Solar powered garden lights have been in great demand lately. The trend towards the use of renewable and alternative energy sources is gaining momentum in the last decade, the leading place in this process is solar energy.
The rapid growth in the production of photovoltaic modules in the world has led to the fact that solar technology is becoming a real, cost-effective option to reduce fuel and available for use in the housing and communal sector.
Installation of traditional electric lighting for household plots is often an expensive process, and their operation leads to a significant increase in electricity consumption and, consequently, the cost of its payment. Solar powered garden lights, which are now available in a wide range of styles and colors, have many advantages over electric lighting.
The principle of sunlight
The operation of autonomous lamps is based on a fairly simple photovoltaic effect, which is used in the solar panel and photovoltaic cell. In it, solar energy is accumulated throughout the day and then converted into direct current electricity to illuminate household plots and the adjacent territory.
Solar powered street lights are equipped with an intelligent controller that turns on the LED using stored energy. The panel itself consists of many layers of crystalline silicon, as well as various chemicals that can create layers of negatively and positively charged electrons. This conversion occurs using the semiconductor material of the device. The generated electricity is stored in batteries. At night, when the lighting is reduced to 10 lux, the battery supplies a voltage of about 4.5 V.
The rays of the sun fall on a panel that is negatively charged, thereby activating the creation of electrons and holes in semiconductors. The electric field in the pn junction separates the charged particles, a DC voltage appears, caused by the potential difference. When a load is connected to such a source, a current appears in the circuit of the lighting network, the strength of which will depend on the level of insolation and the type of photocell, as well as the resistance of all devices connected to the source.
Advantages and disadvantages of alternative lighting
Benefits:
- Unlimited source of energy. Solar energy is inexhaustible. As long as there is sunlight, there is no reason why you should not use solar-powered garden lights.
- Lack of AC power. Instead, the lamps have small solar panels that use sunlight to charge the battery. Many batteries store enough charge during the day to then provide illumination up to 10 hours at night, although their duration varies depending on weather conditions and the location of the panels. They always work, even in the event of a power outage.
- Solar-powered streetlights are easily accessible for installation anywhere, without any restrictions regarding proximity to a power source.
- Efficiency and profitability. Firstly, they are generally cheaper than AC luminaires. Secondly, they are usually easy to use, do not require financial costs for installation and installation. Thirdly, since they operate on solar energy, they do not increase the size of electricity bills.
- Environmental friendliness. The production of energy that is spent for their work does not harm the environment through carbon dioxide emissions, as in the case of electricity generated by the production of energy from non-renewable sources.
- Solar-powered garden luminaires have such characteristics that their safety is greater than that of electric luminaires. There are no electrical cables that pose a fire hazard. Unlike electric lighting, which is turned off at night due to cost savings, they work for free all night, which is a strong security factor.
- Wide range of styles. They are available in many colors and styles, suitable for a wide range of applications, including permanent installations and temporary decorations for parties, aesthetically pleasing and varied.
Disadvantages:
- They are still quite expensive.
- They operate with much lower power output, which means that they give less light.
- The "exit" of real light may depend on the weather.
Selection options
Not everyone knows how to choose the right fixtures to make the most of their features.
To make the right choice, you first need to decide on the lighting function:
- decorative, to decorate the overall design of the local area;
- security, for lighting security zones of the territory;
- tracer for lighting paths and sidewalks;
- solar garden pendant lamp;
- general purpose, full coverage of the house and the adjacent territory.
Lighting options:
- The size of the solar panel. The larger the solar panel, the more charge it can provide in the daytime, and therefore the greater the light output and duration.
- Working autonomous battery life. Solar-powered garden lights should have a battery life of at least eight hours for every 24-hour cycle.
- The need for pre-charging. Some must be pre-charged for up to two days before being put into operation, others are turned on immediately after installation.
- The presence of a day-night light sensor.
