Solar Lights Explained

Solar lights use the sun's energy as their source of power, instead of electricity from the power grid. These lights have several advantages compared to the normal electricity-powered systems. Benefits include lower operating costs, less wiring, eco-friendly operation, and much more. Whether you're looking for garden lighting or solar security lights, this article gives you all the basic information to help you pick the right technology for you.

Basics: How Do Solar Lights Work?

A complete unit consists of a photovoltaic panel, storage battery, lamp, stand or fixture, and a box-type housing to house any circuitry. The photovoltaic (PV) panel, also called a solar panel, is what actually converts sunlight into electricity. It consists of numerous individual PV cells, which generate electricity when sunlight is incident upon them.

The current produced by the PV cells is then transmitted through wires to the rechargeable storage battery. The battery stores the energy for later use, since additional artificial illumination is usually not required when there is plenty of sunlight.

When required, the stored energy is then sent to the lamp, which may be switched on either manually or automatically. The lamp, mounted on the desired type of stand or fixture, then glows, thereby providing illumination.

This technology is very versatile and has a wide variety of applications, from serving as decorative solar garden lighting to automated solar security lights. It's very easy to incorporate automation, such as light sensors, motion detectors, or timers that will automatically switch on the lights at a specified time or when it gets too dark or there is movement nearby.

Benefits Of Solar Lights:

As described in the previous section, each unit can be completely self-sufficient. Thus no wiring is required, since each unit is independent and does not need to be connected to a power grid. If you're considering solar garden lamps, for instance, this can save huge costs on long trenches for wiring, expensive insulation, and labour.

Furthermore, the fact that solar lights aren't reliant on carbon-based electricity makes them eco-friendly. For any business, this is always a good statement to make, not to mention an excellent way of expressing social responsibility. Even for domestic use in homes, it makes great sense simply because it saves you on electricity bills!

Applications:

As discussed earlier, this is lighting technology may be used for many purposes. The lack of wiring makes it an excellent option for lighting in or around lakes, fountains or water bodies. It fits the bill for a solar shed light, and solar patio lights are also great for enhancing security for your porch or driveway.

Even if the area where you want to install the light does not receive sufficient sunlight, you can still use solar lights by installing the PV panels in a different location. Of course, this has the drawback of requiring wiring between the panels, battery and the lamps. In the long run, however, it will still be more economical than conventional lights.