are used.
The housing of LED streetlights for solar street lighting is usually made of aluminum or plastic.
The type of support depends on the purpose of the lamp. Devices for lighting park areas, parking lots, highways and highways are installed on poles. Street lighting on solar panels for domestic use is made in the form of simple structures stuck in the ground or suspended by a loop.
Moisture protection
Lamps for street lighting must be protected from moisture and dust. Sealing is achieved through the use of silicone gaskets in the design. The degree of protection of the lamp is indicated on the package. Marking consists of an IP index and a two-digit numeric code. The first symbol indicates the degree of protection of the lamp from dust, and the second - from water. For street lighting, models with an IP of at least 65 are suitable. They safely withstand bad weather and heavy rain. To organize lighting of a reservoir or pool, it is better to use lamps with IP67. They are not afraid of complete immersion in water.
Benefits
Solar-powered devices have a number of advantages that distinguish them among analogues for street lighting.
- Autonomy. Lamps do not require laying communications and can be installed anywhere without obtaining permission in the relevant authorities.
- Profitability. The device runs on free solar energy, so the costs end at the stage of purchase of the device.
- Mobility. Most models can be moved to another place or removed at any time. The exception is park, facade models, as well as built-in lamps. The former are poles; they are mounted using the mortgage method or poured with concrete; the latter are wall models.
- Security. LED lights do not heat up, so you can not be afraid of fire or burns in children and pets.
- Environmental friendliness. Solar-powered lights do not emit hazardous substances and do not pollute the environment.
- Convenience. Devices automatically turn on and off, so there is no need to control the lighting manually.
- Durability. According to manufacturers, the life of such lamps is 10 years.
- A wide range and diverse design. On sale you can find models in the form of pillars, wall, built-in, hanging, in the form of garlands. The design also pleases with variety, some devices for decorative lighting look like works of art.
disadvantages
Despite the impressive list of advantages, solar-powered lamps also have disadvantages.
- The brightness and duration of the device depends on the intensity of sunlight during the day. In cloudy weather, the battery will not be able to accumulate enough energy, the light emitted by the device will be dim, and the duration of the operation will be reduced.
- The luminaire must be installed so that the sun's rays hit the polycrystalline battery. In a shaded area, the device will not be able to accumulate energy.
- In the event of a breakdown, the lamp cannot be repaired. This is due to the inability to restore the factory tightness of the housing. At the first rain, he will fail again.
- The price of the device directly depends on the quality of parts and assembly. Chinese-made models are cheap, but they will not last the stated time. Lamps from trusted manufacturers are many times more expensive.
Kinds
When organizing street lighting, several types of light are used, which differ in the functional purpose and type of design of the devices. This is a general, technical, security and decorative lighting. Consider each view in more detail.
General
This view is designed to create full coverage of the territory, comparable to daylight. In order to save electricity in everyday life, solar-powered lights were increasingly used. General-purpose street lighting is organized using park lamps on poles, wall models that are mounted on the facades of buildings, structures and fences.
Technical
Technical lighting is used to increase the comfort of movement around the site. It is used to illuminate the porch, garden paths, stairs, outbuildings, and a garage. In order to organize technical lighting, wall and pendant models of luminaires are installed, which are recessed, as well as small garden lights on a leg that are stuck into the ground.
Security
Security lighting is designed to deter intruders. The most effective are considered models with a solar-powered motion sensor. Street lighting of this type is mounted next to the entrances to the house, garage, along the perimeter of the site. The design usually uses an ultrasonic motion sensor. It shows high recognition efficiency of objects, however, it causes some discomfort to pets. Often security lighting is combined with technical and use similar models of lamps: wall, pendant, on the leg.
Decorative
Decorative lighting is used to illuminate flower beds, rockeries, landscape drops, sculptural groups, facades, pools and ponds. Exterior lighting fixtures usually have a small size and low lamp power. They can be made in the form of balls, flowers, animals, mythical creatures. Often, decorative lamps use RGB lamps that can emit light of different colors. To illuminate bushes, trees, gazebos and outdoor terraces, small pendant lights and LED garlands are used.
Conclusion
Solar LED street lighting is increasingly being used in everyday life and in public places. This is mainly due to the desire to reduce energy costs and concern for the environment. Solar-powered lamps are used to illuminate roads, parking lots, public transport stops, entrance areas of entrances and private houses, and illuminate the garden area.