- IP rating, which means dust and moisture protection according to the EU standard. For outdoor lighting, an IP44 rating is required - weather resistance.
- Availability of installation. One of the main indicators.
- Warranty. The longer the warranty, the better the quality of the product and the longer the operation will last.
Types of solar lamps:
- Lanterns.
- Solar powered garden balloons.
- Spotlights.
- Lamps.
- Decorative lanterns.
- Facing lights for fences and hedges.
- Track lights for warning of dangerous places such as a pond, ravines and more.
- Hanging on hooks.
- Wall mounted on homes or fences.
Boomile 12 Pack Solar Lights Outdoor
Solar powered garden lights for Boomile 12 have a new bright LED design. No wires. Beautiful vintage bronze color. Rugged construction. Solar battery AA 200mAh Ni-Mh. Each bronze solar light has an on / off switch to protect and store the battery. LEDs - 12 top and 4 below. The durable plastic lens looks like glass, but is lightweight and creates a beautiful starry pattern of light on the ground. The lamp is designed for long years of operation.
Price: 1200 rub.
GIGALUMI Solar Pathway Lights Outdoor
Solar LED garden lights (landscape) for outdoor use and waterproof. Work on the solar battery, wiring is not required. The battery power is designed to work for 10 hours, charging takes place within 4 hours of sunlight. Multifunctional device: can be used in the front or back yard, on the driveway, footpath, sidewalk or around the patio or porch. Withstand the sun, rain and snow.
Price: 1800 rub.
Solar Lights URPOWER 2-in-1 Waterproof
Inexpensive 2-in-1 solar powered garden lights. Waterproof design and with automatic start with 4 LED solar floodlights. Designed for gardens, walkways, pool security zones and security systems. A unique solution in landscape and outdoor lighting. 3rd generation lamps act as an outdoor spotlight. Easy to install, waterproof and durable, designed for any weather. Automated backlighting and an easily customizable panel from a 2200 mAh lithium-ion solar battery. Automatic switch - self-switching at night and off in the morning without human intervention. 4 bright LED lamps, 50 lumens in each LED, 200 lumens in total. Lighting duration - 6-9 hours after fully charged.
Price: 600 rub.
URPOWER Solar Lights 8
URPOWER solar powered garden lights with motion sensor, automatic on and off. An autonomous source is a solar battery. Compared to other ordinary solar lamps, this 8-LED lamp is waterproof and heat-resistant. Suitable for any sensitivity range of 10 feet with a detection angle of 120 degrees. Lamp operating time - 50,000 hours. Charging from the sun - 6-8 hours, continuous operation - 8-10 hours.
Price: 1800 rub.
Litom solar lights outdoor
The lamp is wireless, with 24 LEDs and a motion sensor powered by solar panels with a wide angle of illumination. Easy installation, waterproof safety lights for the front door, house area, garage. It has three convenient modes and the latest energy management chip. 24 month warranty.
Price: 2200 rub.
Solar Lights URPOWER 20 LED
Solar Lights Solar Lights with motion sensors, waterproof outdoor wall security lights for the garden, driveway, stairs, garage. Robust stainless steel construction withstands rain, snow, icing and wind. It has a powerful lithium-ion rechargeable battery with a capacity of 1000 mAh 3.7V with a battery life of up to 10 hours when fully charged. A motion sensor provides backlight brightness for security and home protection. Powerful 20-LED light with intelligent energy saving and 2 modes of operation. When motion is detected, the light turns on instantly. When the movement stops, it turns off after 20 seconds.
Price: 2200 rub.
Advanced technologies, the invention of new LED materials significantly increased the functionality of solar luminaires. Such improvements have reduced maintenance costs by increasing battery life up to 10 years, as well as lamp life and the reliability of LED lights. Solar powered garden lamps after incorporating motion sensors, dimming functions, modern software and integration into the “smart home” system into their circuit have opened up new opportunities for economical lighting of adjoining territories.